Books
Young Adult
- African Town by Irene Latham
- Barracoon: Adapted for Young Readers by Ibram X Kendi
- The Beautiful Struggle by Ta-Nehisi Coats
- Nearer My Freedom by Monica Edlinger
- Say Her Name by Zetta Elliott
- We Are Not Yet Equal: Understanding our Racial Divide by Carol Anderson
- We Are Not Broken by George M. Johnson
Adult Fiction
- Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin
- How Long ’til Black Future Month by N.K. Jemisin
- Kindred by Octavia Butler
- The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead
- The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
Adult Nonfiction
- Ain’t I a Woman: Black Women and Feminism by bell hooks
- The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X
- The Half Has Never Been Told: Slavery and the Making of American Capitalism by Edward E. Baptist
- How the World is Passed by Clint Smith
- I Am Nobody’s Slave: How Uncovering My Family’s History Set Me Free by Lee Hawkins
- On Juneteenth by Annette Gordon-Reed
- Somewhere Toward Freedom by Bennett Parten
- Unprotected: A Memoir by Billy Porter
Manhattan Area Resources
- African American History Trail Driving Tour: The self-guided driving tour was developed by the staff of the Riley County Historical Museum to showcase some of the interesting and important African American History in our community.
- Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest: For many African Americans, records from the Freedman’s Bank may be the first time they’re able to find an ancestor’s name outside of inventory lists included in wills and probate records of enslavers. Ancestry.com is provided for your use onsite at Manhattan Public Library. Heritage Quest can be accessed anywhere in Kansas through the MPL website.
- Black Entrepreneurs of the Flint Hills: Check out a listing of Black-owned businesses provided by this local non-profit.
State and National Resources
- Black Life in America: Aggregates the experience and impact of African Americans as recorded by the news media, from 1704 to today.
- Kansas African American Affairs Commission: The KAAAC members work to devise strategies to address public policy concerns of the African American community. The Commission will serve as a conduit for programs, grants, research, and policy advice for state and local organizations.
- The Kansas African American History Trail: The History Trail tells the story of the African American contributions to Kansas at it’s various historical sites, chronicling the people, places, and events that created this rich history.
- Kansas African American Museum: The Kansas African American Museum endeavors to make the Kansas African American experience resonant with EVERY Kansan.
- Kansas Black Leadership Council: KBLC seeks partners, allies, and champions who are willing to help reimagine a new ecosystem for Black Kansans.
- The National Archives: The Archives holds a wealth of material documenting the Black experience. This page highlights these resources online, in programs, and through traditional and social media.
- National Center for Civil and Human Rights: Digital resource platform empowering conversations, empathy, and active engagement with civil and human rights narratives through trusted resources for educators and students.
- The National Museum of African American History and Culture: Branch of the Smithsonian, and the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture.
