National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Making of African American Identity: Old Timers, Newcomers
An editorial cartoon and a newspaper article illustrating the tensions between members of established African American communities in the North and Southern migrants. Links to both resources are provided within this site.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Poetry, Making of African American Identity: V. 3
This study of black protest poems from the early part of the twentieth century through the late sixties can provide insight into the issues African Americans faced during that time and the ways they responded to them. Works from seven...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Community as Place, Making of African American Identity: V. 3
Articles examining the notion of community as place. An essay by James Weldon Johnson and R. Edgar Iles provides different definitions of community by illustrating regional culture.
Cengage Learning
Houghton Mifflin: Gwendolyn Brooks, Literary Analysis
Here you will find theme, perspective, form, style, and contrast comparison. Good research material!
Cengage Learning
Houghton Mifflin: Gwendolyn B. Bennett
Although this site is intended for teachers in class preparation, it is information packed and has thought provoking questions at the end.
Library of Congress
Loc: African American Identity in the Gilded Age
Examine the tension experienced by African-Americans as they struggled to establish a vibrant and meaningful identity based on the promises of liberty and equality in the midst of a society that was ambivalent towards them and sought to...
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: The Traditional Arts and Crafts of African Americans Across Five Centuries
Detailed essay provides an overview of Africa's contributions to American culture while discussing how basket makers, potters, and quilters helped preserve American history through their works.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Teacher Serve: Beyond the Written Document: Looking for Africa in African American Culture
Paulla A. Ebron, professor at Stanford University, takes a look at how objects, landscapes, orally transmitted stories, and songs along with written documents can be used to study cultural history.
University at Buffalo
University at Buffalo: Helene Johnson Poetry
This site, which is provided for by the University at Buffalo, gives the text of three of the poems of this famous Harlem Renaissance author.
Scott Alexander
Red Hot Jazz: Ferdinand Jelly Roll Morton
Red Hot Jazz offers a biography of jazz great, Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton, with selections of Morton's compositions and arrangements in Real Audio format.
US National Archives
Portrait of Black Chicago: John H. White
From June through October 1973 and briefly during the spring of 1974, John H. White worked for the federal government photographing Chicago, especially the city`s African American community. His photographs portray the difficult...
Rice University
Independence Heights: Portrait of Historic Neighborhood
An oral history project recording the memories of long-time neighborhood residents of this black community near Houston, Texas.
Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Comission
Explore Pa History: Billy Eckstine
Learn of the historical contributions of jazz musician, band leader, and Pennsylvania native, Billy Eckstine in this succinct biography.
Library of Congress
Loc: African American Mosaic: Black History and Culture
Online version of a Library of Congress exhibit, covering information about black history, including colonization, abolition, migrations, and the WPA. It is multimedia and contains hundreds of primary source documents.
abcteach
Abcteach: Kwanzaa
[Free Registration/Login Required] This site features a worksheet focused on the seven Kwanzaa principles.
African American Literature Book Club
African American Literature Book Club: Zora Neale Hurston
This site focuses on Zora Neale Hurston including a bibliography, the video [2:30] "Zora Neale Hurston: Jump at the Sun" and links to 11 of her books including her most famous work There Eyes Were Watching God.
PBS
Pbs.org: Sterling Brown, Biography
PBS offers a brief, but well-written, biography of the famous Harlem Renaissance author.
PBS
Pbs: Literature & Life: Voices of the People
Actor and singer Paul Robeson and playwright August Wilson are two African Americans featured in this discussion. Throughout their careers, they fought for justice for African Americans. This page has readings of their works and expert...
Other
Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community, & Culture
Describes in detail the African roots of the holiday, the seven principles, and the seven basic symbols. Includes a comprehensive guide for those celebrating Kwanzaa for the first time.
Other
Kwanzaa Information Center
Use this site to discover the history, symbols, celebrations, and language of Kwanzaa.
Other
Amistad Digital Resource: Harlem Renaissance
Read about the Harlem Renaissance, the 1920s rebirth of African American arts centered in the Harlem neighborhood in New York City.
Kenyon College
Kenyon College: North by South: The Jenkins' Orphanage Bands
If you are interested in the music for the Cakewalk, come check out the Jenkins' Orphanage Band. They played a mix of ragtime and march. Lots of cool photos.
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian American Art Museum: A Journey Through Art With w.h. Johnson
Discover one of our nation's great African American artists. See images of his colorful work and try out some of the suggested activities coupled with each piece.
Smithsonian Institution
Anacostia Community Museum: Speak to My Heart: Communities of Faith
This site delves into the role that religious institutions and spiritual traditions have and continue to play in the civic, social and cultural lives of African Americans.