Interest: African American Interest
Interest: African American Interest
Quilt-Inspired Community Mural for Juneteenth
Published: November 7, 2025
Through December, a community mural created at the 2025 Juneteenth celebration will be on display at YDL-Michigan.
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Join YDL at Ypsilanti’s Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Published: June 11, 2025
June 19 is Juneteenth, a now-federal holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the U.S.
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Black History Month 2025
Published: February 4, 2025
February is Black History Month. This year’s theme is “Black Resistance,” which recognizes and celebrates the resistance of Black people, organizations, and institutions to racism in the past and present.
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“Through Darkness to Light” exhibit on display Sept. 1 – Oct. 20
Published: August 29, 2024
From September 1-October 20, an exhibit featuring photography related to the Underground Railroad will be on display at YDL-Whittaker.
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Ypsi Stories Episode 25: The Parkridge Community Center and the Fight for Racial Equality
Published: August 28, 2024
Episode 25 of Ypsi Stories.
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Join YDL at Ypsilanti’s Annual Juneteenth Celebration
Published: June 18, 2024
June 19 is Juneteenth, a now-federal holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the U.S.
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Ypsi Stories Episode 23: The Ypsi Farmers & Gardeners Oral History Project
Published: May 6, 2024
Episode 23 of Ypsi Stories.
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Growing the YDL Oral History Collections
Published: December 15, 2023
Passionate and influential local food growers are recording their stories in the Ypsilanti District Library’s oral history archives.
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YDL receives Great Stories Club grant from the American Library Association
Published: July 25, 2023
Grant will allow librarians to lead book clubs with underserved teens
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Jean Winborn to be featured on “Finding Your Roots – Family Sagas of Pride and Perseverance”
Published: March 17, 2023
Join Detroit Public TV and PBS Books Wednesday, March 22, at 8 p.m. ET, for a fascinating look at new techniques for unravelling the mysteries of African American genealogy, including a conversation with YDL’s very own Jean Winborn!
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Celebrate Women’s History Month with YDL!
Published: February 28, 2023
March is Women’s history Month, a month dedicated to honoring the accomplishments of women in the past and present.
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Explore the A.P. Marshall African American History Archive
Published: July 15, 2022
Have you checked out the A.P. Marshall African American Oral History Archive?
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Celebrate Juneteenth with YDL
Published: June 8, 2022
June 19 is Juneteenth, a now-federal holiday celebrating the end of slavery in the U.S. Read on to learn more about Juneteenth.
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Celebrating Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Published: January 12, 2022
Learn about community events and YDL resources that commemorate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s legacy.
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Ypsi Stories Episode 5: Ypsilanti’s Palm Leaf Club
Published: March 3, 2021
Episode 5 of Ypsi Stories.
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Celebrate Black History Month with YDL
Published: February 1, 2021
Black History Month is every month at YDL! Check out some ways you can celebrate in 2021.
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Committing to Compassion
Published: December 29, 2020
Last year brought challenges. It also brought opportunities for compassion, community, and patience. In addition to the pandemic, racial unrest throughout the country forced us to think about how we make a community work for everyone. This year, renew your commitment to personal and community growth. In the spirit of spreading knowledge, here are some tools and tips for achieving your resolutions and becoming a more informed and engaged citizen. Talk to your family about race Research from the American Psychological Association shows some preschoolers may have already developed racist beliefs well before adults start talking about race with them. …
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NEH For All the World to See Virtual Tour
Published: December 22, 2020
The virtual tour and accompanying activities for the NEH For All the World to See exhibit are ready to explore!
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For the Whole World to See: Civil Rights Bibliographies
Published: December 21, 2020
Browse this selection of books and DVD titles that discuss different aspects of the Civil Rights Movement, from the ’50s and ’60s. This list is a part of the For All the World to See exhibit.
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Look Both Ways
Published: September 5, 2020
The Ypsi Family Read brings our entire community together around one book. This season’s pick is Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds.
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Town Hall Anti-Racism Series: Talking with Kids about Race and Racism
Published: September 2, 2020
Our final installment in our family townhall anti-racism series.
