Recommended Reading

African-American Artists 1880 - 1987 — Selections from the Evans-Tibbs Collection with an introduction by David C. Driskell. This book, which accompanies an exhibition by the same name, looks at particular eras in African-American History that have influenced black artists and their art.
Alone in a Crowd - Prints of the 1930s-40s by African-American Artists — From the Collection of Reba and Dave Williams with an introduction by M. Stephen Doherty. This accompanying catalogue to the exhibition by the same name highlights the lithographic works of African-American artists better known for their artistry in other types of media.
Free Within Ourselves - African-American Artists in the Collection of the National Museum of American Art by Regina A. Perry. Thirty-one artists, representing a cross section of African-American artists in the 19th and 20th centuries, are included in this book.
Half Past Autumn - A Retrospective by Gordon Parks, with an essay by Philip Brookman. Using the camera and pen to fight off the "oppressions of his adolescence", Mr. Parks gathers "individuals, events, places, conflicts and dilemmas" into this book to reveal his pursuit of survival.
Jacob Lawrence American Painter by Ellen Harkins Wheat with a contribution by Patricia Hills. Excerpt from the book's promotional material: This book "is the most comprehensive survey ever made" of Mr. Lawrence's work. It includes Mr. Lawrence's paintings of Harlem street life in the 1930s through depictions of racial injustice during the 1960s.
The Catalogue of the Barnett-Aden Collection with an Introduction by Valliere Richard Auzenne. This catalogue gives background information on the establishment of the Barnett-Aden Collection (1943) in Washington, D.C., the collections' influence on African-American artists, and connection with the Museum of African American Art in Tampa, FL. The catalogue also profiles select artists of the collection.
The Walter O. Evans Collection of African American Art with a Foreword by Andrea D. Barnwell and Introduction by Tritobia Hayes Benjamin. Excerpts from the book's promotional jacket: The collection "features a broad selection of outstanding works…Eighty color plates illustrate the aesthetic legacy created by African-American artists over more than 150 years."
Across Continents and Cultures – The Art and Life of Henry Ossawa Tanner by Dewey F. Mosby. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Mr. Tanner (1859-1937) spent more than half his life in France and appeared to be ambivalent about race and his "mixed" racial ancestry. This book presents Mr. Tanner's biographical information along with his artistic contributions ranging from religious depictions, landscapes, still life, and family portraits. Mr. Tanner's painting, "Sand Dunes at Sunset, Atlantic City", is hung in the Green Room of the White House in Washington, D.C.