Kids' Black History Month Virtual Gallery
Black History Month
Library Online Resources | Library Materials
Websites | Mobile | Biographies
If you are viewing this page from home, you will need your Orange County resident library card to access some of the resources.
Enjoy these videos we've selected about notable people
in Black History from YouTube.
Library Online Resources
Biography, Art, & Literature
Biography in Context »
Read about the lives of Civil Rights Movement leaders such as Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, and more. Also, read about other notable African Americans in fields such as Science, Sports, and Literature.
LitFinder »
Locate and read poems, essays, short stories, speeches, and plays by or about African Americans. For example, select "Person - By or About" and enter the name of an individual with the last name first, such as "King, Martin Luther".
NetLinks: Multicultural Resources »
This resource, featuring websites hand-picked by library staff, contains categories focused on African Americans in Art & Literature, History/Biography, Science & Invention, and more.
NoveList Plus »
Find novels that feature African American characters. You may also find similar authors to some of your favorites, including Terry McMillan and Alice Walker, by selecting the Author Read-alikes link on the homepage.
OverDrive »
Find downloadable media relating to African Americans and black history. Once you have reached the homepage of Overdrive, type "African American" in the search box located near the top of the page.
Genealogy
HeritageQuest Online »
Begin your genealogy search! This database is available remotely with your library card.
Music
Music Online: American Song »
Listen to songs from America’s past, including songs of the Civil Rights Movement. You can also find more songs by selecting the African American genre section.
Music Online: Classical Music Library »
Search for your favorite African American composer or classical performer. This database even offers some free promotional music downloads!
Music Online: Smithsonian Global Sound Music Library »
Listen to music by browsing African American cultural groups or categories of music, including blues, jazz, world, and more. Featured in this collection are the Smithsonian Folkway Recordings.
Library Materials
African American Genealogy »
Use these resources to help you research your roots. These materials are available in a variety of formats, including books, DVDs, and audiobooks.
African American Music »
Get with the rhythm and feel the beat! This collection features books, CDs, and music scores.
African American Poetry »
Feel the power of the written word. Enjoy the works of Langston Hughes, Phillis Wheatley, and many others.
Books about Black History »
Use these books to learn more about black history. This collection includes titles on the arts, culture, education, politics, and society.
Books about Civil Rights »
Learn about the struggle for racial equality in America. Read about the roots of the Civil Rights Movement.
DVDs on African American History »
These DVDs contain a treasure trove of visual learning. Watch informational videos about Martin Luther King, Jr., the Tuskegee Airmen, the Underground Railroad, and a number of other topics.
Websites
Biography.com: Celebrate Black History »
This website features information on a variety of famous African Americans. The diverse assortment includes educators, scientists, writers, and artists.
Gale Resources: Black History Month »
This website has a collection of information and resources on Black History Month. The content includes a timeline, biographies, and quizzes.
The History Channel: Black History Month»
Find a plethora of resources about Black History Month on this website like a timeline of events, speeches, video clips, facts, and other related information.
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center »
View virtual exhibits, explore digital archives, and learn about freedom seekers from the Underground Railroad era to the present on this website. Also includes a portal for genealogy and family research.
Mobile
Black History People
Use this free application and obtain information on famous black people.
Google Play | Website
Black History Inventors
Discover famous black scientists using this free application. Listen as black history inventors come alive in these excellent narratives.
Google Play | Website
Biographies
Select a name to see library materials about the person.
Sidney Poitier | Ruby Dee & Ossie Davis | Sojourner Truth | Oprah Winfrey
Zora Neale Hurston | Muhammad Ali
"Everything that we see is a shadow cast by that which we do not see."
-Martin Luther King, Jr., " The Measure of a Man"
"I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can't accept not trying."
-Michael Jordan, " I Can't Accept Not Trying"
"No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow."
-Alice Walker, " The Color Purple"
"You can't separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom."
-Malcolm X, " Malcolm X Speaks"
"You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man."
-Frederick Douglass, " Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass"
"There is a kind of strength that is almost frightening in black women. It's as if a steel rod runs right through the head down to the feet."
-Maya Angelou, " Conversations with Maya Angelou"
