More Free Events

Join The New York Public Library for free events for all ages including live author talks and panels, book discussions, and more exploring Juneteenth.

Attend

To Sit Awhile: Statue Honoring Lorraine Hansberry

Monday, June 13, through Saturday, June 18

Experience To Sit Awhile, a life-sized statue honoring playwright and activist Lorraine Hansberry at the Schomburg Center. Created by Alison Saar, this statue is surrounded by five bronze chairs representing various stages of Hansberry's life. Visitors are encouraged to sit in the chairs, reflect, and enjoy the artwork.

Learn More

  • Juneteenth Reads for All Ages

    Find new and classic titles—plus essential resources—that explore the significance of Juneteenth, the history of slavery, and the ongoing fight for justice for Black Lives.

    Discover

  • Watch Now! Juneteenth: Creating Legacy in Contested Places

    Chef and historian Therese Nelson; Dr. Andrea Roberts, founder of Texas Freedom Colonies Project; and chef and TV personality Carla Hall, author of Carla’s Comfort Food: Favorite Dishes from Around the World, examine the artful negotiations of formerly enslaved African Americans and celebrate the persistent pursuit of freedom. Plus, Rootstock Republic premieres a new arrangement of "Strange Fruit," the classic song, made famous by Billie Holiday, which called attention to the lynching of Black people in America.

    Watch

  • Watch Now! Juneteenth Freedom Writing with Fyütch

    Learn about the legacy and history of the Juneteenth holiday through writing and activities with music and social justice artist Fyütch.

    Watch

  • Watch Now! Juneteenth Storytimes

    Enjoy eight special storytime videos, including readings by authors Mahogany L. Browne, Ibi Zoboi, Carole Boston Weatherford, Kim Johnson, and Kelly Starling Lyons, and elected officials Council Member Vanessa L. Gibson and State Senator Jamaal T. Bailey.

    Watch

  • Juneteenth Book List for Kids

    Explore a list of books recommended for younger kids by the Library’s Teen Reading Ambassadors that illuminate the lives of historic African American figures, both before and after Emancipation.

    Discover

The Schomburg Center's Black Liberation Reading List

Throughout its history, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture has preserved, protected, and fostered a greater understanding of the Black experience through its collections, exhibitions, programs, and scholarship. The Schomburg Center’s Black Liberation Reading List, created in response to the uprisings across the globe demanding justice for Black lives, includes books we and the public turn to regularly as activists, students, archivists, and curators, with a particular focus on books by Black authors and those whose papers we steward.

Most of them are available digitally for free via The New York Public Library’s free e-reader app, SimplyE, available for iOS and Android. Many are also available from The Schomburg Shop, along with a dedicated array of books and materials chronicling global Black culture.

Learn More About the Schomburg Center

Founded in 1925 and named a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is one of the world’s leading cultural institutions devoted to the research, preservation, and exhibition of materials focused on African American, African Diaspora, and African experiences.

  • Connect with the Schomburg Center

    Sign up for the latest news, events, exhibitions, and programs from the Library’s Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

  • Explore the Schomburg Shop

    Visit the Schomburg Shop and see a selection of books, clothing items, tote bags, mugs, and more created by Black and Brown artists for all ages.

  • Support the Schomburg Center

    Schomburg Society members receive discounts, invitations to exclusive events, and more!

  • Get a Digital Library Card

    With a digital library card you get free access to the Library’s wide array of digital resources—including e-books, databases, educational resources, and more.

  • Get Started with SimplyE

    Download SimplyE, the Library's free e-reader app, which makes it easy to borrow e-books and audiobooks from a catalog of more than 300,000 titles. Information available in:

    Photo of hands holding an iPhone with the SimplyE app on the screen

  • Download the NYPL App

    Get the power of The New York Public Library, anytime, anywhere. With the NYPL app, you can access everything the Library has to offer from home or while you’re on the go. Plus, use the app’s self-checkout feature for contactless checkout in branches.