Featuring an excerpt from a memoir written by Ruby Bridges telling of her experience as the first African American child to attend an all white elementary school in New Orleans in the year 1960.

An African American associate professor of history at Cornell discusses the impact of the cotton gin on slavery.

A collection of five interactive maps that each focus on a different perspective of Sherman's March to the Sea. These include a factual map, one that looks at African Americans and Southern civilians, one about travel, one on soldiers,...

Excerpts from "The Official History of the American Negro in World War I" by Emmett J. Scott, depicting the impact of the Great War on African Americans at home. The doubts that whites voiced about African Americans' loyalty and military...

Two poems that explore the struggles of African Americans in the early-twentieth century. Links to both poems by Fenton Johnson are provided, and illustrate the struggles experienced as black man in white America in the 1910s

Several narratives of the capture of West Africans, including the famous autobiography of Venture Smith, from the eighteenth century, two accounts of conditions on slave ships, and an audio recording of the memories of the descendants of...

America honors Jackie Robinson's first year in baseball's major leagues. This site has a brief biography of Jackie Robinson and how he broke the race barrier.

A collection of primary source material from the modern age, explores the 1920s and how it relates to today. Section includes introductory notes, classroom discussion questions, and supplemental links to related resources.

This website explains why Virginia needed laborers, why it led to the use of African labor and how it was justified by Christians. Hyperlinks to related topics on the site.

Replica of the Salisbury, North Carolina railway station teaches about riding and working on the railroad in the 1920s when railroads were a central part of American life. Railroad lines crisscrossed the country. They carried people,...

This lesson plan on daily life in Colonial Williamsburg challenges students to compare and contrast the lives of the African and European populations.

Here is a brief article from PBS on the life and accomplishments of abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who risked her life on several occasions to ensure the freedom of others. Links to a teacher's guide and primary sources are provided.

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.

Photographs of slaves during the Civil War and war memories of former slaves during that conflict. Links to two separate resources can be found here, each focusing on the war memories of former slaves.

In this interactive lesson supporting literacy skills, students watch video dramatizations that tell the story of the Spanish explorers who arrived in the Americas with Columbus and introduced European, African, and Asian plants and...

An excerpt from Abraham Cahan's novel, "Yekl: A Tale of the New York Ghetto," and Charles Chesnutt's short story, "The Wife of His Youth," that describe challenges of assimilation into American culture for both European immigrants and...

An interview conducted by Jim Lehrer. Topics included "Syria's presence in Lebanon, diplomatic efforts to end Iran's nuclear aspirations, the U.S. relationship with Europe, and her first months as America's top diplomat."

Read this thought-provoking overview by historian Waldo E. Martin of progressivism as seen from the perspective of African Americans, Native Americans, and new Asian immigrants.

This brief biography from The Nobel Foundation on the life and struggles of Nelson Mandela, who, while in prison, "Was widely accepted as the most significant black leader in South America," includes several resources for further reading...

Learn about inventor and African-American slave, Benjamin Bradley, developer of a steam engine large enough to run the first steam-powered warship.

Description of the revolt in New York soon after the Stono Rebellion which caused many slaves to die.

In this short encyclopedia entry, you can read about Arthur Ashe, professional black champion. There are links to other websites for more information.

This encyclopedia article gives a brief account of the life of Jean-Baptiste DuSable, the founder of what became Chicago.

Learn more about the life and work of Harper Lee when you visit this informative site. This site provides links to activities, vocabulary lessons, newspaper articles and more focused on the book "To Kill A Mockingbird."