This list shares the lives of many Black women who paved the way for future firsts, and who struggled against barriers to succeed as athletes, judges, activists, mathematicians, performers, poets, and politicians.
Explore everything the Library has to offer for Black History Month, and discover more recommended reads with the Schomburg Center’s Black Liberation Reading List.
Some of these titles are also available in accessible formats including talking books (DB), braille (BR), and through Bookshare (BK), as indicated below. See The New York Public Library's Andrew Heiskell Library for more information.
Born to Win: The Authorized Biography of Althea Gibson
by Frances Clayton Gray & Yanick Rice Lamb
Gray and Lamb follow the life of the first Black woman to cross the color line in tournament tennis, from her childhood in Harlem to her victories in 1957 and 1958, when she won both Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.
Daughter of the Empire State: The Life of Judge Jane Bolin
by Jacqueline A. McLeod
Accessible editions: BK
McLeod traces the life of Yale Law School's first Black female graduate and America's first Black woman judge, and details her transformation of the New York City Domestic Relations Court while on the bench.
Ella Baker & the Black Freedom Movement: A Radical Democratic Vision
by Barbara Ransby
Accessible editions: BK
A portrait of one of the most important Black leaders of the twentieth century introduces readers to the fiery woman who inspired generations of activists.
Hidden Figures: The American Dream and the Untold Story of the Black Women Mathematicians Who Helped Win the Space Race
by Margot Lee Shetterly
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Accessible editions: BR | DB | BK
World languages: Español
An account of the pivotal contributions of NASA's Black women mathematicians to America's space program describes how they were segregated from their white counterparts by Jim Crow laws in spite of their groundbreaking successes.
Lady Sings the Blues
by Billie Holiday with William Dufty
Billie Holiday describes her early childhood in an East Baltimore ghetto, her career as an internationally acclaimed jazz vocalist, and her years in bondage to a drug habit.
A Life of Gwendolyn Brooks
by George E. Kent
Accessible editions: DB
In this biography of Gwendolyn Brooks, George E. Kent traces the life of the Black American poet, analyzes her major works, and discusses the influences on her poetry.
Open Wide the Freedom Gates: A Memoir
by Dorothy Height
Accessible editions: BK
The president of the National Council of Negro Women recounts her life and work in civil and human rights.
Shirley Chisholm: Catalyst for Change
by Barbara Winslow
An engaging look into the trailblazing life of Shirley Chisholm and her lifelong advocacy for fair treatment, access to education, and equal pay for all American minority groups.
Shout, Sister, Shout!: The Untold Story of Rock-and-Roll Trailblazer Sister Rosetta Tharpe
by Gayle F. Wald
Accessible editions: BK
Drawing on interviews with and reminiscences of family and colleagues, this portrait of Rosetta Tharpe traces the life and career of the pioneering gospel singer, songwriter, recording artist, and guitar prodigy and examines her influence on the musicians of her era.
Warrior Poet: A Biography of Audre Lorde
by Alexis De Veaux
Accessible editions: BK
Culled from the private writings of the famous feminist poet, this chronicle of her uncompromising life covers Lorde's childhood in Harlem, her groundbreaking career, her advocacy for various causes, and her final ten years in St. Croix battling breast cancer.
Discover Black History Month at NYPL
Browse book recommendations, the Schomburg Center’s Black Liberation Reading List, more than 100 free online events, blog posts, research resources, and more as part of the Library’s Black History Month celebrations.
