Celebrating Black History Month with Books and Resources

North Carolina Humanities joins the nation in observing Black History Month! Throughout the year, NC Humanities works to celebrate and uplift histories, stories, and cultures of all North Carolinians.

In recognition of this cultural heritage month, we are giving away 1 copy of Prak Fills the House by North Carolina author Donna L. Washington and illustrated by Lauren Emmons! This hilarious retelling of The Three Little Pigs is a cheery celebration of family and togetherness, starring a spirited pig as she outsmarts her older siblings in a friendly competition. Head to NC Humanities’ Instagram to enter to win! The giveaway closes February 21.

Additionally, we invite you to read the below resources that explore and pay tribute to Black History Month. This is just a short collection of the amazing resources that are available. We encourage our readers to explore beyond what we’ve listed.

• Utilize the resources of the NC African American Heritage Commission. Their Black History Month Toolkit includes a reading list, music playlist, and more!
• Browse the NC African American Heritage Commission’s Black History Month Community Calendar too! There are lots of great events happening across the state.
• Visit virtually and learn from the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
• Read the National Endowment for the Humanities’ Virtual Bookshelf, featuring funded projects and resources related to African American history and culture.
• Identify and explore multicultural picture books with stories set in North Carolina using this curated list from Diverse Book Finder.
• Explore resources in NCpedia that cover the history and heritage of African Americans in our state.
• Read through The Brown Bookshelf, which is designed to push awareness of the myriad Black voices writing for young readers.

Have a resource to share? Please email Melanie Moore Richeson at mmoore@nchumanities.org

_{Cover Photo: Courtesy of the NC Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. African American Music Trails mural by Max Dowdle, Wilson, 2023.}