by Carrie Dos Santos –
During February, the Middlesex County Public Library (MCPL) system prominently displays some of the most critically-acclaimed latest Black history books in its collection in celebration of Black History Month. These books should not be read for only this month, though. Rather, the library staff invites readers to pick one up whenever there is a need for inspiration, motivation, generosity, and perseverance.
A selection of notable new history books available for checkout includes:
- “Determined: The 400-Year Struggle for Black Equality,” by Karen Sherry is published by the Virginia Museum of History and Culture. It provides a provocative overview of Black history in Virginia from 1619 to 2020.
- “A Better Life for Their Children,” by Andrew Feiler chronicles the partnership of Booker T. Washington and Julius Rosenwald (of Sears, Roebuck & Co.) to build 4,978 public schools in Black communities throughout the South. Haunting photography of the school buildings and the many community leaders that began their educations in those schools fill the pages.
- “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song,” by Henry Louis Gates Jr. delves into the various roles Black churches played – and continue to play –throughout American history.
- New biographies of notable figures such as Cicely Tyson, Prince, and Barack and Michelle Obama.
Also, don’t forget about MCPL’s new reading challenges on Beanstack in honor of Black History Month. Go to https://yourmiddlesexlibrary.beanstack.org to register for the appropriate reading challenge. Explore the collections at both the Deltaville and Urbanna branch libraries for more books about Black history and amazing Black authors, or go online to www.yourmiddlesexlibrary.org.
(Carrie Dos Santos is the executive director of the Middlesex County Public Library system.)
