This year’s Black History Month theme is “Honouring Our Communities” and we are sharing some lesser known incredible stories about local communities that reflect what some may call “the Seven Swahili Values”: Unity, Collective Work and Responsibility, Cooperative Economics, Purpose, Self-Determination, Creativity and Faith.
A little taste of freedom : the Black freedom struggle in Claiborne County, Mississippi by Emilye Crosby
Ms. Crosby’s collection of local struggles in the deep south are full of inspiration. First hand accounts are shared from across an all Black community, who survived Jim Crow laws and racial discrimination to successfully work together towards equality and a better shared life. Here, she documents stories of hardship and resilience and how it is always the power of community, which bonds people and lifts them up.
Dr. Alexander Augusta
Local Black Leaders during Reconstruction in Virginia by Richard Lowe
In this work, author Richard Lowe shares the story of the important Black Leaders, who worked as diplomats and ambassadors trying to represent the Black community, while negotiating a new role for Blacks in southern society. These lesser known stories hold a fascinating and integral part of America’s societal history.
A. Philip Randolph, courtesy of Library of Congress
A. Philip Randolph: The Religious Journey of an African American Labor Leader by Cynthia Taylor
A. Philip Randolph was a shining example of successful and lasting grass roots leadership. The man, who built up the first African American trade union, better known as the “Brotherhood of the Sleeping Car Porters”, A Philip Randolph was a great orator, an incredible civil rights strategist and a radical journalist. Taylor’s behind the scenes new research shares a softer, spiritual side to this community leader.
Freedom farmers : agricultural resistance and the Black Freedom Movement by Monica Marie White
With a forward from the founder of the Campaign for Food Justice Now, this book includes the recognition of how important Black owned agriculture is to Black equality by Black influencers and leaders including W.E.B. Du Bois, Booker T. Washington and George Washington Carver. It also provides insight into multiple local Black community farms and the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network’s success.
Eldridge Cleaver, Black Panther Party
From the bullet to the ballot : the Illinois Chapter of the Black Panther Party and racial coalition politics in Chicago by Jakobi Williams
Although most media portrayals of the Black Panthers focus on the click bait commentary of historically radical leaders. Behind the scenes, there were a lot of unmentioned church pancake breakfasts and local community volunteerism which have built the blocks for a new place leading grass roots politics. Williams’ story tells a fascinating tale, from which we can all learn.
Do you have a favourite book on this topic from our collections or one, you’d like to share, please feel free to let us know below.
List of copyright free images in order as provided above:
1.) Civil Rights Protesters, 1963 attributed to Warren K. Leffler, provided copyright free courtesy of Unsplash
2.) Port Gibson Church, Mississippi, provided copyright free courtesy of Library of Congress
3.) Dr. Alexander Augusta, provided copyright free courtesy of National Parks Service, CC 4.0 via Wikimedia
4.) A. Philip Randolph, provided copyright free courtesy of Library of Congress
5.) Black Farmer Photo copyright free courtesy of Russell Lee, Library of Congress
6.) Eldridge Cleaver, Minister of Information for the Black Panther Party and presidential candidate for the Peace and Freedom Party speaking at the Woods-Brown Outdoor Theatre, American University provided copyright free courtesy of Library of Congress