Off the Shelf: Black History Month 2021
Posted Feb. 19, 2021
By Darci Stitt
Adult Services Librarian with the Warren-Trumbull County Public Library
Hello again, Readers! February is African American History Month. The 2021 theme is “The Black Family: Representation, Identity and Diversity” exploring the African diaspora, and the spread of Black families across the United States.
Did you know that our Local History & Genealogy Center has a list of helpful websites specific to African American genealogy and research? Check it out if you are researching your own family’s history.
Tony Burroughs’ book Black Roots: A Beginner’s Guide to Tracing the African American Family Tree could also help you get started with your research.
Other general titles that might interest readers wanting to touch on this year’s theme include:
 |
Susan Altman’s The Encyclopedia of African-American Heritage | |
 |
Blair Imani’s Making our Way Home: The Great Migration and the Black American Dream | |
 |
Wandering in Strange Lands: A Daughter of the Great Migration Reclaims Her Roots by Morgan Jerkins | |
 |
The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America’s Great Migration by Isabel Wilkerson |
Some interesting DVDs in our collection include:
Finding Oprah’s Roots: Finding Your Own – Finding Oprah’s Roots will equip viewers with the tools to connect to pivotal figures in their own past. A roadmap through the intricacies of public documents and online databases, the DVD also highlights genetic testing resources that can make it possible to know one’s distant tribal roots in Africa.
From the PBS Collection African American Lives
More Than a Month – Shukree Hassan Tilghman, a young African-American filmmaker, sets out on a cross-country campaign to end Black History Month. Through this thoughtful and humorous journey, he explores what the treatment of history tells us about race and equality in a ‘post-racial’ America.
Looking for more titles on this topic?
If you would like more information about any of our resources on this topic, please visit your library (yes, we are open!) or call 330.399.8807 ext. 200. At the Warren Library, stop by the “Ask Us” desk and we can help you find these and more items.