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
Join us for events hosted at different branches across the city – from documentary screenings to panel discussions, and community art projects to storytimes. Find an event near you.
-
Food Sovereignty in Canada - A Black Farmer's Perspective
Tuesday, April 23 at 6:00 pm | Malvern
Food sovereignty is a concept that emphasizes the rights of individuals and communities to control their food systems, including production, distribution, and consumption. From a Black farmer's perspective in Canada, food sovereignty holds immense significance as it intersects with racial justice, cultural heritage, and community empowerment. Farmer Joe Thomas addresses these issues and more.
-
Live in the Library: From Skin to Steel- The Evolution of the Steelpan Musical Instrument
Friday, April 26 at 7:00 pm | Parkdale
Hameed Shaqq, “The Pan Piper” will present on the history, development and evolution of the steelpan instrument. He will also perform and the audience will have a chance to participate.
-
Concert: An Afternoon of Music and Exploration with Joni NehRita
Saturday, April 27 at 2:00 pm | North York Central Library
Join singer/songwriter and multi-disciplinary artist, Joni NehRita for an afternoon of music and exploration. The Jamaican-Canadian artist’s music invites listeners to think, feel and move with her socially charged Afro-Latin & Caribbean soul.
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.