In February 1926, historian Carter G. Woodson organized a week-long event to honor and raise awareness of the contributions of African Americans to the United States. Support for this event would grow throughout history, culminating in 1976 with President Gerald Ford designating February as Black History Month. February continues to be an important and educational month for communities across America. See Governor Healey’s Proclamation declaring February 2023 as Black History Month. For more information, webinars and exhibits happening this month, visit BlackHistoryMonth.gov.
In honor of Black History Month, the State Library has selected a few recently published titles from our collection that explore different facets of black history within America. To access any of the titles listed below, please contact the Reference Department (reference.department@mass.gov, 617-727-2590) or visit us in room 341 of the State House!
Half American: The Epic Story of African Americans Fighting World War II at Home and Abroad (2022) by Matthew F. Delmont – Half American highlights the history of African American troops serving in World War II. Author Matthew Delmont details the vital service of black troops in the battlefield and on the homefront, but also exposes the mistreatment and denial of benefits for black veterans. Delmont is a Professor of History at Dartmouth College.
The Three Mothers: How the Mothers of Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X, and James Baldwin Shaped a Nation (2021) by Anna Malaika Tubbs – Described as a celebration and testimony of the importance of black women in American society, Three Mothers, tells the stories of Alberta King, Louise Little, and Berdis Baldwin. These women raised, inspired, and instilled in their sons a sense of social justice. Through their influence as mothers, their sons changed America’s history. Tubbs is an educator, consultant, and Cambridge Ph.D. candidate. In addition, check out this past Author Talk with Tubbs as she discusses her work.
Black Radical: The Life and Times of William Monroe Trotter (2020) by Kerri K. Greenidge – A name often overlooked in the history of civil rights, William Monroe Trotter (1872-1934), was a Harvard graduate and founder of the Guardian, a Boston based newspaper devoted to activism. In this engaging biography, Greenidge rightfully places Trotter as a leader in the American civil rights movement. Greenidge teaches at Tufts University and is codirector of the African American Trail Project
Say I'm Dead: A Family Memoir of Race, Secrets, and Love (2020) by E. Dolores Johnson – In this poignant memoir, Johnson explores her childhood and the impact of her parents’ interracial marriage. The daughter of a black man and white woman, Johnson explores her identity, family, and the larger history of race relations in America. Watch Johnson discuss her memoir in a previous Author talk!
April Pascucci
Reference Librarian
