February is Black History Month

Black History Month, opens a new window is an annual celebration of achievements by African Americans and a time of recognizing their contributions to United States history. Since 1976, every United States president has designated February as Black History Month. Other countries, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrate Black history. Britannica discusses the origins of Black History Month, and you can be read the article here, opens a new window.

During the course of American history, African Americans have made major contributions to United States society in various functions, for example, inventors, scientists, educators, physicians, authors, soldiers, and the list goes on. In the article, "101 African American Firsts-Old", there is an extensive list of the names of the first African Americans in a variety of different areas of achievement in United States society. You can read it here, opens a new window.

There are numerous resources on the history and contributions of African Americans in United States. Here's a brief list of some African American history sources:

General Resources on African Americans

Black Past. African American History Timeline web link, opens a new window

Library of Congress. African American Song web link, opens a new window

Library of Congress. Digital Collections web link, opens a new window

National Archives. African American Heritage web link, opens a new window

Smithsonian Institution Archives. African American Groundbreakers at the Smithsonian: Challenges and Achievements web link, opens a new window

Louisiana Resources on African Americans

Country Roads Magazine. From the Archives: Forty Black Stories web link, opens a new window

Family Search. African American Resources for Louisiana web link, opens a new window

Louisiana Digital Library. African American Resources web link, opens a new window

Louisiana Travel. African American Heritage Trail web link, opens a new window

LSU Libraries. Free People of Color in Louisiana web link, opens a new window

New Orleans African American Museum web link, opens a new window

River Road African American Museum web link, opens a new window

University of Louisiana at Lafayette Center for Louisiana Studies. African Americans web link, opens a new window

St. Tammany Parish Library Resources on African Americans

Blogs

Brief History of African American Literature Part 1, opens a new window   Part 2, opens a new window

Research Spotlight: Records of Slavery in Louisiana, opens a new window

Booklists

General Recommendations. African American History for Kids, opens a new window

Topic Guide. African American History, opens a new window

Podcasts

Dr. Siemen Baham. Marching to Zion, opens a new window

Purchased Lives. Episode 107, opens a new window