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Town Hall Anti-Racism Series: Self-Care, Community Care, and Reflection
Published: July 28, 2020
Join YDL Storytme presenter Kristen Hamilton and Kekere Freedom School to learn about anti-racism.
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Town Hall Anti-Racism Series: Community Transformation and Uplifting the Voices of Young People
Published: July 22, 2020
Join YDL Storytme presenter Kristen Hamilton and Kekere Freedom School to learn about anti-racism.
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Town Hall Anti-Racism Series: Youth Empowerment and Radical Imagination
Published: July 13, 2020
Join YDL Storytme presenter Kristen Hamilton and Kekere Freedom School to learn about anti-racism.
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Town Hall Anti-Racism Series: The Power of Stories
Published: July 8, 2020
Join YDL Storytme presenter Kristen Hamilton and Kekere Freedom School to learn about anti-racism.
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Race Relations
Book lists, movies, and activities for all ages to increase understanding about race.
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Documentaries on Police Brutality and Race Relations
Published: June 9, 2020
This is a collection of documentaries available on Hoopla that focus on specific events and ideas surrounding police brutality and race relations.
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Anti-Racism Book List for Adults
Published: June 4, 2020
The following books are available through YDL’s digital collections:Abu-Jamal, Mumia | Have Black Lives Ever Mattered? ebook on HooplaAlexander, Michelle | The New Jim Crowebook on HooplaAnderson, William & Zoe Samudzi | As Black as Resistance: Finding the Conditions for Liberationebook on HooplaCoates, Ta-Nehisi | Between the World and Meebook and eaudio on OverdriveDavis, Angela | Freedom is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movementeaudio on Hoopla, ebook on OverdriveDiAngelo, Robin | White Fragility: Why it’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racismebook & eaudio on OverdriveDunbar-Ortiz, Roxanne | An Indigenous Peoples’ History of …
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Covid-19 and Racial Health Disparities
Published: April 21, 2020
Covid19 has shined a light on racial health disparities. Find out more information.
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Family Read Ypsi History Geocache Scavenger Hunt
Published: October 8, 2019
Ready to go on an adventure? Get a chance to explore historical Ypsilanti on the Family Read scavenger hunt! Collect all 6 tokens to win a special prize.
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Ypsilanti’s historic African American community
Published: February 6, 2018
Did you know that after the Civil War Ypsilanti had one of the largest African American populations in Michigan? Members of this well-organized community lived through the Jim Crow era, fought racism during World War II, and led the local Civil Rights movement. You can explore their stories through the A.P. Marshall African American Oral History Archive. A.P. Marshall was a local historian who sought to preserve the stories of Ypsilanti’s African American community and did so by recording numerous oral history interviews in the 1980s. The interviews are now available online, with each one featuring a biography of the …
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Homegoing
Stretching from the tribal wars of Ghana to slavery and Civil War in America, from the coal mines in the north to the Great Migration to the streets of 20th century Harlem, Yaa Gyasi’s has written a modern masterpiece, a novel that moves through histories and geographies and–with outstanding economy and force–captures the troubled spirit of our own nation.
Inside the Racial Justice Discussion series
Published: December 28, 2017
La’Ron Williams Fully titled “Safely talking and learning about race and racism,” the series has brought hundreds of people to the library to watch films and hold open, honest conversations in a safe and supportive environment. What began as a short-term partnership between YDL and the Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice is now in its third year. YDL asked facilitator and moderator La’Ron Williams about the intention and impact of these discussions. YDL: What motivated the start of this series? La’Ron Williams: In a nutshell, the racial climate about two years ago was one in which there were heightened …
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Ancestry
A large collection of census, vital, military, and immigration records for genealogy research. ***Remote access to Ancestry has ended. You will again have to use a library computer to access the database.***
A.P. Marshall African American Oral History Project
A collection of interviews of Ypsilanti residents who lived through the Jim Crow era, fought racism during WWII, and led the local Civil Rights movement.