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Celebrate African American History Month!
Carter Godwin Woodson (1875-1950) was one of the first scholars to study African American history and the founder of Negro History Week, first celebrated in 1925. President Gerald Ford expanded the celebration to Black History Month in 1975, famously reminding Americans to “Seize the opportunity to honor the too-often neglected accomplishments of black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout our history."
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Conversations and Perspectives
Honor and celebrate Black History Month by exploring the Daniel A.P. Murray collection at The Library of Congress. Check out “African American Perspectives,” which presents a panoramic and eclectic review of African American history and culture, spanning from the early 19th - 20th centuries. Access online collections of photographs, letters, newspapers, and more: go.usa.gov/cEFp5
Honor #BlackHistoryMonth w/ historical pamphlets on African American perspectives @LibraryCongress go.usa.gov/cEFp5
Conversations with African Poets and Writers
Join the Library of Congress for “Conversations with African Poets and Writers: Ms. Chinelo Okparanta” as we discuss inspirations for her writings and read selections from her work.
youtu.be/-COSvY2UjII
Frederick Douglass
Did you know? The Library of Congress has the papers of abolitionist Frederick Douglass! Explore his online collection this Black History Month. It contains approximately 7,400 items, including Douglass's diary, family papers, correspondence, legal files, and much more! go.usa.gov/cEMZz
Historians! @LibraryCongress has Frederick Douglass's papers! #BlackHistoryMonth go.usa.gov/cEMZz
Heroic Women
Harriet Tubman escaped slavery and then risked her life again and again to help hundreds of others escape to freedom. Use The Library of Congress online resource guide to learn more about Harriet Tubman through manuscripts, photographs, and books this Black History Month. go.usa.gov/cEeTV
This #BlackHistoryMonth use @LibraryCongress to learn more about #HarrietTubman go.usa.gov/cEeTV
The act of courage that sparked a movement! Three associates of Rosa Parks give first-hand accounts of Mrs. Parks' life and legacy after her historical arrest.
youtu.be/6pJ6mGl4StU
Civil Rights History Project
Explore the Civil Rights Oral History Project with The Library of Congress this Black History Month! The activists interviewed for this project belong to a wide range of occupations, and the video recordings of their recollections cover a wide variety of topics within the civil rights movement, such as the influence of the labor movement, nonviolence and self-defense, religious faith, music, and the experiences of young activists. go.usa.gov/cEzTA
Listen to #CivilRights Oral Histories online @LibraryCongress #BlackHistoryMonth go.usa.gov/cEzTA
Civil Rights History Project: Mildred Bond Roxborough
Longtime secretary of the NAACP Mildred Bond Roxborough (b. 1926) discusses the achievements of the NAACP and her experiences in the Freedom Movement in an interview conducted by Julian Bond (1940-2015) for the Civil Rights History Project in 2010.
youtu.be/v4LUWgtNR3E
African American Veterans
Did you know? The Library of Congress has more than 2,500 collections from veterans who self-identified as Black or African American. This February, remember the contributions, service, and sacrifice of African American veterans. Learn more at: go.usa.gov/cEnJz
Recognize #vets this #BlackHistoryMonth & all year w/ @LibraryCongress go.usa.gov/cEnJz
Baseball Icon
Students - Want to learn about an amazing athlete for Black History Month? Visit The Library of Congress collection: “Jackie Robinson and Other Baseball Highlights, 1860s-1960s!” This collection describes Robinson’s achievements as the first African American man to join the major leagues. The online collection provides information on Robinson’s life and the history of baseball: go.usa.gov/cEnSd
Students: Learn the story of #JackieRobinson for #BlackHistoryMonth @LibraryCongress go.usa.gov/cEnSd
The Man Who Discovered an Icon
Do you know the story of how baseball legend Jackie Robinson was discovered? Brooklyn Dodgers' manager Branch Rickey wrote two letters illustrating his ability to identify and grow talent – and particularly how he did so with Jackie Robinson!
