In celebration of Black History Month, Spokane Public Library is sharing resources, local events, and a booklist of newly published titles honoring Black history and Black writers and illustrators of various genres and subjects.
The Inland Northwest Special Collections houses in their rare book vault a copy of the region’s first Black-published newspaper, titled “The Citizen: Deer Lake Special.” The story behind the newspaper and the Barrow family’s arrival and presence in Spokane County inspired a beautiful prose poem by Gonzaga professor and Fulbright scholar Inga N. Laurent, part of our “From the Vault: A Rare Books Poetry Project” that took place in December. The poem and the newspaper were put on display in the library through the month of January. Any Spokane resident can request to see the copy of The Citizen, which was published in 1912. It is a precious historical item documenting Spokane County’s Black community.
Frequently in archives there are “archival silences,” which significantly affect historical representations of a populace, particularly limiting the voices of marginalized communities. Protecting items like The Citizen is paramount, as is understanding and uplifting the true lived experiences of Black Spokane at a time when Black histories are being removed from National Parks and worse. Spokane Public Library believes in embracing the leadership of community partners to fill the holes left by archival silencing, as in this digitization project with the Carl Maxey Center, the NW Museum of Art and Culture, and Eastern Washington University. The work continues.
In January, local NAACP President Lisa Gardner spearheaded an effort to make sure recent attempts at erasure don’t happen here in Spokane, putting a resolution before the City Council to commit to honoring Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth. Wonderfully, the resolution passed. As detailed in the Spokesman Review article about the resolution, The Black Lens News editor April Eberhardt and her son Emmanuel Eberhardt spoke to City Council about their recent trip across the country to tour Civil Rights memorials.
“Standing in those places made something very clear to me,” Emmanuel said. “Black history is not a sad story. It is the full story.”
The 2025 Spokane Is Reading featured author Tananarive Due said something similar in her interview with the library last fall, repeating a warning that her mother told her about the ‘clock turning back.’ “…She knew,” Tananarive wrote in the interview, “that power would not yield without a fight. Kudos to the brave teachers, parents, librarians, and artists who are fighting back against silence and ignorance with each story they help to share.”
On their website, the Carl Maxey Center writes, “From the early pioneers who built businesses and community institutions to the civil rights leaders who challenged discrimination, Spokane’s Black history is a testament to resilience, determination, and progress…As we reflect on Black history in Spokane, we recognize the struggles, achievements, and ongoing efforts to build a more just and inclusive society.”
Spokane Community Against Racism is another excellent resource for justice work in our region. Featuring Black History Month on their website, SCAR highlights seven key historical figures, including Eleanor Barrow Chase (first Black woman to serve on Eastern Washington University’s Board of Trustees), Carl Maxey (Spokane’s first Black lawyer, a tireless advocate for justice), Frances Scott (Spokane’s first Black woman lawyer), Gail Caldwell Bonner (the Lilac Festival’s first Black princess), James Everett Chase (founder of the Negro Active League, the first Black person on City Council, and Spokane’s first Black mayor), and Jerrelene Williamson (the author of African Americans in Spokane and a dedicated historian and documentarian). You can check Jerrelene Williamson’s book out from Spokane Public Library, and it’s also archived in the INSC.
Organizations like The Black Lens News, the Carl Maxey Center, SCAR, and more are taking part in major Black History Month celebrations, listed here. Be sure to follow these organizations for more information.
Spokane Black Voices Symposium 2026
Feb 3rd, 7:00 PM, Montvale Event Center.
Suggested ticket donation, $10
Spokane students present their work on the theme “Art as Activism: Seasons, Cycles, and Finding Your Destiny.” This event is hosted by The Black Lens News in partnership with Northwest Passages.
Black History Month Celebration!
Feb 7th, 1-3 PM, 808 E Sprague Avenue.
Spokane Community Against Racism (SCAR) is partnering with the Carl Maxey Center, Spectrum Center, Bla-Que & Been Here, and Art Saves to celebrate Black history month as a part of SCAR’s Platform for Change initiative. Join them for a guided paint session, a lesson in making African waist beads, and more! Culturally-appropriate food & drink will be provided. This is an opportunity to meet the staff of SCAR as well as be in community and celebrate Black history.
And here is a booklist of recently released titles you can check out from Spokane Public Library shelves. As Emmanuel Eberhardt said, Black history is the “full history” of our region and country, and these books demonstrate in their extraordinary range this fullness, perseverance, and vibrancy.
