Black History
Celebrating Black history and culture
Toronto Public Library celebrates Black History with a collection of programs and special events that honour Black heritage, and consider the historical significance and contemporary contributions of Black activists and artists from around the world.
Live and On-Demand Events
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Check out upcoming Live & Online events and watch replays of past events you may have missed on the TPL Culture channel on Crowdcast, including this featured conversation with author Sarah Broom about her best-selling memoir, The Yellow House.
Black Voices
Videos
This video features a discussion on the importance of representation in literature, with Glory Edim, the founder of the popular book club Well Read Black Girl, and writers Jamia Wilson and Renée Watson. Moderated by writer Zalika Reid-Benta.
Explore our entire Black Voices YouTube playlist.
Podcast
Listen to these featured episodes, and discover more captivating conversations and archived recordings on our Live Mic and Writers Off the Page podcast series.
- Gwendolyn Brooks: Poems That (Don't) Cough Lightly
- Saeed Jones: How We Fight for Our Lives
- Austin Clarke: Sometimes, A Motherless Child
- Gloria Naylor: Mama Day
Reading Lists
- Black History 2021 – Teen Reading List
- Black History 2021 – Children’s Reading List
- Mois de l'histoire des Noirs 2021 - Romans adultes
- Black History 2020 – Adult and Teen Reading List
- Black History 2020 - Children's Reading List
- Canadian Children's Books for Black History Month, February 2019
- Black Lives Matter: A Booklist
- Black Lives Matter: Books for Kids
- Black Canadian Authors
Related Links
- Black History Month 2021: Amazing Inventors and Inventions
- Staff Picks: Black Films
- The Buzz…About Books: Celebrating Black Speculative Fiction Writers
- Virtual Exhibit: Freedom City
Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection
The Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection features over 16,000 books, DVDs, CDs, newspapers and magazines for adults, children, and teens. Materials focus on the Black and Caribbean historical and cultural experience, with a special emphasis on Canadian content.
Our Black History Image
You may have seen this image in our Black History materials. The artwork, titled Mama’s Quilt, is an original work by Ivey Hayes and is used by permission.
Support Heritage Collections
Help grow the Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection by donating to the Rita Cox Endowment Fund. Donate today at Toronto Public Library Foundation or at 416-393-7123.