Brian Jones: Black History Is For Everyone

Brian Jones, senior director of reading and engagement at the New York Public Library, talks about how the study of Black history challenges our understanding of race, nation, and the stories we tell about who we are. Attend in person or via Zoom (link above).

In his 2025 book "Black History Is for Everyone," Jones offers a meditation on the power of Black history, using his own experiences as a lifelong learner and classroom teacher to question everything—from the radicalism of the American Revolution to the meaning of “race” and “nation.” With warmth and immersive storytelling, Jones encourages us to delve deeper into our collective history, explores how curiosity about our world is essential—and reminds us that with stakes so high, the effort is worth it.

The library’s MLK Committee is thrilled to welcome Brian Jones to campus as he challenges our assumptions and gives us glimpses of alternate futures.

This event is sponsored by U-M Library, the Rackham School, Michigan Housing, the Bentley Historical Library, and the School of Information as part of the annual U-M Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Symposium.