Black History: Facts, People & Month

How Black‑Run Newspapers Bolstered the Abolitionist Movement

Nineteenth‑century Black‑run newspapers helped broadcast African American diversity and agency, lighting the way towards a post‑slavery era.

How The Dred Scott Decision Energized the Anti‑Slavery Movement

When the Supreme Court ruled in the 1857 Dred Scott v. Sandford case to strip Black Americans of any citizenship rights, and open the door to expanding slavery in the U.S., the decision galvanized the nation’s abolitionist movement. With heightened urgency to end slavery for 4 million Black Americans, some abolitionists, such as Abraham Lincoln […]

Freedom Summer ’64: When Students Mobilized for Voting Rights

A diverse coalition of mostly student activists converged in Mississippi in 1964 to challenge efforts to suppress the African American vote.

When Muhammad Ali Reclaimed His Title in the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’

On October 30, 1974, Muhammad Ali, a.k.a. “The Greatest,” beat George Foreman to reclaim the world heavyweight boxing title in a fight held in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo).

7 Juneteenth Foods and Traditions

From eating red foods to promoting activism, Juneteenth traditions pay tribute to the liberation of America’s enslaved.

5 Secret Codes Used to Communicate in the Underground Railroad

In order to avoid detection, Harriet Tubman and others used a variety of codes and signals to communicate along the route to freedom.

5 Harlem Renaissance Artists Whose Work Helped Reclaim Black Identity

These visual artists helped modernize and reclaim African American portrayals through groundbreaking painting, sculpture and photography.

The Civil Rights Movement: 7 Key Moments That Led to Change

From a bus boycott to Freedom Rides to the fight for fair housing, here are seven moments that triggered change.

The Black Explorer Who May Have Reached the North Pole First

In 1909 African American Matthew Henson trekked with explorer Robert Peary, reaching what they claimed was the North Pole. Who got there first?

How Coretta Scott King Forged Her Own Legacy

Coretta Scott King led on issues ranging from civil rights to gay rights to opposing apartheid, the Vietnam War and ending poverty.

How MLK Responded When Segregationists Bombed His Home

On the 57th day of the Montgomery Bus Boycott on January 30, 1956, Martin Luther King Jr. was giving a speech when he got the news that his home in the Alabama city had been bombed. His wife, Coretta Scott King, and their 10‑week‑old daughter, Yolanda, who were in the home at the time of […]

When Martin Luther King Jr. Considered a Presidential Run

In 1967, several prominent antiwar activists urged MLK to run for president with Dr. Spock as his VP.