Recognizing and honoring Black History Month
PORTLAND, Ore. — February 1, 2024 — Multnomah County Library invites the community to join in celebrating and honoring Black History Month. Visit a library location through February 29 to learn about events, book displays and activities.
Hip-Hop A Performance and History
Join us for a special performance by Mic Crenshaw, Toni Hill, and their live band The True Originals. Be part of a discussion of Hip-Hop history and how it has influenced our lives and our culture. Maybe even come take the stage and rap a few bars.
Mic Crenshaw is a world-class Hip-Hop and spoken word artist who has toured extensively in Africa, the U.S and Europe. He has a deep knowledge of the history of Hip-Hop both nationally and locally.
This event is first come, first served.
Made possible by The National Endowment for the Humanities Fund of The Library Foundation.
Celebrate Black History Month at the Library
February is Black History Month, a time to celebrate influential people, events and actions contributing to Black History in the United States. Each year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History selects a theme for Black History Month to focus the attention on one specific aspect of the Black experience.
Honor Black History Month 2025
February is Black History Month, a time to honor and celebrate Black history and culture. The Association for the Study of African American Life and History has selected a theme every year since 1928. The theme for 2025 is African Americans and Labor.
Black History Month kids and family programming
Hip Hop Soulsation
Join Hip Hop Soulsation Academy as they bring an upbeat edgy interactive performance the whole family can enjoy.
Hip Hop Soulsation
Join Hip Hop Soulsation Academy as they bring an upbeat edgy interactive performance the whole family can enjoy.
Black History Month adult and older teen programming
Hip-hop turns 50 in August. On Aug. 11, 1973, Clive Campbell, also known as DJ Kool Herc, played at a New York City block party and was credited with starting the music genre.
Black History Month adult and older teen programming
10 ways to celebrate Black history at the library
The theme for Black History Month 2024 is “African Americans and the Arts.” Celebrate this year’s theme with these suggestions.
Making Black history now
The library’s Black Cultural Library Advocates (BCLA) are staff members focused on strengthening the connection between the Black community and Multnomah County Library.
Discover Black history through newspapers
Black-owned newspapers date back to before the Civil War. Even after Black people began publishing newspapers, there were areas of the country where people still communicated in secret to avoid violence and suspicion. In much of the country, Black people, especially enslaved Black people, lived under governments that made it illegal for them to read or write. When Black people wrote, read and published their own newspapers, it was an act of vital resistance against oppression.
4 ways to get inspired this Women’s History Month
Women’s History Month is in March, with International Women’s Day on March 8. The 2025 theme for the month is “Moving Forward Together! Women Educating & Inspiring Generations.” We have four suggestions on how you can get inspired at the library!
Mark Black History Month 2024 with this list of curated titles focused on African Americans and the arts.
-Alicia T.
Black Family Storytime: Hip-Hop Summer Jam!
Celebrate African and African American culture, heritage and joy with an indoor summer jam full of music and fun! Children from birth to age 6 (with their favorite adult/family members) will enjoy books and stories, songs, a craft and movement activities in a positive and affirming environment.
Attendance is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Multnomah County Library storytimes are supported by gifts made to The Library Foundation.
Black Family Storytime: Hip-Hop Summer Jam!
Celebrate African and African American culture, heritage and joy with an indoor summer jam full of music and fun! Children from birth to age 6 (with their favorite adult/family members) will enjoy books and stories, songs, a craft and movement activities in a positive and affirming environment.
Attendance is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Multnomah County Library storytimes are supported by gifts made to The Library Foundation.
Black Family Storytime: Hip-Hop Summer Jam!
Celebrate African and African American culture, heritage and joy with an indoor summer jam full of music and fun! Children from birth to age 6 (with their favorite adult/family members) will enjoy books and stories, songs, a craft and movement activities in a positive and affirming environment.
Attendance is limited and available on a first come, first served basis.
Multnomah County Library storytimes are supported by gifts made to The Library Foundation.
Art Full Text
Journal articles for the fields of visual arts, including film. Search for images, information about artists, news and commentary, exhibition reviews, contemporary art, and art history on a global scale.
Multnomah County Library history
Thanks to the support of Multnomah County voters in 2020, Multnomah County Library is making history with major transformations. Learn more about the library’s building projects and explore the library’s history in more detail through the Oregon Encyclopedia’s entry for the Library Association of Portland.
Albina Library history
Located in North Portland in a historically Black neighborhood, Albina Library has been a beloved part of the community.
Albina Library’s relocation history
Albina Library — its past defined by growth-triggering relocation — has a storied history in its current home.
Local & family history
Dig into the past with resources at the library. Librarians can get you started as you research the history of your family, house or local community.