Black Lives Matter: African American History and Culture

(United States House of Representatives) An unapologetic activist, Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., left his mark on Congress during his 12 terms in the House of Representatives.

(NPR) Arthur George (A.G.) Gaston played a little-noticed role in history. An African-American man born in a log cabin in Demopolis, Ala., in 1892, he defied the social climate of the times to become a business leader, and later, a behind-the-scenes political leader at a critical time in civil rights history.

(Biography) Explore biographies, videos and articles that celebrate black leaders' historic achievements.

(Emory University) Born in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1871, James Weldon Johnson’s life was defined by a number of firsts.

Over six full decades, from his arrival on the national scene in 1945 until his death in 1991, Miles Davis made music that grew from an uncanny talent to hear the future and a headstrong desire to play it.

Tina Turner (born Anna Mae Bullock; 26 November 1939) is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years.

Films on Demand (1 hr 54 min)
This film celebrates Dr. Maya Angelou by weaving her words with rare and intimate archival photographs and videos, which paint hidden moments of her exuberant life during some of America's most defining moments. From her upbringing in the Depression-era South to her work with Malcolm X to her inaugural speech for President Bill Clinton, the film takes us on an incredible journey through the life of a true American icon.

Fillms on Demand (58:10 min)
This program highlights 100 years of the African-American experience through the life of Isaac Pope, an unassuming WWII hero who was the grandson of slaves and the son of sharecroppers. He reflects on his struggle to achieve the "American Dream" and reveals the path forward in order to achieve racial peace and harmony in the South. Pope was the First Sergeant of the 969th Field Artillery Battery and he fought in the Battle of the Bulge—one of the deadliest battles of WWII. After the war, Isaac Pope continued to serve as a mentor, church leader and advocate for civil and workplace rights. Filmmaker Paula J. Caplan, whose father served with Pope, presents a poignant portrait of the man and the African-American experience.

Films on Demand (1 hr)
This documentary traces the life of Dr. Martin Luther King and the development of his non-violent philosophies over the course of the historic Civil Rights Movement. A political and social context drapes across the story of the African-American plight, determined to find an identity through the war at home and abroad.

Films on Demand (22:46 min)
The great grandson of a slave, Thurgood Marshall was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on July 2, 1908. At the age of 25, Marshall graduated first in his class from Howard Law and joined the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights organization. This film follows his journey to become the first African American Supreme Court Justice.

(Mental Floss) From literary icons to fresh, buzzworthy talent, we're highlighting 25 books by African-American authors you should add to your reading list today.

AALBC is the oldest, largest, and most popular online bookstore dedicated to African American literature and Black Literature from around the world. We celebrate Black culture, through books, for ALL readers to enjoy.

Founded in 1998, the Black Writers is a community for black writers that seeks to connect, empower, and educate black writers.

(University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill) Alphabetical List of North American Slave Narratives with Full Text

Alexander Street Video ((63 min)
A video anthology of some of the most exciting poetry and perceptive critical insights of the past decade.

Films on Demand (31:31 min)
In this compelling program, world-renowned author Toni Morrison candidly answers questions regarding how she became a writer, the pain of empathizing with her characters, the sensual nature of her novels, and how it felt to win the Nobel Prize. In addition, she pulls no punches discussing how she first became aware of her racial otherness, how writing for a black audience has kept her work from becoming derivative, the societal uses of racism, and how racism leads to barbarism when individuals abdicate their humanity.

(National Park Service) A listing of National Monuments, Historic Sites, and Parks that highlight the history and contributions of the African American community. Each listing links to the location's National Park Service webpage.

In 1974, the African American Museum was founded as a part of the Special Collections at Bishop College (Now Paul Quinn College), a historically black college that closed in 1988.

The African American Museum in Philadelphia is the first institution built by a major United States city to house and interpret the life and work of African Americans.

For the past 40 years, The Great Plains Black History Museum has been a striving institution dedicated to publicizing and preserving the achievements of the region’s vibrant African American heritage.

Browse through Underground Railroad sites that encompass over 20 states. Click on each site to discover the locations' background information.

The National Museum of African American History and Culture is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African American life, history, and culture.