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Website
Other

Pbs Teachers: Harding Black (Master Potter): An American Treasure

For Students 3rd - 8th
Search a collection of lesson plans, written by Texas art educators, about San Antonio-based potter Harding Black. Each lesson corresponds to a video clip from a feature-length program about the artist. Topics covered include balance and...
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Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Theater, Making of African American Identity: V. 3

For Students 9th - 10th
A manifesto and scenes from a play illustrating black protest in the theater. LeRoi Jones's short manifesto, "The Revolutionary Theatre," and Douglas Turner Ward's, " Day of Absence" encapsulates the mindset of many black writers and...
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Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: New Art, Making of African American Identity: V. 3

For Students 9th - 10th
Artistic expressions of the new black self image inspired by migration to the urban North. This focus of this site is "Song of the Towers", a series of four murals sponsored by the federal Works Projects Administration, outlining black...
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Primary
National Humanities Center

National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Image of Community, 1939, Making of African American Identity

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resources illustrates how artist Augusta Savage (1892-1962) embodied the virtues of self-help, self-reliance, and close-knit cohesion of the black community in her sculpture Lift Every Voice and Sing (The Harp).
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Website
Other

Pdn and Kodak Professional: Gordon Parks: Memories Left Behind

For Students 9th - 10th
Offers an overview into the life of well known writer, composer, photojournalist, and artist, Gordon Parks. Included is a gallery of images, a brief biography, and video clips of selected interviews.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Mary Lou Williams

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Mary Lou Williams, a jazz pianist who performed with and composed for many of the great jazz artists of the 1940s and '50s. This site, rich in detail and breadth...
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Ad Reinhardt

For Students 9th - 10th
Ad Reinhardt is profiled at this site in a format that begins with a brief biographical sketch of his life. His works are then listed by appearance in the museum's database. Each work is presented in thumbnail format with brief...
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Unit Plan
Annenberg Foundation

Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Rhythms in Poetry: Langston Hughes

For Students 9th - 10th
Poet laureate Langston Hughes is featured in this brief biography highlighting his vast collection of writings, particularly his poetry, which drew upon racial and self awareness in America. See "Langston Hughes Activities" for related...
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Calvin Black

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Calvin Black is described here along with information on his contributions to art through his work with his wife, Ruby Black, in doll making.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Ruby Black

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Ruby Black is described here along with information on her contributions to art through her work with husband Calvin black in doll making procedures.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: John Baldessari

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, this site provides brief biographical information on John Baldessari in addition to a link to view "Black Dice," a work of Baldessari's at the museum.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Sam Francis

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, this site provides biographical information on Sam Francis in addition to an extensive listing of his works as displayed at the museum.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Romaine Brooks

For Students 9th - 10th
As part of the Smithsonian Art Museum's database of artists, Romaine Brooks is described here along with information on her contributions to art through her use of a basic palette (black, white, and grays) and her own self-portrait.
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Activity
University of Illinois

University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Langston Hughes

For Students 9th - 10th Standards
If you are looking for biographical information on Langston Hughes and/or excerpts and reviews of his work, this site is a bonanza! The table of contents makes it easy to click to the section you want.
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Website
PBS

Pbs: American Masters: Sidney Poitier: One Bright Light

For Students 9th - 10th
Associated with the PBS program, this site contains a biography, a career timeline, video interviews with some of Poitier's fellow actors and an interview with the director of the PBS special. This site provides an in-depth look at the...
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Handout
Other

Maria Martinez Biography

For Students 9th - 10th
Read about Maria Martinez and her amazing life accomplishments as a Native American potter. Includes fantastic pictures of both her and her work.
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Handout
PBS

Art21: Barbara Kruger

For Students 9th - 10th
Much of Kruger's art questions the viewer about feminism, consumerism, and desire. Her trademark black text on a red background has been seen around the world and can still be recognized today.
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Lesson Plan
Varsity Tutors

Varsity Tutors: Web English Teacher: Langston Hughes

For Teachers 9th - 10th
This resource focuses on the works of famous African-American author, Langston Hughes.
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Cole, Nat "King"

For Students 9th - 10th
This brief encyclopedia entry gives information about Nat "King" Cole, an influential jazz pianist and vocalist.
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Handout
Smithsonian Institution

Smithsonian American Art Museum: Ellsworth Kelly

For Students 9th - 10th
Ellsworth Kelly is profiled at this site in a format that begins with a brief biographical sketch of his life. His works are then listed by appearance in the museum's database. Each work is presented in thumbnail format with brief...
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Handout
Black Past

Black Past: Fitzgerald, Ella

For Students 9th - 10th
This encyclopedia entry details the life of Ella Fitzgerald, the incredible jazz singer.
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Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Ragtime

For Students 9th - 10th
Includes background essays, artist biographies, sheet music, video, and audio resources about ragtime.
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Louis Jordan

For Students 9th - 10th
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Louis Jordan, an American saxophonist-singer prominent in the 1940s and '50s who was a seminal figure in the development of both rhythm and blues and rock and roll. The bouncing, rhythmic...
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Handout
Encyclopedia Britannica

Encyclopedia Britannica: Carrie Mae Weems

For Students 9th - 10th
Provides biographical details on the life of Carrie Mae Weems, American artist and photographer known for creating installations that combine photography, audio, and text to examine many facets of contemporary American life.