NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: August Wilson, Writing to the Blues
An interview with playwright August Wilson about the people who most influence his writing. He includes Amiri Baraka, Jorge Luis Borges, and Romare Bearden, and most especially, blues singer Bessie Smith. In addition to the interview,...
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art: Mrs. Stanford White (Bessie Springs Smith)
From the Metropolitan Museum of Art this Victorian era neo-classically inclined marble relief sculpture "Mrs. Stanford White (Bessie Springs Smith)" by the American artist Augustus Saint-Gaudens. The sculpture is presented as an...
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Arts Edge: Drop Me Off in Harlem
A collection of biographies, video and audio clips, and photos offer a look at the people, locations, and themes of the Harlem Renaissance.
John F. Kennedy Center
The Kennedy Center: Musical Harlem
The Kennedy Center's ArtsEdge offers a great unit for introducing jazz to students. Its use of Harlem as the "glue" which binds together elements such as jazz history and jazz terminology, makes it particularly effective for the...
Other
History in Motion: Boll Weevil Blues
This scenario shows the spread of the weevil and a few of the songs that singers such as Charley Patton, Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith, and others created in the wake of its devastation. Click on the events to see the details of the...
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: Sti Lesson 2: Langston Hughes and the Blues
Explore relationship between music and poetry in this African-American history lesson on Langston Hughes, the Harlem Renaissance, and other artists such as Bessie Smith, John Hammond, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones.
Digital Public Library of America
Dpla: Women and the Blues
This primary source set uses recordings, documents, and photographs to tell the story of the origins of blues music in which women were an influential part.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Making of African American Identity: The Blues
Examples of the blues inspired by the African American migration to Northern cities. These lyrics and audio clips explores the reasons for, and effects of, these migrations.
Yale University
Yale New Haven Teachers Institute: How to Blues
This site has ten lessons to teach about the blues in which students learn the geography, historical events and performers associated with the blues. The unit has been recognized by the American Music Education Initiative as one of the...
Varsity Tutors
Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Langston Hughes
This resource focuses on the works of famous African-American author, Langston Hughes.
Library of Congress
Loc: Web Guides: A Guide to Harlem Renaissance Materials
Presents the Library's resources as well as links to external web sites on the Harlem Renaissance, and a bibliography.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Big Mama Thornton
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Big Mama Thornton, an American singer and songwriter who performed in the tradition of classic blues singers such as Bessie Smith and Memphis Minnie. Her work inspired imitation by Elvis...
Curated OER
August Wilson
An interview with playwright August Wilson about the people who most influence his writing. He includes Amiri Baraka, Jorge Luis Borges, and Romare Bearden, and most especially, blues singer Bessie Smith. In addition to the interview,...