youtu.be/hJuYfjQf2p8
All That Jazz
Musicians - Ever wonder how some of your favorite music genres began? This Black History Month, explore The Library of Congress web presentation “Now What a Time!” This resource includes a unique perspective into early blues and gospel music from the Fort Valley Music Festivals of 1938-1943: go.usa.gov/cEePA
Musicians: Check out @LibraryCongress musical web series this #BlackHistoryMonth! go.usa.gov/cEePA
The Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers
Hailing from Covington, Kentucky and Cincinnati, Ohio, the Northern Kentucky Brotherhood Singers are among the very few present-day gospel quartet-style groups that still perform in the old-school a cappella fashion.
youtu.be/I6XHj96dzVw
Federal Writers' Project
Commemorate Black History Month with The Library of Congress! Search through the Federal Writers' Project online collection which includes more than 2,300 first-person accounts of slavery and 500 black-and-white photographs collected in the 1930s from former slaves: go.usa.gov/cEtu3
Observe #BlackHistoryMonth by viewing @LibraryCongress narratives of former slaves online: go.usa.gov/cEtu3
In "Traveling the Freedom Road: From Slavery and the Civil War through Reconstruction" author Linda Barrett Osborne draws from the Library of Congress' collections to offer insight into life as a slave. Learn of former slaves' hopes, sorrows, and courage in this 2010 discussion of Osborne's book.
youtu.be/QclxgduuAP8
Rosa Parks
Explore the The Library of Congress exhibition, "Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words". This fascinating online exhibit showcases rarely seen materials that offer an intimate view of Rosa Parks and documents her life and activism—creating a rich opportunity for viewers to discover new dimensions to their understanding of this seminal figure. Check out the online exhibit: go.usa.gov/xdZXn
Rosa Parks: discover new dimensions to your understanding of this seminal figure with @LibraryCongress online exhibit "Rosa Parks: In Her Own Words" for #BlackHistoryMonth go.usa.gov/xdZXn
Civil Rights Act 1964
Celebrate Black History Month with an online exhibit from The Library of Congress: “Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for Freedom!” This exhibit commemorates the 50th anniversary of the landmark Civil Rights Act and explores the events that shaped the civil rights movement, as well as the far-reaching impact the Act had on a changing society. Check out the documents, photographs, and audiovisual material here: go.usa.gov/cEexF
Teachers: @TeachingLC has a free Idea Book on #CivilRights Act '64 for #BlackHistoryMonth go.usa.gov/cEeaA
Civil Rights Act Exhibition Opening Program
Witness the opening ceremony of the Library exhibition, "The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for Freedom." The Act is considered the most significant piece of civil rights legislation since Reconstruction.
youtu.be/BCQ7NkN00OA
Song and Dance
Katherine Dunham changed the face of American modern dance. Known for incorporating African American, Caribbean, African, and South American styles into her ballets, Dunham also made a study of these styles, pioneering the field of dance anthropology. This Black History Month, learn more about her triumphant career by visiting The Library of Congress online collections: go.usa.gov/cmcMk
Dancers: See how #KatherineDunham transformed dance w/ @LibraryCongress go.usa.gov/cmcMk #BlackHistoryMonth
African American a Capella Sacred Music
The Singing and Praying Bands of Delaware and Maryland belong to an African American devotional/musical tradition, probably the oldest living African American musical tradition in Delaware and Maryland.
youtu.be/9XKNzUwx0jcL
Free Lesson Plans
Teachers - use free lesson plans from The Library of Congress to teach your students about Black History Month! These are teacher-created, classroom-tested lesson plans using primary sources from the Library of Congress. Check them out today: go.usa.gov/cEPCF
Teachers: use @TeachingLC/@LibraryCongress for free #lessonplans about #BlackHistoryMonth go.usa.gov/cEPCF
African American Odyssey
Help us celebrate Black History Month by visiting The Library of Congress virtual exhibition “African American Odyssey: A Quest for Full Citizenship.” This exhibition showcases the Library's African American collection from the beginning of the Atlantic Slave Trade through the Voting Rights Act of 1965. go.usa.gov/cEteh
This #BlackHistoryMonth explore virtual tours of @LibraryCongress exhibits! go.usa.gov/cEteh