Slavery | Underground Railroad | Segregation & Civil Rights Movement
Civil Rights Biographies | Martin Luther King, Jr.
Segregation & Civil Rights Historical Fiction
African Americans in Sports | African Americans in the Arts
More Biographies of Famous African Americans
More African American History | African American History for Teens

An Apple for Harriet Tubman
by Glennette Tilley Turner. (Grades 1-4)
An apple orchard is the scene of one of the worst times of Harriet's life as well as some of the best.

Words Set Me Free: The Story of Young Frederick Douglass by Lesa Cline-Ransome; illus. by James E. Ransome. (Grades 2-5)
The inspirational, true story of how Frederick Douglass found his way to freedom one word at a time. 

Slavery in America by Jean F. Blashfield. (Grades 3-5)
This is an overlook of the history of slavery in the United States beginning in the colonial times to the end of the Civil War. 

Never Forgotten by Patricia C. McKissack; artwork by Leo & Diane Dillon. (Grades5-8)
Young Musafa becomes one of the “taken” and crosses the Middle Passage and is sold into slavery.

Underground by Shane W. Evans. (Grades K-3)
The concise text gives way to the expressive and beautifully wrought illustrations by Evans that artistically convey the travel from slavery to freedom. 

Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter. (Grades 1-3)
Peg Leg Joe's folk song advises a family to follow the North Star to freedom.

Show Way by Jacqueline Woodson. (Grades 1-3)
Woodson eloquently tells the story of the slaves' use of quilting to show the way to freedom.

Henry’s Freedom Box: a True Story from the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine; illustrated by Kadir Nelson. (Grades 2-5)
Henry “Box” Brown, a Virginia slave in 1849, mails himself to freedom from Richmond to Philadelphia. 

Harriet Tubman, A Woman of Courage by the editors of Time for Kids; with Renee Skelton. (Grades 3-5)
Tubman’s courage began as a teenager and inspired generations of Americans to stand up for equal rights and their convictions. 

Eliza's Freedom Road: An Underground Railroad Diary by Jerdine Nolen. (Grades 4-7)
Eliza is a 12-year-old slave girl who keeps a journal documenting her journey via the Underground Railroad from Alexandria, Virginia, to freedom in St. Catherines, Canada. 

This is the Dream by Diane Z. Shore and Jessica Alexander; illustrated by James Ransome. (Grades K-3)
The story of the Civil Rights Movement unfolds through vibrant illustrations and succinct verse.

The Great Migration: Journey to the North by Eloise Greenfield; illustrated by Jan Spivey Gilchrist. (Grades K-8)
This beautifully illustrated book describes the period of the 20th century when many African Americans left the South to make better lives for themselves in the northern states.

Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman. (Grades 3-5)
Sparked by Rosa Parks’ refusal to give up her seat, a non-violent movement formed in Montgomery, Alabama in an effort to desegregate the bus system.

Little Rock Girl 1957: How a Photograph Changed the Fight for Integration by Shelley Tougas. (Grades 4-6)
The author shows how the 1957 photograph taken by Will Counts brought the Civil Rights Movement to the forefront of the nation's attention. 

Freedom Riders: John Lewis and Jim Zwerg on the Front Lines of the Civil Rights Movement by Ann Bausum. (Grades 5-9)
John Lewis and Jim Zwerg, two youths with very different pasts, were joined together through the Freedom Riders in an effort for equality.

We've got a Job: The 1963 Birmingham Children's March by Cynthia Levinson. (Grades 6+)
Levinson chronicles the incredible and unique stories of four people who participated in the Children’s March in 1963 in an effort to promote desegregation.

Civil Rights Movement for Kids: A History with 21 Activities by Mary C. Turck. (Grades 4+)
This excellent teacher resource offers an overview of the Civil Rights Movement and activities for youth.

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni; illustrated by Bryan Collier. (Grades K-3)
This book celebrates Rosa Park's momentous refusal to give up her bus seat.

