The Periodic Table of Black History

Each year since February of 2020, the Children’s section at the Tremont Library has presented a unique framework to encourage conversation and learning about influential Black Americans during Black History Month.

The idea of a periodic table originated from a Lakeland, FL public library in 2019. The UAPL staff have creatively tweaked the idea for our community. Gone are the element symbols. In are photos and names of prominent Black authors, athletes, entrepreneurs and more, all color-coded to highlight their professional skill sets.

“It’s smaller in scope than the true periodic table,” explains Brittany Harrison, UAPL’s Youth Department Manager. “We don’t want to overwhelm, and at around 70 entries, this focuses the spotlight.”

A core set consistently appear year-to-year (think Martin Luther King, Jr.), but there are always new featured people. Brittany and her team search with an eye for names children may recognize, such as tennis star Coco Gauff or author Jason Reynolds. UAPL’s Reference staff do more thorough research to vet additional entries.

To increase interaction, the table is supported with hands-on activities open to children of all ages. Book displays suggest recommended reading, a weekly matching worksheet and coloring page allow for tangible processing of the information, and bookmarks and buttons are educational souvenirs.

With its continued presence each February, our UAPL is making history about history! Be sure to check out the display in the Tremont Library’s Children’s area this month.