Race and Ethnicity
America's First Black Physician Sought to Heal a Nation's Persistent Illness
An activist, writer, doctor and intellectual, James McCune Smith, born enslaved, directed his talents to the eradication of slavery
How to Tell 400 Years of Black History in One Book
From 1619 to 2019, this collection of essays, edited by two of the nation's preeminent scholars, shows the depth and breadth of African American history
How Black Panther Changed Comic Books (and Wakanda) Forever
The Marvel superhero pounced on the scene in the '60s and never looked back
Meet Joseph Rainey, the First Black Congressman
Born enslaved, he was elected to Congress in the wake of the Civil War. But the impact of this momentous step in U.S. race relationships did not last long
The Ten Best Children's Books of 2020
These top titles deliver history lessons, wordplay and a musical romp through the animal kingdom
Why the Smithsonian Is Encouraging Americans to Talk More Openly About Race
In a year marked by calls to reckon with America’s racial past, the Smithsonian is taking a big step toward helping the nation heal
The Long History of Blaming Immigrants in Times of Sickness
Panelists at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History discuss pandemics and scapegoating
The Outsized Role of the President in Race Relations
A new podcast series explores how the presidency has shaped the nation's approach to pursuing racial justice
'The Good Lord Bird' Paints a Different Portrait of Abolitionist John Brown
In a year of anti-racism protests, the new Showtime series focuses on the polarizing abolitionist who led a raid on Harper's Ferry
Why Eleanor Roosevelt's Example Matters More Than Ever
A new biography shows how decency, determination and generosity of heart can change the world
How the U.K. Parliament's Art Collection Is Linked to Slavery
An initial review identified 189 works depicting individuals associated with the slave trade
Oxford Museum Permanently Removes Controversial Display of Shrunken Heads
Citing the exhibit's reinforcement of "racist and stereotypical thinking," the Pitt Rivers Museum moved a total of 120 human remains into storage
Why the Houston Museum of African American Culture Is Displaying a Confederate Statue
The institution describes the move, which arrives amid a reckoning on the U.S.' history of systemic racism, as "part of healing"
Born Enslaved, Patrick Francis Healy 'Passed' His Way to Lead Georgetown University
Because the 19th-century college president appeared white, he was able to climb the ladder of the Jesuit community
The Complicated Legacy of 'My Old Kentucky Home'
Sung each year at the Kentucky Derby, the tune's original meaning has long been lost to history
The Remarkable Life and Work of Guitar Maker Freeman Vines
For nearly half a century, the North Carolina native has created instruments out of found wood—including some from a notorious hanging tree
Why the First Monument of Real Women in Central Park Matters—and Why It's Controversial
Today, New York City welcomed a public artwork honoring three suffragists. But some scholars argue that the statue obscures more than it celebrates
Fannie Lou Hamer's Dauntless Fight for Black Americans' Right to Vote
The activist did not learn about her right to vote until she was 44, but once she did, she vigorously fought for black voting rights
Two Women, Their Lives Connected by American Slavery, Tackle Their Shared History
One descended from an enslaver, the other from the people he enslaved. Together, they traveled to the Deep South to learn their families' pasts
Coalition Calls for Naming Heat Waves Like Hurricanes
The group’s climate and health experts say naming and categorizing extreme heat events could save lives
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