Kids
Unstoppable John: How John Lewis Got His Library Card—and Helped Change History, written by Pat Zietlow Miller ; illustrated by Jerry Jordan
A poignant picture book biography on how John Lewis got his library card and helped change history.
Go Tell It: How James Baldwin Became a Writer, written by Quartez Harris ; art by Gordon C James
“A boy who loves stories grows into a teenager who escapes into his writing and then a young man who plays his typewriter like a piano to show the fullness of Black life, in this lyrical picture book biography of James Baldwin, the celebrated novelist, essayist, playwright, poet, and activist.”
Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson
In 1963, Cooper Dale navigates the challenges of fifth grade as a Black girl in a predominantly white community near Pittsburgh.
And She Was Loved: Toni Morrison’s Life in Stories, written by Andrea Davis Pinkney; illustrated by Daniel Minter
“From imaginative child to visionary storyteller, Toni Morrison was a fiercely inspiring writer that helped change the world. This poetic picture book biography is part love letter and part biography, praising the power of this Nobel Prize winner.”
The Six Triple Eight: A True Story of the Black Woman Battalion of World War II, written by Tonya Abari ; illustrated by Lance Evans
A powerful and vibrantly illustrated account of the resilience and dedication of the unsung Black heroines who played a major role in World War II.
Black History for Every Day of the Year by David Olusoga, Yinka Olusoga, and Kemi Olusoga
Did you know that Aretha Franklin was the first woman to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame? Or that the first accounts of a Black samurai in Japan date back almost 500 years ago? This is a unique celebration of well-known figures and unsung heroes, famous cultural moments and hidden histories, from ancient times to today. Accompanied by photos, quotes, and illustrations, these 366 entries will take you on a journey across global history, from the ancient Kingdom of Kush to the Black Lives Matter movement.
Adults
The Black Family Who Built America: The McKissacks, Two Centuries of Daring Pioneers by Cheryl McKissack Daniel ; with Nick Chiles
Traces six generations from slavery to industry leadership, chronicling the McKissack family’s enduring legacy in architecture and construction, highlighting their resilience, innovation, and contributions to landmark American projects amid ongoing challenges of racial discrimination and structural inequality.
The Afterlife of Malcolm X: An Outcast Turned Icon’s Enduring Impact on America by Mark Whitaker
Explores the iconic freedom fighter’s posthumous influence on Black Power, hip-hop, literature, sports, and politics while also detailing the wrongful convictions in his assassination, offering a broad view of his lasting impact on American culture and history.
People Of Means: a Novel by Nancy Johnson
From the acclaimed author of The Kindest Lie, a propulsive novel about a mother and daughter, Freda and Tulip, each seeking justice and following their dreams during moments of social reckoning-1960s Nashville and 1992 Chicago.
The Conjuring of America: Mojos, Mermaids, Medicine, and 400 Years of Black Women’s Magic by Lindsey Stewart
A crucial telling of U.S. history centering the Black women whose magic gave rise to the rich tapestry of American culture, wellness, and spirituality that we see today—from Vicks VapoRub and Aunt Jemima’s pancake mix, to the magic of Disney’s The Little Mermaid (2023), and the all-American blue jean.
Good Dirt: A Novel by Charmaine Wilkerson
The daughter of an affluent Black family pieces together the connection between a childhood tragedy and a beloved heirloom in this moving novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the celebrated novel Black Cake.
Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray
Named a Best Book of the Year by NPR: The extraordinary story of the woman who ignited the Harlem Renaissance, written by Victoria Christopher Murray, New York Times bestselling coauthor of The Personal Librarian.
I Will Scream to the World by Jaha Marie Dukureh ; foreword by Ashley Judd
“This extraordinary memoir details the monumental journey of one young Gambian woman from survivor of FGM and forced child marriage, to global activist and political leader who became UN Women’s first Goodwill Ambassador for Africa, one of Time Magazine’s 100 Most Influential People, and among the youngest people nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.”
Harriet Tubman: Military Scout and Tenacious Visionary from Her Roots in Ghana to Her Legacy on the Eastern Shore by Jean Marie Wiesen and Rita Daniels, the Great-Great-Great-Grandniece of Harriet Tubman ; Foreword by Queen Mother Dr. Delois Blakely
A comprehensive overview of Tubman’s life and work, co-authored by one of her descendants, Rita Daniels.
