African American History
The 1968 Kerner Commission Got It Right, But Nobody Listened
Released 50 years ago, the infamous report found that poverty and institutional racism were driving inner-city violence
When Emancipation Finally Came, Slave Markets Took on a Redemptive Purpose
During the Civil War, the jails that held the enslaved imprisoned Confederate soldiers. After, they became rallying points for a newly empowered community
Is It Time for a Reassessment of Malcolm X?
A Smithsonian Channel film, "The Lost Tapes," challenges misconceptions about the charismatic leader
How One Amateur Historian Brought Us the Stories of African-Americans Who Knew Abraham Lincoln
Once John E. Washington started to dig, he found an incredible wealth of untapped knowledge about the 16th president
The Bond Between Mary Todd Lincoln and Her Seamstress
The connection between first lady Mary Todd Lincoln and her African-American seamstress Elizabeth Keckley was a remarkably strong one
Angela Davis' Archive Comes to Harvard
The papers illuminate her rise from philosophy professor to global icon and activist
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Travels from Court to Classroom to Highlight History of African-American Inventors
The NBA all-star says he hopes young students realize the power and influence they can achieve in STEM-related fields
Artists Kehinde Wiley and Amy Sherald Capture the Unflinching Gaze of the President and First Lady
The nation's first African-American presidency is marked by two prominent African-American portraitists
The Book That Spooked the South
David Walker’s “Appeal” laid bare the ethical bankruptcy of slavery moreso than any other book of its time
Frederick Douglass’ 200th Birthday Invites Remembrance and Reflection
This Douglass Day, celebrate an icon’s bicentennial while helping to transcribe the nation’s black history
Study Reveals Deep Shortcomings With How Schools Teach America's History of Slavery
Southern Poverty Law Center's recent report identifies key problems when it comes to educating students on slavery—and offers guidance on how to fix them
In Honor of Black History Month, Cultural Institutions Are Sharing Archival Treasures
The best of the U.S. National Archive's #ArchivesBlackHistory
Why Thomas Jefferson Owned a Qur’an
Islam in America dates to the founding fathers, says Smithsonian’s religion curator Peter Manseau
How the New Deal Left Out African-Americans
During the Great Depression, unemployment among African-Americans was twice that of whites – mostly due to segregation
Sixty Years Ago, Willie O'Ree Broke the NHL's Color Barrier
A debilitating eye injury and racial epithets weren't enough to derail the player's resolve
The TV Show ‘Black Lightning’ Gives the Superhero World a Jolt of Social Justice
For the protagonist of WB’s new comic book show, community and family come first
Massive Data Project Will Help People Identify Enslaved Ancestors
Michigan State's 'Enslaved: The People of the Historic Slave Trade' will combine available historical data on slavery into one searchable hub
Deeply Grieving MLK’s Death, Activists Shaped a Campaign of Hurt and Hope
At Resurrection City, an epic 1968 demonstration on the National Mall in Washington D.C., protesters defined the next 50 years of activism
The Strike That Brought MLK to Memphis
In his final days, Martin Luther King Jr. stood by striking sanitation workers. We returned to the city to see what has changed—and what hasn’t
How Mickalene Thomas Is Ushering in a New Wave of Contemporary Art
The celebrated portraitist’s glittering images of black women upend tradition
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