Ruby Bridges Goes to School: My True Story by Ruby Bridges. (Grades K-3)
Ruby Bridges tells her role in ending racial segregation in the New Orleans public school system.

John Lewis in the Lead: A Story of the Civil Rights Movement by Jim Haskins and Kathleen Benson; illustrated by Benny Andrews. (Grades 3-5)
The son of an Alabama sharecropper, Lewis was active in the Civil Rights Movement and went on to become a congressman.

The Voice That Challenged a Nation: Marian Anderson and the Struggle for Equal Rights by Russell Freedman. (Grades 3-8)
Using Marian Anderson’s writings and other primary documents, Freedman forms a moving portrayal of this talented vocalist’s role in the Civil Rights Movement.

Through My Eyes by Ruby Bridges; articles and interviews compiled and edited by Margo Lundell. (Grades 6-8)
Ruby Bridges recounts her involvement in the integration of her school in New Orleans in 1960. 

Malcolm X: By Any Means Necessary by Walter Dean Myers. (Grades 6-8)
Myers profiles the life and speeches of influential African American leader Malcolm X.

Ida B. Wells: Mother of the Civil Rights Movement by Dennis B. Fradin. (Grades 6-8)
A journalist and activist, Wells started the campaign against lynching.

A Wreath for Emmett Till by Marilyn Nelson; illustrated by Philippe Lardy. (Grades 7-8)
A sequence of sonnets tells the story about the brutal murder of 14-year-old Emmett Till in 1955.

Happy Birthday, Martin Luther King by Jean Marzollo. (Grades K-3)
Marzollo introduces young audiences to the life of civil rights leader Marin Luther King, Jr.

My Uncle Martin's Words for America: Martin Luther King Jr.'s Niece Tells How He Made a Difference by Angela Farris Watkins, PhD; illustrated by Eric Velasquez.  (Grades K-4)
This accessible offering for younger audiences illustrates Martin Luther King Jr.’s non-violent efforts to end segregation.

Free at Last! by Angela Bull. (Grades 1-3)
This book explores the life of Martin Luther King, Jr. in a format ideal for beginner readers.

I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King, Jr.; paintings by Kadir Nelson. (Grades 2+)
The text of King’s famous speech is complemented by paintings illustrating the ideals of the Civil Rights Movement.

Martin's Big Words: The Life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by Doreen Rappaport, illustrated by Bryan Collier. (Grades 4-5)
The life Dr. King is presented through expressive, dramatic artwork and quotes from the famous civil rights leader.

Marching to the Mountaintop: How Poverty, Labor Fights, and Civil Rights Set the Stage for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Final Hours by Ann Bausum. (Grades 6+)
Basum explores how the media, politics, the Civil Rights Movement, and segregated trash collectors protests all converged to set the scene for one of Dr. King's greatest speeches and for his tragic death in Memphis.

Grandmama's Pride by Becky Birtha. (Grades K-2)
On her visit to grandma's house in the south, Sarah Marie feels the sting of segregation, but in later years she notes the changes that have come about.

When Grandmama Sings by Margaree King Mitchell; illustrated by James E. Ransome.
(Grades 2-4)
An eight-year-old girl accompanies her grandmother on a singing tour of the segregated South, both of them knowing that Grandmama's songs have the power to bring people together.

Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin A. Ramsey; illustrated by Floyd Cooper. (Grades 2-4)
Ruth travels with her family from Chicago to Alabama using the “Green Book” as a guide for places that will serve African Americans along their travels.

The Mighty Miss Malone by Christopher Paul Curtis. (Grades 4-8)
In a spin-off to “Bud, Not Buddy” we get to know Deza Malone who lives in Gary, Indiana during the Great Depression.  A gifted student, Deza has a strong sense of self despite hard times with poverty and racial segregation.

