Celebrating Black Artists and History Makers
Every February, Black History Month gives us all the opportunity to learn about and uplift Black excellence throughout history and in the present day. Whether it's honoring the historical achievements of Black leaders, artists, athletes, and astronauts or it's celebrating the movers and shakers and taste makers of today: Jacksonville Public Library has an amazing collection of books written by and for African American people. We also have a great lineup of public programs to help you and your family learn from and find more of these stories.
We love to share selections that demonstrate the range of our collection all year round. This month, we encourage you to explore these books with us!
Explore the African American History Collection
Located at the Main Library, this collection brings to life the historical, social, civic, religious, economic and cultural life of African Americans living in Northeast Florida through books, pamphlets, photographs, newspapers, documents, microforms, multimedia and more. Explore more than 1,000 subject and biography files with unique photographs, person papers and primary source materials during your visit. Discover actual slave manifests from nearby ports and read local African American newspapers. Or learn about African American art, cooking, music and local landmarks.
The Historical Newspapers: Black Newspapers online database provides easily-searchable access to a historical newspaper collection covering 1893 – 2010 that includes first-hand accounts and unparalleled coverage of the politics, society and events of the time. Access to this database is made possible through the generosity of the Mellon Foundation.
Upcoming Events
Screening Room: African Diasporans Hidden Kulture
In this 64-minute journey through Jacksonville's extraordinary (and often hidden) African American culture and heritage, filmmaker Nola D. Oracle visits places like LaVilla, Durkeeville, Kingsley Plantation and American Beach in an effort to illuminate the contributions of Africans and African Diasporans and to preserve their stories for the next generation.
The screening of African Diasporans Hidden Kulture will take place from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 3, at Highlands Library. An audience Q&A and discussion with the filmmaker will follow.
This "Screening Room" is part of an ongoing series of public programs that explore and collect African American history. It is made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation.
126 Years of "Lift Every Voice and Sing"
The Friends of Brentwood Library, Inc. and its founder and matriarch, Sharon Coon, invite you to celebrate the 126th anniversary of "Lift Every Voice and Sing" February 7 - 21, 2026, in the hometown of the Johnson brothers. Known as the Black National Anthem, "Lift E'very Voice and Sing" is a song of endurance, freedom, suffering, joy and thanksgiving. Originally written as a poem by James Weldon Johnson in 1899, it was set to music by his brother, J. Rosamond Johnson.
This tribute festival features free events at multiple venues in Jacksonville, including a Smithsonian Institute Exhibition at Brentwood Branch Library and a Symposium in the Conference Center at the Main Library in Downtown Jacksonville.
