Interest: African American Interest
Town Hall Anti-Racism Series: The Power of Stories
Published: July 11, 2020
Join YDL Storytme presenter Kristen Hamilton and Kekere Freedom School to learn about anti-racism.
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Race Relations
Our librarians and library staff have worked hard to compile resources that elevate the conversation on race relations.
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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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Black Joy
It’s important for all kids to see books with characters of all colors who are just kids being kids, as well as stories of empowered, successful black people. Here are a few of our recently published favorites.
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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Solve A Mystery with the Ypsi Family Read
Published: September 9, 2019
The Ypsi Family Read brings our entire community together around one book. This season’s pick, The Parker Inheritance by Varian Johnson, will come to life with a scavenger hunt that takes families on a trip through local history.
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Book Group Offers Scholarships to Ypsi Grads
Published: April 9, 2019
The African American Authors Book Discussion Group are awarding book scholarships to area to graduating high school seniors from the Ypsilanti area.
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Celebrate Black History Month with the #ReadingBlackout Challenge
Published: February 6, 2019
Celebrate Black History Month 2019 with the #ReadingBlackout challenge and events throughout February.
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Jason Reynolds’ book Ghost featured in the Ypsi Family Read
Published: October 8, 2018
For more information contact: Jodi Krahnke Head of Youth Services 734-482-4110 x1304 jodi@ypsilibrary.org Starting this season the Ypsilanti District Library is bringing forth the “One Community, One Book” model to kids and families with the Ypsi Family Read. This new program is aimed at bringing the community together to encourage kids and families to …
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Jason Reynolds’ “Ghost” kicks off the Ypsi Family Read
Published: August 27, 2018
The Ypsi Family Read brings kids and families together to read and celebrate a book! This season’s book is Ghost, by Jason Reynolds.
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Picture Books by African American Authors
Great recently published books for kids ages 2-8 by African American authors.
Black Panther
Published: February 6, 2018
Did you know that Ypsilanti has its own local superhero? Jermaine Dickerson, creator of Hero Nation Ypsilanti, has accomplished quite a few stupendous feats. Besides creating Ypsilanti’s biggest ever superhero comic con, he has also worked to inspire local youth with his passion for superheros and the idea that we all can be heroes and heroines in our community! Recently, he helped organize a campaign to get tickets for students at Ypsilanti Community High School to see the new Black Panther film! Check out this great clip from Fox 2 about it! http://www.ypsilibrary.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/jermaineblackpantherypsihigh.mp4 For more about this project, …
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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.