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine. (Grades 5-8)
In 1958 painfully shy Marlee sees the divisions caused by school integration in her family and home town of Little Rock, AR.  Her new friend Liz helps her find courage and stand up against racism. 

Fire in the Streets by Kekla Magoon. (Grades 6-9)
Maxie longs to join the Black Panthers in the aftermath of Dr. King's assassination in 1968, despite what family and friends may like it.  She soon is caught up in the violence of anti-war and civil rights demonstrations. 

Just as Good: How Larry Doby Changed America's Game by Chris Crowe; illustrated by Mike Benny. (Grades 1-3)
In the 1948 World Series, Larry Doby, the first black player in the American League, wins the game for the Cleveland Indians. 

Touch the Sky: Alice Coachman, Olympic High Jumper by Ann Malaspina; illustrations by Eric Velasquez. (Grades 2-4)
A biography of the first black woman to win an Olympic gold medal and the road she traveled to get there. 

Play Ball, Jackie! Stephen Krensky; illustrations by Joe Morse. (Grades 2-4)
A young boy and his father watch a Brooklyn Dodgers game on April 15, 1947, witnessing Jackie Robinson become the first black man to play in Major League baseball.

A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis by Matt De La Pẽna; illustrated by Kadir Nelson. (Grades 3-5)
Shortly before WWII, Joe Louis fights Germany's Max Schmeling. The match showed the international tension between their two countries and a triumph over racial barriers. 

Promises to Keep: How Jackie Robinson Changed America by Sharon Robinson. (Grades 4-7)
A warm and touching look at an American sports icon told from his daughter’s point of view.

Bird in a Box by Andrea Davis Pinkney; illustrations by Sean Qualls. (Grades 4-7)
Set in New York City in 1936, the lives of three children living at the Mercy Home for Negro Orphans intertwine with Joe Louis’ boxing matches. 

King of the Mound: My Summer with Satchel Paige by Wes Tooke. (Grades 4-7)
After fighting polio for a year, Nick refuses to let a leg brace stop him from taking a job with a minor league baseball team and witnessing Satchel Paige pitch during the 1935 season.

I, Too, Am America by Langston Hughes; illustrated by Bryan Collier. (Grades K-5)
This beautifully illustrated edition of Hughes’s poem features the African American Pullman Porters of the early twentieth century. 

Harlem's Little Blackbird by Renée Watson; pictures by Christian Robinson. (Grades K-3)
Florence Mills, a child of former slaves, endured firsthand bigotry, but with determination became a loved singer/dancer.

Jazz Age Josephine by Jonah Winter; illustrated by Marjorie Priceman. (Grades 2-6)
This is a tribute to the iconic jazz entertainer who overcame racial barriers to become an iconic performer.

It Jes' Happened: When Bill Traylor Started to Draw by Don Tate; illustrated by R. Gregory Christie. (Grades 3-5)
African American folk artist Bill Traylor, at age eighty-five, began to recount his life in rural and urban Alabama through drawings. 

Roots and Blues: A Celebration by Arnold Adoff; paintings by R. Gregory Christie. 
(Grades 3-7)
This volume of beautiful, lyrical poems and prose show the impact of blues music on everyday life throughout history.

Remember the Bridge: Poems of a People by Carole Boston Weatherford, designed by Semadar Megged. (Grades 4+)
With photographs and twenty-nine poems, readers can learn about African American’s efforts to overcome oppression throughout history.

Zora!: The Life of Zora Neal Hurston by Judith Bloom Fradin and Dennis Brindell Fradin.
(Grades 5-8)
Examine the life of Hurston in this tribute to the life and achievements of the civil rights activist and acclaimed author. 

Powerful Words: More Than 200 Years of Extraordinary Writing by African Americans by Wade Hudson. (Grades 5-9)
Hudson has compiled a powerful collection of speeches and writings by famous African Americans marking a reflection on the times in which they lived.

