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.

ProgramsReading ListsCommunity PartnersTools for Educators


  • 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!

  • 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.
  • 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.

  • 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.