“This year, when we are also commemorating the 250th anniversary of United States independence, it is important to tell not only an inclusive history, but an accurate one. We have never had more need to examine the role of Black History Month than we do when forces weary of democracy seek to use legislative means and book bans to excise Black history from America’s schools and public culture. Black history’s value is not its contribution to mainstream historical narratives, but its resonance in the lives of Black people. “
—From the Association for the Study of African American Life and History
Check out our Black History Month Events
Book Displays
Click to enlarge
Whittaker
Michigan Avenue
Superior
Want more? Explore these YDL resources and book lists
The Black Lives Matter movement has inspired curiosity and action, and our librarians and library staff have worked hard to make sure we’re living up to our mission. We’ve created lists of books, movies, and activities for adults, children, and families that are designed to elevate the conversation and promote learning.
This project chronicles the lives and struggles of Black Ypsilantians in their own words. Recorded by historian A.P. Marshall in the 1980s, these interviews span several generations and help to tell the rich and varied story of African-American Ypsilanti.
Listen to the Ypsi Stories podcast. Many episodes focus on the histories of Black Ypsilantians and their contributions to the city.
Visit the Ypsi Farmers & Gardeners Oral History Project
Listen to the oral histories of local Ypsi farmers and gardeners who share stories about how they got started growing food, what the impact of growing food has been for their families and communities, and what lessons they want others to learn from their experiences.
Examines how Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and/or working-class people in Ypsilanti use growing food to build resistance and resilience in an environment that is rapidly changing because of gentrification and climate change.
You can also find more information about Black History Month at these websites: