February is African-American History Month and we invite you to celebrate it with us.
Events
We are pleased to announce that the Jeffersonville Township Public Library has been awarded a Library of America Lift Every Voice grant to implement public programming that explore African American poetry and the Black experience in history and memory. The programming period corresponds with the release of Library of America’s new African American poetry collection, also titled Lift Every Voice. The collection is available for checkout at Jeffersonville Township Public Library.
The two-part program will take place via Zoom:
- On Thursday, February 11 at 6 p.m., a Zoom program will feature a reading of poems from the new collection followed by a panel discussion featuring African American Poetry scholar Dr. David Anderson of University of Louisville. View the recording on YouTube.
- On Thursday, February 18, at 6 p.m., a Zoom program will feature poet Mitchell L. H. Douglas reading from his work. Following the reading, Douglas and Anderson will discuss how the poems read fit within the theme of Black experience in history and memory. View the recording on YouTube.
Links
- Association for the Study of African American Life and History – The founding organization of Black History Month has a large site with useful information. There will be a virtual festival on February 20. Registration is available on their site. The topic for 2021 Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity
- Information Please Almanac – Search for Black History Month. This site provides many links to sites. There are quizzes on a variety of topics in African-American History and information on many topics.
- Encyclopedia Britannica Guide to African-American History Month – In addition to their guides, they include biographies, lesson plans, primary source documents, images, and topics for Black History.
- The History Channel – Search for Black History Month. The History Channel site includes information on the programs they will televise during February and video clips, biographies, and other aspects of Black History.
- Smithsonian Institution – The Smithsonian has a wide range of resources including the Harlem Renaissance, the Encyclopedia Smithsonian, African-American writers and artists, inventors, entrepreneurs and many more.
- Library of Congress – This site will provide resources for a wide variety of subjects from biographies, African-Americans in the Military, African-Americans in a wide range of activities.
- African-American History Month – This site is sponsored by the National Archives, Library of Congress, and the National Parks Service, and the National Gallery of Art. Endowment for the Humanities, the National Holocaust Museum.
- BET Network Black History Month – This has a wide variety of information on individuals and an interesting collection of people of different generations with similar talents.
- Famous Black Inventors – Information on famous past inventors and information for potential inventors is provided. Many of the inventors are currently inventing.
- Famous Black Scientists, Writers, and Artists – Information on all of these categories is available on this site.
- Famous Black Businessmen – Information on Black business leaders throughout the world is found here.
- National Underground Railroad Freedom Center – The museum, located in Cincinnati is open with restrictions, but there are many online resources available to all. It has information on the railroad and had lesson plans, and online exhibits in many areas, including modern slavery.
- Microsoft Black History Month 2021 – There will be a month of programs for students aged Kindergarten through high school. The program includes 13 different historical sites or museums. There is interactive material for all ages and programs designed to help teachers and students.
Kids Books
Click on a book title to view it in our catalog and place it on hold for curbside pickup!