Dinner at Aunt Connie's House by Faith Ringgold. (Grades 1-3)
Melody meets twelve inspiring African-American women who step out of their portraits and join the family for dinner.

Fifty Cents and a Dream: Young Booker T. Washington by Jabari Asim; illustrated by Bryan Collier. (Grades 2-4)
Washington, a former slave, overcame many hardships, learned how to read and successfully earned a college education. 

Maritcha: A Nineteenth-Century American Girl by Tonya Bolden. (Grades 3-5)
Maritcha Rédmond Lyons, a free black born in 1848, remembers the day her family received a visit from Frederick Douglas.

Hand in Hand: Ten Black Men Who Changed America by Andrea Davis Pinkney; paintings by Brian Pinkney. (Grades 5-8)
Learn the stories of 10 African-American men from different eras in American history, organized chronologically from slavery to the modern day. 

Let It Shine: Stories of Black Women Freedom Fighters by Andrea Davis Pinkney. (Grades 6-8)
This book profiles ten African American women whose courageous acts against oppression made them leaders in the battle for civil rights.

Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass: The Story Behind an American Friendship by Russell Freedman. (Grades 5-10)
Freedman recounts the brief friendship of Abraham Lincoln with African American leader Frederick Douglass before and during the Civil War. 70 archival photos wrap through the story.

The African American Experience by Sandy Donovan. (Grades 7-9)
Donovan describes various African Americans and their contributions to American society, including artists, writers, sports stars, musicians, and political leaders. 

Bad News for Outlaws: The Remarkable Life of Bass Reeves, Deputy U.S. Marshal by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson. (Grades 3-7)
Born into slavery, Bass Reeves became a deputy United States Marshal and one of the most successful lawmen in the Wild West.

Heart and Soul: The Story of America and African Americans Words and Paintings by Kadir Nelson. (Grades 5+)
Utilizing his rich, realistic paintings and eloquent text, Nelson narrates the history of African Americans from slavery to present day. 

Courage Has No Color: The True Story of the Triple Nickels: America's First Black Paratroopers by Tanya Lee Stone (Grades 5+)
Stone chronicles the Triple Nickels, the first African American paratroopers in America.  This group fought on the eastern front during World War II.

Black Indians: A Hidden Heritage written by William Loren Katz. (Grades 7-9)
The author traces the ancestry of these biracial societies using records kept from around North America. 

Contemporary Achievements by Rebecca Szulhan. (Grades 4+)
Important events of contemporary African Americans are discussed with detailed text, historic photos, and sidebars. 

A Dream of Freedom: The Civil Rights Movement from 1954 to 1968 by Diane McWhorter: foreword by Fred Shuttlesworth. (Grades 5+)
In this history of the modern Civil Rights Movement, the author focuses on the monumental events that occurred between 1954, the year of Brown v. the Board of Education, and 1968, the year that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.

Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don't You Grow Weary by Elizabeth Partridge. (Grades 6+)
Covering the march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama in 1965, youth fought to have the right to vote. 

No Crystal Stair: A Documentary Novel of the Life and Work of Lewis Michaux, Harlem Bookseller by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson; artwork by R. Gregory Christie. (Grades 7-9)
In this work of historical fiction, Nelson tells the story of a man with a passion for knowledge and of a bookstore whose influence has become legendary. 

Black & White: The Confrontation between Reverend Fred L. Shuttlesworth and Eugene "Bull" Connor by Larry Dane Brimner. (Grades 7-12)
FBI and police reports, newspapers, interviews and photographs of Shuttlesworth and Connor reveal how their confrontation regarding civil rights in the 1960s brought huge changes to Birmingham, Alabama. 

Sitting for Equal Service: Lunch Counter Sit-ins, United States, 1960s by Melody Herr. (Grades 10-12)
Herr creates a photojournalistic approach of the history of the lunch counter sit-ins in the 1960s in the United States.