Celebrating Black History Month
The Library celebrates Black History Month through illuminating the legacy of writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin and his contemporaries.
The Visionary Community of James Baldwin, on display in the Reference Commons on the first floor, highlights the works and contributions of James Baldwin, his friends and collaborators, those he influenced, and those who influenced him. Among the titles included in the collection are works by: Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday, Nina Simone, Angela Davis, Nikki Giovanni, Audre Lorde, Toni Morrison, Malcolm X, Martin Luther King, Jr., Lorraine Hansberry, Maya Angelou, Richard Wright, Beauford Delaney, and Kwame Brathwaite.
Also on display are biographies and documentaries about Josephine Baker, Alvin Ailey, Katherine Johnson, The Black Panther Party, Paul Robeson, and more.
All items are available for checkout.
More ways to celebrate:
- Celebrate James Baldwin’s 100th Birthday
- Explore the Chez Baldwin digital collection available through the National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Check-out the Black History Month 2025 programming at the National Museum of African American History and Culture, browse the digital exhibitions, and/or watch a lecture or artist talk.
- Watch the 1971 interview between James Baldwin and Nikki Giovanni