Black History Month 2026

Black History Month

February is Black History Month! Recognition of Black History began 100 years ago with a single week founded by Dr. Carter G. Woodson in 1926. Fifty years later, in 1976, the United States government expanded the week of recognition to an entire month. The ASALH theme for this year’s Black History Month is A Century of Black History Commemorations.

We’ve compiled some recommendations for you! We’ve split them into categories, which you can find below. While the theme of the month is history, we also have fiction recommendations (check at the bottom of the page)!

For Kids

  • Black Girl Power
  • Buzzing with Questions
  • The Story of Ruby Bridges
  • The Dream Builder's Blueprint
  • I am Simone Biles
  • Life Doesn't Frighten Me

History

  • US Civil Rights Trail
  • How Black History Can Save Your Life
  • The Humanity Archive
  • Black AF History
  • A Black Queer History of the United States
  • An African American and Latinx History of the United States
  • An African History of Africa
  • The 1619 Project
  • The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks

Local Interest

  • The Broken Heart of America
  • My Love Story
  • Agent Josephine
  • I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
  • The Underground Railroad in Western Illinois
  • Masonic Abolitionists
  • The Dred Scott Case

Social Justice
and Anti-Racism

  • Why Does Everything Have to Be About Race?
  • Algorithms of Oppression
  • Black Fatigue
  • The Color of Crime
  • The Color of Law
  • Stamped

Fiction

  • Skin Folk
  • Cursed Daughters
  • Dead Dead Girls
  • The Conductors
  • River Sing Me Home
  • The Underground Railroad
  • Parable of the Sower
  • Raybearer

Classics

  • Invisible Man
  • The Three Musketeers
  • Notes of a Native Son