Items tagged "Black History Month"

Haben Girma

Black History Month is a time to remember those who started the fight against the societal imbalance between races, classes and cultures. We have so many idols to thank for the freedoms we have today and it is motivating to continue seeing more and more people rise up in the fight against these imbalances. There […]

https://www.carnegielibrary.org/haben-girma/

2020 Black History Month Book List for Teens

The 2020 National theme for Black History Month is “African Americans and the Vote” marking the 150th anniversary of the Fifteenth Amendment which granted the right to vote to Black men after the Civil War. Through stories that illustrate the important history of voting rights and civil rights teens in grades 9-12 can learn about the Civil Rights Movement and the monumental Voting Rights Act of 1965 in an interesting and exciting way.

https://www.carnegielibrary.org/2020-black-history-month-book-list-for-teens/

Short Lives: Gary Younge’s Newest Essay Collection is a Plea to Readers

In his 2016 collection of essays, Another Day in the Death of America, award-winning journalist Gary Younge takes on the high death rates of young people in America. As a parent, he has become acutely aware of, and troubled by, the statistics surrounding the gun-related fates met by an average of seven American children per day. Here, he offers the reader a somber snapshot comprised of ten deaths that occurred over a single twenty-four hour period: November 23rd, 2013.

https://www.carnegielibrary.org/short-lives-gary-younges-newest-essay-collection-plea-readers/

On Fires, Then and Now (Reflections on The Fire This Time)

Widely regarded as an influential work of literature, James Baldwin’s The Fire Next Time gives voice to the personal nature of injustice while sounding an alarm about the intensity of race relations in the United States. Although it has been 54 years since its publication, Baldwin’s work has particular urgency and resonance in the aftermath of the murders of Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Mike Brown, Sandra Bland. Given the current political climate in the United States, The Fire Next Time is especially relevant.

https://www.carnegielibrary.org/fires-now-reflections-fire-time/

Science Fiction & Fantasy by Women of Color

I read a lot of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Seriously, A LOT. Growing up, I cut my teeth on Anne McCaffery’s Dragonriders of Pern series and Marion Zimmer Bradley’s The Mists of Avalon. Later, it was The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood. Sadly, many people still think Science Fiction and Fantasy novels are written mostly by white anglo-saxon men for white anglo-saxon men (think J. R. R. Tolkein or George R. R. Martin). However, there are a number of fantastic female authors of color rocking both genres today.

https://www.carnegielibrary.org/science-fiction-fantasy-women-color/

Exploring Wakanda

Captain American: Civil War was my formal introduction to T’Challa and his role as king of the African nation Wakanda, along with his role as the Black Panther. I certainly knew of the character but my knowledge of his backstory was slim. Chadwick Boseman’s portrayal was intriguing (as were the awesome ladies serving as his guards) and I wanted to know more. Luckily, Marvel was smart enough to figure that there would be plenty of curious readers like me. They were also smart enough to hire some amazing writers, like Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay, and Yona Harvey, for a new run in the series.

https://www.carnegielibrary.org/exploring-wakanda/

Get familiar with Jazmine Sullivan

When it comes to the current state of rhythm & blues, the two names most people mention are Beyoncé and Rihanna. Both of whom I love, but there are a lot of other Black women out there making great music. One in particular is Jazmine Sullivan. I first heard Sullivan’s music when I saw the music video for her debut single “Need U Bad” on BET (back when they actually played music videos). She immediately captivated me with her voice.

https://www.carnegielibrary.org/get-familiar-jazmine-sullivan/