Skip to content
News

Black History Month


“Civil rights march on Washington, D.C. / [WKL].” Original black and white negative by Warren K. Leffler. Taken August 28th, 1963, Washington D.C, United States (@libraryofcongress). Colorized by Jordan J. Lloyd. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA https://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/2003654393/

The PCC Library continuously selects materials related to African American history as well as contemporary Black American culture. Explore our collection, and suggested materials from the web, to learn more about the contributions and achievements of Black Americans as we celebrate Black History Month.

About Black History Month

Established in 1926 by noted African American historian Carter G. Woodson, Black History Month evolved to become a month-long event in 1976. February was selected because Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln have birthdays during the month. The annual event provides an opportunity to learn about the history, traditions, and contributions of Black Americans. The theme for 2023 is Black Resistance. It explores the multitudinous ways that Black Americans have resisted and persevered throughout history and to the present day. Read more about this year’s theme at Asalh: Black History Themes.

Cascade Festival of African Films

In celebration of Black History Month, PCC Cascade is hosting the 32nd Annual Cascade Festival of African Films from February 3- March 4, 2023. These films celebrate Africa’s achievements, expose its failures, and reveal possibilities for a hopeful future. This year it is online and free. Visit the festival website for additional information.

PCC Dreamers Resource Center

The PCC Dreamers Resource Center (DRC) is sponsoring a documentary series from 12:00 – 1:30 pm every Wednesday from February 1 – 28. See the Black History Month flyer for a full listing of events.

PCC Cascade Multicultural Center

In honor of Black History Month, the Cascade Multicultural Center presents the 3rd Annual “Don’t Touch My Hair” event.

This year’s event includes:

  • self empowerment photo booth
  • television watch party of hair tales
  • black history stickers and buttons
  • raffle tickets and prizes.

This event will also be virtual on Zoom on Friday, February 24 from 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm. The zoom event will include a Black Hair History presentation by J.P. Craig from the PCC Ethnic Studies Department.

See the Don’t Touch My Hair flyer for additional information.

PCC Southeast Women's Resource Center

In honor of Black History Month, the Southeast Women’s Resource Center is sponsoring a number of events.

  • Films about influential Black women (Thursdays at 2:00 pm)
  • Collage/Wall art project (Tue -Thursday at 12 noon)
  • The anti-racist deck and a call to action  (Thursday, 3/2 from 3:00-5:00 pm)

See PCC Southeast Women’s Resource Center flyer for additional information.

Recommended books

Black resistance, white law: a history of constitutional racism in America
Why millions of African Americans are still at risk of political abuse and unprotected from bias crimes.

Blind no more: African American resistance, free-soil politics, and the coming of the civil war
The persistent determination of enslaved people who would flee bondage no matter the risks forced states to recognize the meaning of freedom.

Gendered resistance: women, slavery, and the legacy of Margaret Garner
Essays focusing on historical and contemporary examples of resistance.

The purpose of power: how we come together when we fall apart
This is a story of an activist’s education on the streets and in homes around the country finding ways to come together to create change.

Slavery, resistance, freedom
Americans have always fought for freedoms – speech, religion, and political dissent. Slavery is the denial of these freedoms.

Struggle on their minds: the political thought of African American resistance
Key moments of activist resistance to demonstrate its current and future necessity.

Recommended websites about African American Resistance

Black history month virtual festival
This year’s festival will celebrate the theme of black resistance in the past present and future beginning February 1, 2023.

Freedom, resistance, and the journey towards equity
Stories of struggle and achievement in the African American experience.

Goddess of anarchy: Lucy Parsons, American radical
A prolific writer, editor, and fearless defender of the First Amendment.

Resistance and abolition
The story of American slavery resistance, a great moral crusade.

Rising from the ashes: the Oklahoma Eagle and its long road to preservation
This site examines the process of digitizing The Oklahoma Eagle, a historically Black newspaper razed in the chaos of the Tulsa Race Massacre, the politics of digitization, and the significance of preserving Black history.

Voices remembering slavery: freed people tell their stories
This site has 22 interviews with former slaves who talk about living as an African American from the 1870s to the 1930s and beyond.

Recommended videos

Black lives matter
This film examines the various forms of violence against black citizens, and why resistance is essential.

Cracking the codes: the system of racial inequality
This video introduces the dynamics of systemic racial inequality.

Furious flower III: seeding the future of African American postry. Cultivating a poetry of social change, resistance and truth-telling
Watch 32 of today’s leading African American poets reading from their work and discussing the critical issues shaping this vibrant poetic tradition.

Rise (1940 – 1986)
This film examines the long road to civil rights, when the deep contradictions in American society finally became unsustainable.

The songs are free Bernice Johnson Reagon and African-American music
Bernice Johnson Reagon, founder of the musical group Sweet Honey in the Rock, and curator of the Community Life Division of the Smithsonian Institution, discusses with Bill Moyers how black music has shaped the African-American experience and identity.

Recommended general websites

Black past
An online reference center with a wealth of materials on African American history. Maintained by the University of Washington. Includes a section on African American History in the West.

A hidden history: Oregon Black history timeline
Reveals the stories and struggles of Oregon’s African-American communities.

History.com – Black history
Includes this day in history, TV shows, video clips, interactive timeline, important speeches and more.

Library of Congress: African-American history month
Includes speeches, images, collections, and audio/video of outstanding African-Americans who have helped pave the way for ethnic multiculturalism.

New York Public Library digital Schomburg collection
Includes exhibitions, books, articles, photographs, prints, audio and video streams and selected external links for research on the global black experience.

Not even past: resources for teaching Black history
Not Even Past is a digital magazine that serves as a robust platform for public history with a global reach.