It is hard to categorize Gordon Park, Sr., because he excelled in so many areas. He was well known for his writing, his photojournalism and in film. He also composed music. Listen here to an interview with Gordon Parks, Sr., and to...

Poet and playwright Amiri Baraka is featured in this brief biography for his radical views and contributions during the Black Arts Movement in America. See "Amiri Baraka Activities" for related resources.

This site, which is provided for by the Library of Congress, is part of the African American Mosaic. It describes abolition and gives references to books about the topic.

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...

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...

This site contains a biographical description of Virginia Hamilton. There is also a list of her books with a brief description of each

This resource from the Circle Association at the University of Buffalo gives background on the origins of the Harlem Renaissance and highlights its most famous authors.

Excellent research site! Includes theme, perspective, form, style,audience, comparison, and contrast of the famous author's work.

Superb site that outlines essential information about Zora Neale Hurston. Links are provided for additional information.

A brief look at the fascinating life of African American poet, Phillis Wheatley. Provides two portraits, and a sample page from Wheatley's collection of poems.

The Great Migration for African Americans began during World War I as blacks left the segregated south to find jobs in the north. Read about how segregation followed them into their northern neighborhoods. See also how the Harlem...

Nikki Giovanni is one of the foremost authors of the Black Arts Movement and has won numerous awards. Her work ranges from covering topics on race, gender, the African American experience and social issues to children's literature and...

This article looks at a ballad, 'Bars Fight,' by 18th century African-American writer Lucy Terry. It considers the literary qualities of a ballad, and its historical role in society. It then goes on to consider why a Black slave might...

This Houghton Mifflin site prepared by Elizabeth Ammons is a study site about Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, the 19th century African American author.

This collection contains fiction, non-fiction, poetry, drama, letters, newspapers, manuscripts, and illustrations from 1500 to the present, arranged for browsing by author's last name or by category of interest. It contains classics such...

Review notes for the novel "To Kill A Mockingbird" by Harper Lee.

From Johnson's Dictionary to letter-writing, newspapers and coffee-house culture: explore how different forms and mediums helped to develop and circulate language and ideas during the long 18th century.

This site features a reading group guide for the book, "My Antonia," by Willa Cather. Students will benefit from the discussion questions listed in this resource.

Check out this lesson on haiku that includes samples by Richard Wright. Students and teachers will benefit from this educational tool.

This site features a reading group lesson plan for the book "Black Boy" by Richard Wright. Students and teachers will benefit from the informational discussion questions listed.

What do you know about the life and work of the author Richard Wright? Students and teachers will benefit from the information provided through the links in this resource.

This website briefly describes the life of Phillis Wheatley, poetess and freed slave.

A list that provides either the teacher or the student with a list of books that gives a representation of the multicultural society that exists in the United States. A brief synopsis of each book is given along with a suggestion for the...

At this site from PBS you can read about the life of David Walker. Born in the late 18th century as a free black, he was most known for his pamplet, entitled "Appeal," which advocated slave revolt.