Read Works
Read Works: Famous African Americans Sojourner Truth
[Free Registration/Login Required] This passage shares biographical content about the abolitionist named Sojourner Truth. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and...
PBS
Pbs's Africans in America: Equiano's Autobiography
Chapter two of "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano," the autobiography of a man abducted from Africa and forced into slavery before later obtaining his freedom. This chapter details his capture and eventual journey...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: South Carolina Collection
The PBS South Carolina Collection features a range of digital resources tailored especially for Palmetto State teachers and students. Topics include early education, literacy, African American history, STEM, Common Core, and many more!
University of Maryland
Howard County Public School System: Are All Men Created Equal? [Pdf]
Using primary sources and contextualizing, this lesson attempts to answer the question "Did the ideals of the American Revolution affect the condition of enslaved people?"
Other
Afgen.com: George Washington Carver
This resource reviews the life of famous African American inventor George Washington Carver. Includes mention of how this humble, soft-spoken man drew the attention of many important world figures of his day and how he "revolutionized...
Black Past
Black Past: Black Heritage Day Ii: Harriet Tubman (1821 1913)
A profile of Harriet Tubman, for a Black History calendar. Harriet Tubman fought tirelessly against slavery, and was responsible for rescuing over 300 slaves. She received many accolades and awards over the course of her long life.
Other
Afgen.com: Address to the Colored People
This page from Afgen.com contains the address delivered to the colored people at Galesburg, Illinois, 1867 by Robert G. Ingersoll. It emphasizes the rights of blacks as a result of the Civil War and Ingersoll encourages African-Americans...
PBS
Africans in America: Map of the British Colonies
Map of British Colonies and information from PBS on slavery from about 1600 to 1750. Some timelining of African American's lives in the New World.
Other
Virtual Jamestown: Laws on Slavery
This site provides the original text of Virginia colonial laws concerning different aspects of slavery for Africans, Native Americans, and indentured servants.
Curated OER
National Park Service: Bass Reeves
Read about Bass Reeves, who escaped a life of slavery and became a United States marshall.
Oklahoma Historical Society
Oklahoma State University: Encyclopedia: Bass Reeves
This biography describes the life of Bass Reeves, who fled slavery and became a United States marshall.
C-SPAN
C Span American Writers: Narrative of Frederick Douglass
A brief summary of The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Also includes an on-line text of the work as well as links to other informational websites.
Penguin Publishing
Penguin Random House: "Frederick Douglass American Slave" [Pdf]
Teacher guide for Douglass's biography features 24 pages of chapter-by-chapter study questions, quotations, and activities. Valuable post-reading activities as well as methods for eliciting student responses also included. This is a .pdf...
Other
Digital Text: My Escape From Slavery
This site provides a narrative of Frederick Douglass' escape from slavery.
University of Richmond
Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet: 1894 1909
This curation, transcription, and interpretation of the Richmond Planet opens a window into fundamental issues of race, equity, justice, violence, and power that still stir the nation today. Thirteen formerly enslaved men formed the...
PBS
Wnet: Thirteen: Freedom: A History of Us: A War to End Slavery Webisode 6
A wonderful, interactive site covering many aspects of the Civil War. See photographs, primary sources, and find interesting tidbits about the war. Included are links to lesson plans, teacher guides, resources, activities, and tools.
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia: My Escape From Slavery
The full text of a famous work by Frederick Douglass that made a huge impact on the abolitionist movement.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: African Americans in the British New World: The Growth of Slavery
Africans first arrived in Jamestown as indentured servants, but soon the appeal of having laborers that were not free after seven years caught on. See how the use of slaves grew in the Southern colonies, the economies of which were based...
Siteseen
Siteseen: American Historama: Black Segregation Timeline
This article features short, interesting facts in a historical timeline format on black segregation in America in the years before the Civil War up to the Civil Rights Movement in the late 1900s.
Texas State Library and Archives Commission
Texas State Library and Archives Commission: Forever Free: The 1870s: William H. Holland
Read a brief bio on William H. Holland, a man born into slavery who not only fought in the Civil War but also involved in politics and working to advance African Americans during the Reconstruction. Read about some of his work as a Texas...
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Colonial Williamsburg: To Live Like a Slave
A great article written by a modern African American woman who reenacted her ancestor's life of slavery. Pictures and great insight into the life of a slave.
National Geographic
National Geographic: Underground Railroad History of Slavery
Experience what it would be like be a slave seeking freedom by taking this journey on the Underground Railroad. Uses popups.
Digital History
Digital History: Slave Culture
Find out about the contributions African slaves and African American slaves made to not only their culture, but American culture in general. See what words have African roots, how African culture influenced food and music, and how there...
Virginia Historical Society
Virginia Historical Society: Waging War: The Battlefront: Men of Color to Arms?
When the war began, many African Americans - North and South - volunteered to serve as soldiers. The vast majority were former slaves who sought to strike at slavery and improve their position in society. Desperate to avert defeat, the...