Black History
Explore Black history and culture
Toronto Public Library honours Black History year round with programs, reading lists and podcast episodes that shine a spotlight on Black history and culture.
Upcoming events
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Steelpan: Hands On Fun!
Thu May 23, 2024 4:00 pm - 4:45 pm
Location: S. Walter StewartLet's have fun with Suzette Vidale and play the steelpan! Learn about the different parts of a steelpan, how to hold the sticks, and play a simple song. No musical experience required. For children ages 7-12....
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Steelpan: From Skin to Steel and Beyond
Thu May 23, 2024 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Location: S. Walter StewartHow did the banning of the African skin drum lead to the creation of the tamboo bamboo, ping pong, and eventually the creation of the steelpan? Join Suzette Vidale as she speaks about the instrument's origins, evolution and c...
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.
Watch replays of past programs in our Black History series
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.
- Gwendolyn Brooks: Poems That (Don't) Cough Lightly
- Saeed Jones: How We Fight for Our Lives
- Austin Clarke: Sometimes, A Motherless Child
- Gloria Naylor: Mama Day
Reading Lists
- Black History 2024 - Adult Reading List
- Black History 2024 - Teen Reading List
- Black History 2024 - Children's Reading List
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
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.