Hours & Location, opens an overlay Help, opens an overlay
Main navigation Programs
Open search form

Black History

Explore Black history and culture

Toronto Public Library celebrates Black History year round with programs, reading lists, podcast episodes and videos that honour Black heritage and culture, and consider the historical significance and contemporary contributions of Black activists and artists from around the world.

During Black History Month in February, discover programs and activities for all ages at branches across the city.

Upcoming events

Upcoming Events

View more events

Black voices

Watch recordings of live events featuring preeminent Black authors, scholars, thinkers and performers.

Choose from replays of past Live & Online events on Crowdcast (below), and explore our Black Voices playlist on YouTube.

Podcasts

Listen to these featured episodes, and discover more captivating conversations and archived recordings from our Live Mic and Writers Off the Page podcast series.

Black History Month Books for Adults

Reading Lists

Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection

The Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection features over 19,000 books, DVDs, CDs, newspapers and magazines for adults, children and teens. Materials focus on the Black and Caribbean historical and cultural experience, with a special emphasis on Canadian content.

Our Black history image

Collage portrait of Dr. Rita Cox, made up of book covers and flowers

This collage of Dr. Rita Cox was created to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection. Staff from the Maria A. Shchuka branch used images of book covers to design this imaginative homage to the collection's namesake.

Support Heritage Collections

Help grow the Rita Cox Black and Caribbean Heritage Collection by donating to the Rita Cox Endowment Fund. Donate today at Toronto Public Library Foundation or 416-393-7123.

Generously supported by:

TD: The Ready Commitment

Back to Top