Sharing the stories of Black Americans is essential to understanding the complexity and depths of our history. This February, in honor of Black History Month, we will be highlighting programs and resources from ourselves and our community and national partners to highlight how Black Rhode Islanders have made an impact locally, nationally, and globally. This page will continue to be updated throughout the month of February. If you have suggestions of resources to be added to this page, please email communications@rihs.org.
Programs • Reading Lists • Community Partners • Tools for Educators
- Two New Exhibits from the Rhode Island Black Heritage Society: Explore two new exhibits, “Before Malcolm & Martin: The Fight for Civil Rights in RI, 1865-1968,” and “Frank Jackson, Light & Shadow,” open until February 28 and March 6 respectively.
- “The Importance of Culture:” Join Hamilton House on Monday, February 27 for a lecture by Raymond Two Hawks Watson about how culture is a unique framework of the human experience that provides identity and purpose.
- Special Collections: Black History Open House: Join Providence Public Library’s Special Collections on Monday, February 27 from 5-6:30pm as they host a selection of items related to Black history and culture, including rare books, archival documents, and more!
- Gilder Lehrman Institute Black History Reading List: In celebration of Black History Month, the Gilder Lehrman Institute highlights resources for studying Black history in America through curated groupings of documents and accompanying materials.
- Library of Congress Black History Month Website: The Library of Congress website honoring Black History Month includes online information from the National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
- 1696 Heritage Group
- AS220
- Cape Verdean Museum
- New Urban Arts
- Rhode Island Black Heritage Society
- Rhode Island Slave History Medallions
- Stages of Freedom
- Civil Rights Timeline: Civil Rights Timeline from Rhode Island Black Heritage Society, Rhode Island Historical Society, & the Rhode Island Historical Preservation & Cultural Commission.
- Encompass- Civil Rights in Rhode Island: Explore the history of the Civil Rights Movement in Rhode Island with essays and primary sources, along with lesson plans and additional materials including video clips and oral histories.
- Encompass- Rhode Island, Slavery, and the Slave Trade: Explore the history of Rhode Island’s role in the Slave Trade with essays and primary sources, along with lesson plans and additional materials.
- Resources on African American History from the 1696 Commission: The 1696 Historical Commission was signed into law on July 1, 2014 and was tasked with developing a comprehensive African American history curriculum for Rhode Island public schools from kindergarten through grade 12. This page includes resources provided by organizations, scholars, and historians throughout Rhode Island to support classroom instruction in African-American history.