Black History Month 2021: Recent Books on African American History, Literature & More

By:
Steven McGuirl

To commemorate Black History Month in our usual bookish way, we present a list of selected books—new releases and older books newly added—that have arrived since last year's list. These books explore the depth of African American history and culture, including literature, art, politics, folklore, cooking, biographies and memoirs, activism and protest, poetry, performing arts.  Children's and Young Adult books selected by our children's librarians are featured below. This is just a very small fraction of what is in the Library's collection, so be sure to click subject links in our catalog records to explore other relevant books.  See previous year's lists (2020 | 2019), and the 2020 blog post "Books for Understanding, Books for Change" for more crucial reading. 

LITERATURE - CRITICISM & HISTORY,  ANTHOLOGIES

POETRY

WOMEN'S STUDIES / FEMINISM

HISTORY

U.S. RACE RELATIONS, CIVIL RIGHTS, PROTEST & ACTIVISM

FINE & PERFORMING ARTS, PHOTOGRAPHY

BIOGRAPHIES & MEMOIRS

FOLKWAYS & TRADITIONS

RELIGION

SLAVE NARRATIVES

Book for Children & Young Adults...

CHILDREN

YOUNG ADULT-MIDDLE SCHOOL

YOUNG ADULT-HIGH SCHOOL