DSC Library Blog

3 Ways to Get Into Black History Month at the DSC Library

1. Brush Up On Black History With Acclaimed Documentaries

You might start with 2022's Making Black America, a four-part series by Henry Louis Gates, Jr., which explores the formal and informal networks upon which Black Americans have established tight-knit communities. "This is the story of the making of Black America," says Gates, "and how, in the making, a people did more than survive the onslaught of enslavement and segregation. They redefined America and its cultural gifts to the world."

The series features discussions with prominent Black intellectuals and cultural leaders, including Charles M. Blow, Angela Davis, André Holland, Fab 5 Freddie, and Killer Mike.

"They redefined America and its cultural gifts to the world." - Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

HBO's Black Art: In the Absence of Light, reveals how Black artists have created some of America's most impactful and meaningful art over the past two centuries, despite being shut out of the mainstream art world. The story is told through a variety of Black voices: contemporary artists, curators, teachers, and art historians. We even get a glimpse into the creative processes of artists like Faith Ringgold, Fred Wilson, Jordan Casteel, and Kerry James Marshall. 

Black Art: In the Absence of Light, Making Black America, and thousands of other titles are available to the Daytona State College community through the library's subscription to Films On Demand. Just log in with your DSC credentials and you're good to go!

2. Or, Take a Deep Dive with Historical Documents

If you're into old newspapers, archives, and primary sources, then you should check out Black Life in America. This comprehensive digital newspaper archive draws from 9,000 news sources, including 400 Black publications, to bring you an "expansive window into over 300 years of African American history."

Best of all, curated searches are broken down into eras, from Arrival in America, through Reconstruction and Jim Crow, to the Civil Rights Movement, and into the 21st century. Each era offers a host of pertinent sub-topics, such as Notable People, Laws and Legislation, Society and Culture, and Reflections on Modern Events. Whether you have a specific project in mind, or just want to browse possible research topics, this is your go-to for Black history in the US press.

3. Read Books by Black Writers

Don't know where to start? Try Books and Authors, which recommends titles based on your interests. Are you into YA fantasy fiction? Check out the Akata Witch series. Or maybe you want to read compelling novels about well-developed Black characters set in a distant time and place - Books and Authors can find that for you too. Expect award-winning titles by literary greats like Colson Whitehead, James McBride, and Yaa Gyasi, just to name a few.

You can also look up the last book you really loved, and Books and Authors will suggest several "read-a-likes" - related books that you'll probably also enjoy. If you liked The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, for example, Books and Authors will show you twenty other YA titles with similar themes.

Using the Author Search tool, you can even search specifically for Black authors. Under "Ethnicity," click "African-American," then search, and voila! Literally thousands of Black authors. 

Though Books and Authors won't take you directly to the text, you can get all the information you need to do a Quick Search of the library catalog. Or, just send us the details and we'll find it for you!