Tampa Neighborhood

Hillsbrough Library Collection on Black History

IBL serves as a hub portal to make knowledge and information accessible and available to people. Below are videos from Hillsborough Country Library surrounding Black History in Florida and the United States in service of that goal. All videos are the property of Hillsborough Country Library.

Remembering Robert W. Saunders, Sr.

Celebrate the life and legacy of Tampa native, Robert W. Saunders, Sr. on the centennial of his birth as speakers share stories of the man and his career.


Robert W. Saunders: Courage and Sacrifice in the Midst of Jim Crow

Take a critical look at the strategies Robert W. Saunders used in the 1950s and 1960s to stand up against institutional racism and discrimination in Tampa in his role as Florida NAACP Field Secretary. This presentation by Fred Hearns (Curator of Black History for the Tampa Bay History Center) is based on Saunders' 2000 publication Bridging the Gap: Continuing the Florida NAACP Legacy of Harry T. Moore.


African Americans in the West

Dr. Julian Chambliss explores the real and imagined narratives connected to Black Americans in the West in popular culture. Recommended for teens and adults.


The 1619 and 1628 Charter Angolans in Jamestown: My Family Story

Join historian, author, genealogist, and nonprofit museum/bookstore owner Gigi Best-Richardson as she shares how her Angolan ancestors arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in 1619 and 1628.


Black History Month Story Time (Recommended for ages 3-6)

Black History Month is a time to learn about the experiences and contributions of African Americans. Join us as we celebrate with stories and activities. Recommended for ages 3-6.


An Evening With Dorothy Davis: The Photography And Life Of Griffith J. Davis

Dorothy M. Davis, President of Griffith J. Davis Photographs and Archives, presents an illustrated lecture focusing on the impact of the photography and legacy of her father Griffith J. Davis (1923-1993), pioneering Black photojournalist, filmmaker, and US Senior Foreign Service Officer.


Desegregation of Public Accommodations in Maryland, 1962

Dr. John Hartman shares his experiences as a Civil Rights protestor who was arrested in 1962. Learn how his and other such cases were overturned by the Maryland Supreme Court, which led to the state becoming the first in the South to desegregate public accommodations.


African-American Tech Pioneers

Celebrate Black History Month with the technological achievements of African Americans. Recommended for all ages.


African-American Tech Pioneers - Part 2


Remembering Elijah Cummings: With Author James Dale and Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings

Join us for a special discussion of Congressman Elijah Cummings’ recently published memoir of his rise to leadership on Capitol Hill. Learn how the book came to be, and hear poignant excerpts highlighted by book collaborator James Dale and Congressman Cummings’ wife, Dr. Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, who wrote the final chapter.