Chicago Public Library recommends the Best of the Best for Teens each year. We recommend the titles in this video as our selections of the very best books published in 2020 for readers of teen literature, encompassing fiction, non-fiction, manga and graphic novels. Every year, our librarians evaluate the year’s new books and select the…
Her Crowning Glory: A Look at Black Hair in History
Throughout the ages, girls and women have been told their hair is their crowning glory. It's the first thing most people notice about women and is used as a measuring stick for our character and personality. Cosmetology was one of the few careers open to Black men and women in the early 20th century, and…
Illinois Writers Project, Hall Branch Digital Collections Document Early Black History in Chicago
Chicago Public Library has digitized materials from two significant archival collections documenting the migration and growth of Chicago's African American community. These collections also shed light on the Chicago Black Renaissance (1930s-1950). Available online for the first time are: George Cleveland Hall Branch Digital Collection contains over 150 items documenting the opening and operations of…
Top Picks: Regina King
Confident, versatile and ambitious: These are the words to best describe multitalented actress Regina King. From her early days as a child star on the hit series 227, she later rose to prominence playing supporting roles in the films Boyz 'n the Hood, Friday and Jerry Maguire. Since then, she's received an Academy Award, Golden…
Habari Gani: Exploring the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa Through Kids Books
December 26 is the first of the seven days of Kwanzaa, a holiday celebrating African American history and culture. During Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits" in Swahili, African Americans honor their heritage and remember the struggles of Africans in the diaspora. Each night, families light a candle and discuss one of the Nguzo Saba (seven…
