Black Culture Fest (BCF) is coordinated by Black staff from across the OPL who represent the diversity of African/Black communities and proudly share the brilliance + strength of our heritages. We support programming for Black History Month (and beyond), while also providing opportunities for professional development, collaboration, and community-building among Black staff members.
BCF Events
An Abolitionist's Reading List for Black August
Learn from various works that has been done in pursuit of freedom. Includes children's books. Curated by the Black Culture Fest Committee.
Praise in Every Key: The Musical Legacy of the Black Church
I’m honored to share a curated collection celebrating the powerful musical traditions of Black America
Black Speculative Fiction
Science fiction, fantasy, and more by Black authors.
Black Kid Joy!
This collection of picture books beautifully celebrates the rich culture, strength, and joy of African American children and families.
An Abolitionist's Reading List for Black August
Learn from various works that has been done in pursuit of freedom. Includes children's books. Curated by the Black Culture Fest Committee.
Praise in Every Key: The Musical Legacy of the Black Church
I’m honored to share a curated collection celebrating the powerful musical traditions of Black America
Black Speculative Fiction
Science fiction, fantasy, and more by Black authors.
Black Kid Joy!
This collection of picture books beautifully celebrates the rich culture, strength, and joy of African American children and families.
The mission of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH®) is to promote, research, preserve, interpret and disseminate information about Black life, history and culture to the global community.
The 2025 Black History Month theme, African Americans and Labor, focuses on the various and profound ways that work and working of all kinds – free and unfree, skilled, and unskilled, vocational and voluntary – intersect with the collective experiences of Black people.Â
Blogs
February 2026
Welcome to fabulous February at the Oakland Public Library! Check out this month's celebrations and events.
28 Days of Black Librarians
OPL’s Black Culture committee presents to you '28 days of librarians' – a history of those who have inspired us.
African-American Artists and Painters of 2024 and 2025
Yohan's favorites African-American Visual Artists and Painters of 2024 and 2025
Behind the Book: Interview with Author Meikko Sheiree
We all love a good book but what does it take to publish one? Oakland author, Meikko, talks about her writing and publishing journey.
February 2026
Welcome to fabulous February at the Oakland Public Library! Check out this month's celebrations and events.
28 Days of Black Librarians
OPL’s Black Culture committee presents to you '28 days of librarians' – a history of those who have inspired us.
African-American Artists and Painters of 2024 and 2025
Yohan's favorites African-American Visual Artists and Painters of 2024 and 2025
Behind the Book: Interview with Author Meikko Sheiree
We all love a good book but what does it take to publish one? Oakland author, Meikko, talks about her writing and publishing journey.