Black History is American History

This week for Black History Month, we're highlighting the actual history of the month itself and resources available to work towards Dr. Woodson's goals when he envisioned a month highlighting Black contributions to American history.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson is the "father of Black History Month." Starting as a week in February in 1926 (selected as the same month as the birthday of Abraham Lincoln and the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass) and expanded to a month by presidential decree in 1976, Woodson insisted that Black History Week should be used to "emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history," since "one cannot understand the foundation of American government, tax structure, or changing legislative developments without understanding slavery, its economic implications, and heavy influence on political party identity."

Locally, the Hayti Heritage Center in Durham was recently highlighted in a New York Times article highlighting important African American landmarks that highlight important aspects of Black history. Check it out here: "8 Places Across the U.S. That Illuminate Black History" (online) or through our ProQuest Central database (login using your Durham Tech username and password).

Keep reading to see books and resources available through the Durham Tech Library highlighting Black people in American history, some well-know and some lesser known.

Black history in Presidential history--

How Black history is intertwined American history and policy--

Black history within American history--

Individual Black stories within American history, both historical and contemporary--

Library hot tip: These are a tiny representation of the excellent books we have on Black history and experiences. If you're interested in a particular topic, feel free to browse our shelves-- the linked call numbers (starting with a letter and followed by a series of numbers) are based on Library of Congress subject classifications, which means that there are books nearby on the shelves on similar topics. You can also use the "Nearby items on shelf" option in the catalog view to see what other books are close by.

For documentary fans and available streaming for fee through Films on Demand, historian Henry Louis Gates, Jr.'s documentary Making Black America "chronicles the vast social networks and organizations created by and for Black people-beyond the reach of the 'White gaze,' ...showcas[ing] Black people’s ability to collectively prosper, defy white supremacy and define Blackness in ways that transformed America itself."