Starting on Saturday, February 21st, stop by the Youth Services desk on the second floor of DPPL to pick up a kit (while supplies last!), and then use the materials to do the project we show you step-by-step in the video.

(Grade 1 and up.)

When we think about or talk about Black History Month, we often mention major historical events and well-known figures, but what about the people who make a difference in the shadows? Let’s point the spotlight on them, shall we? 

 Claudette Colvin

Claudette Colvin shares a similar story to Rosa Parks.

Claudette Colvin, a nurse’s aide and Civil Rights Movement activist, was born on September 5, 1939, in Birmingham, Alabama.

At just 15 years old, she refused to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus in 1955. 

Later became a key plaintiff in the court case that helped end bus segregation.

Learn More:

YOUTH BOOK, Claudette Colvin: civil rights activist

adult book,  Righteous trouble makers : untold stories of the social justice movement in America

Charity Adams Earley

Charity Adams Earley was a trailblazer in military history.

She was the first Black woman to become an officer in the Women’s Army Corps and commanded the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during World War II.

Her unit cleared a massive backlog of mail for U.S. soldiers overseas, boosting morale and proving the strength and capability of Black women in the armed forces during a time of segregation and discrimination.  

LEARN MORE:

eBOOK  Contemporary Black biography. Volume 34 : profiles from the international Black community

Stacey Abrams

Stacey Abrams is known for advocating to protect voting access, especially in communities of color.

Her work in voter registration and fighting voter suppression has reshaped political participation in Georgia.

To this day, Fair Fight continues to combat voter suppression.  

LEARN MORE:

YOUTH BOOK,  Stacey Abrams : lift every voice

Bryan Stevenson

Bryan Stevenson, founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, fights against wrongful convictions, mass incarceration, and unfair sentencing.

He also created the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, honoring victims of racial terror lynchings. 

learn more:

WEBSITE The national memorial for peace and justice 

DVD   True justice : Bryan Stevenson's fight for equality

MOVIE DVD  Just mercy

Making a political move isn’t all that Black History Month is about.

Did you know there was a librarian from Philadelphia who recorded TV non-stop for over 30 years?

She created an archive of TV history with more than 70,000 VHS tapes. Her name was Marion Stokes, and her vision was to preserve the history of what appeared on television. 

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO

Curious how you can enjoy and celebrate Black History Month?

You can start by learning more about the ways Black voices have paved the way not only in political and civil rights, but also through inventions we use almost daily, such as improvements to traffic signals and blood banks.

You can also visit the DuSable Black History Museum and Education Center, located in Chicago at 740 E. 56th Place.

Fun fact: the museum’s founder, Dr. Margaret Taylor Burroughs, was a Chicagoan. 

You can also explore our list of materials featuring the people mentioned in this post and many others.

We have something for everyone.Databases we offer on this subject: 

Black Americans in Gale (library card required) 

Black Freedom Struggle in the United States 

Looking for activities or resources to enjoy for BHM? 

Free Black History Concert Series – Tuesday, February 24, 2026, 11:00 AM | Auditorium Theatre.  

Poetry Foundation – Celebrating Black History Month – Poems  

I hope you learned something new from this post and celebrate Black History Month by discovering new facts, stories, and examples of Black excellence. 

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