Black History in America
Learn America's Past From The People and Events That Made It
Celebrate and learn from those who fought, risked, and in some cases, gave their lives for equal rights. The month of February is about honoring their legacy and recognizing the struggles they went through. Without their dedication and perseverance our world would look very different. Despite the progress made over the past 200 years, the struggle for equal rights continues today. The Black Lives Matter movement, started in 2013, highlights the need for more progress in this fight. Police violence against people of color continues to be a common problem in the United States. The effort and actions of today's Black leaders are built on the foundation of these inspiring people.
Men and Women Who Stood Up To History
Harriet Tubman
Martin Luther King Jr.
Rosa Parks
John Lewis
Maya Angelou
Sojourner Truth
Malcolm X
Nelson Mandela
The Places and Events That Shaped History
16th Street Baptist Church
Organizational headquarters for the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama.
Booker T. Washington National Monument
Learn about the life and times of this dominant 19th century African-American leader.
Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad
Explore the life of abolitionist and political activist Harriet Tubman.
African Burial Ground National Monument
The largest colonial-era cemetery for people of African descent.
Boston African American National Heritage Site
The Beacon Hill African-American community in Boston that led the fight against slavery.
Nicodemus National Historic Site
Founded in 1877, the historic site preserves the once bustling African American town.
Alabama State Capitol
The third Selma to Montgomery march ended here with a speech from Martin Luther King Jr.
Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
Learn about the landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that ended racial segregation in public schools.
Photo Attributions: Many of the photos come from these great photographers
Tulsa Race Massacre
1921
The Tulsa Race Massacre, occurred on May 31 and June 1, 1921, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was one of the most severe incidents of racial violence in U.S. history.
The violence erupted after a young Black man, Dick Rowland, was accused of assaulting a white woman, Sarah Page. Mobs of white residents attacked the prosperous Black neighborhood of Greenwood, also known as "Black Wall Street," burning homes and businesses to the ground.
Over 1,000 buildings were destroyed, and an estimated 300 Black residents were killed, while thousands were left homeless. The event was covered up for many years and has only recently been acknowledged and studied in depth.
Image by Wesley Fryer on Flickr
Visit These Museums to Learn More About Black History
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African American Museum
​Dallas, Texas -
African American Museum in Philadelphia
Philedelphia, Pennsylvania -
African-American Panoramic Experience Museum
Atlanta, Georgia -
Birmingham Civil Rights Institute
Birmingham, Alabama -
Black American West Museum and Heritage Center
Denver, Colorado -
Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia
Richmond, Virginia -
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
Detroit, Michigan -
DuSable Museum of African American History
Chicago, Illinois -
International Civil Rights Center & Museum
Greensboro, North Carolina
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Museum of African American History
Boston, Massachusetts -
Museum of the African Diaspora
San Francisco, California -
Natchez Museum of African American History and Culture
Natchez, Mississippi -
National Civil Rights Museum
Memphis, Tennessee -
National Great Blacks in Wax Museum
Baltimore, Maryland -
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
Cincinatti, Ohio -
Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and National Jazz Museum
Kansas City, Missouri -
New Orleans African American Museum
​New Orleans, Louisianna -
Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History and Culture
Baltimore, Maryland