The University of Detroit Mercy will celebrate Black History Month this February with a series of events that are free and open to all. According to Cultural Studies: Holidays Around the World, Black History Month grew out of Negro History Week, which was established in 1926 to “celebrate the achievements of African Americans” and was “initially designed to encompass the birthday of the abolitionist orator and journalist Frederick Douglass (1817-1895) on February 14 as well as Abraham Lincoln’s birthday.”

The McNichols Campus Library has a number of resources to complement and support the talks taking place this month at various locations across campus. Check out Nikki Taylor’s Driven Toward Madness, the thoughtful account, grounded in black feminist theory, that inspired Toni Morrison's Beloved, or one of Assistant Professor and Director of African American Studies Alex Zamalin’s titles on African American political thought. The Library is also a great place to find articles and other resources on topics covered in the talks, including racial violence and racial reconciliation.

If you have any questions or would like help finding a particular resource, please contact a librarian or visit Librarian Karl Ericson’s African American Studies LibGuide.

Posted by Rebecca Tull