“Moving pictures have become one of the greatest revitalizing forces in race adjustment.” Oscar Micheaux, 1st major African American feature filmmaker (1884-1951) As large numbers of African Americans migrated from the rural South to urban areas across the U.S. between the 1910s and 1940s, the racial landscape of America began to shift. As a result, […]
Colleen read The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart and this is what she thought… Aventurine is a dragon, the fiercest thing in her mountains, but her family will not let her leave their cave until she is stronger. She sets off on her own to prove she is ready, only to be tricked by a […]
Sidney Mason was the first African American firefighter in Haverhill. He was born in Virginia to enslaved parents, Charles and Delia Mason, and came to Bradford around 1871. He served as a police officer and appointed to the permanent staff of the fire department when the town of Bradford was annexed to the city of […]
There are so many fantastic graphic novels available about the Black experience, featuring Black protagonists, and written by Black creators. Check out a sample of titles below for adults, teens, and children. Click on the image to request it! Adult Teen Children
Joan read Bayou Magic and this is what she thought… The story follows 10-year-old Maddy when she spends a summer with her grandmother on the Louisiana bayou. It is a great blend of whimsical adventure and serious issues such as environmental awareness and parent/child relations. I loved how the book took the serious issue of […]
Kieron Gillen’s Die is like Dungeons & Dragons meets Jumanji. In 1991, six friends Solomon, Dominic, Matt, Angela, Chuck, and Isabelle gather to play a roleplaying game. Solomon, the designated game master, reveals that he has created a new game for them to play. They all create their characters and choose a die. Suddenly, they […]
Black History Month is held annually in February to celebrate the achievements and history of Black Americans. The idea of a week-long celebration of African American history originated in 1925, with Carter G. Woodson playing a significant role. It became a month-long event in 1976. HPL has a number of Black History Month initiatives for […]
We’re challenging high school students to read 100 books before graduation! Students can join at any time during their high school career. Participants are encouraged to read whatever they want, but it’s also good to try new things as well! Try a genre you don’t usually go for, read some non-fiction, listen to an audiobook, […]
Amanda read Closer to Nowhere and this is what she thought… Hannah and Cal discover they are more alike than they realized as they work together to save the family they care about. It is told from alternating perspectives. Ellen Hopkins is my all time favorite author, so naturally I had to read this. The […]
January 27 is known as International Holocaust Remembrance Day which commemorates the lives of 6 million Jews and 11 million others lost to genocide by the Nazi regime during World War II. You can learn more about the Holocaust by visiting the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum’s website. Click on the images below to request […]
