black history

The True Story Of Cathay Williams, The First Black Woman To Join The U.S. Army

In 1866, Cathay Williams changed her name to "William Cathay," disguised herself as a man, and became a Buffalo Soldier.

By Genevieve Carlton • Sep 28, 2021

The True Story Of Cathay Williams, The First Black Woman To Join The U.S. Army

In 1866, Cathay Williams changed her name to "William Cathay," disguised herself as a man, and became a Buffalo Soldier.

By Genevieve Carlton • September 28, 2021

Inside The Little-Known History Of America’s Sundown Towns — Which Banned Black People After Dark

Known for excluding Black people and other minorities, sundown towns are historically all-white communities in the United States with extremely troubling pasts.

By Bernadette Giacomazzo • Sep 21, 2021

Inside The Little-Known History Of America’s Sundown Towns — Which Banned Black People After Dark

Known for excluding Black people and other minorities, sundown towns are historically all-white communities in the United States with extremely troubling pasts.

By Bernadette Giacomazzo • September 21, 2021

“I Am America”: 44 Stirring Photos Of Muhammad Ali’s Heroism Inside And Outside The Ring

From his iconic boxing matches to his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War, take a closer look at the life of "The Greatest" in these 44 stunning photographs of Muhammad Ali.

By Marco Margaritoff • Sep 19, 2021

“I Am America”: 44 Stirring Photos Of Muhammad Ali’s Heroism Inside And Outside The Ring

From his iconic boxing matches to his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War, take a closer look at the life of "The Greatest" in these 44 stunning photographs of Muhammad Ali.

By Marco Margaritoff • September 19, 2021

How The Brixton Riots Exploded In London — And Forced A National Reckoning On Race

In the spring of 1981, clashes between Black youths in Brixton and London's mostly white Metropolitan Police force culminated in an uprising that would change the city forever.

By Kaleena Fraga • Sep 14, 2021

How The Brixton Riots Exploded In London — And Forced A National Reckoning On Race

In the spring of 1981, clashes between Black youths in Brixton and London's mostly white Metropolitan Police force culminated in an uprising that would change the city forever.

By Kaleena Fraga • September 14, 2021

Meet Viola Desmond, The ‘Canadian Rosa Parks’ Who Made A Brave Stand Against Racism

After a Nova Scotia movie theater refused to let Viola Desmond sit in the whites-only section, she took the case to court and ignited the country’s civil rights movement in the process.

By Genevieve Carlton • Sep 14, 2021

Meet Viola Desmond, The ‘Canadian Rosa Parks’ Who Made A Brave Stand Against Racism

After a Nova Scotia movie theater refused to let Viola Desmond sit in the whites-only section, she took the case to court and ignited the country’s civil rights movement in the process.

By Genevieve Carlton • September 14, 2021

Inside The Brutal 1955 Murder Of 14-Year-Old Emmett Till That Galvanized The Civil Rights Movement

Emmett Till was just 14 years old when he was kidnapped, beaten beyond recognition, shot, and thrown into a Mississippi river. But his brutal death was not in vain.

By Caroline Redmond • Sep 13, 2021

Inside The Brutal 1955 Murder Of 14-Year-Old Emmett Till That Galvanized The Civil Rights Movement

Emmett Till was just 14 years old when he was kidnapped, beaten beyond recognition, shot, and thrown into a Mississippi river. But his brutal death was not in vain.

By Caroline Redmond • September 13, 2021

This Week In History News, Aug. 29 – Sept. 4

9,000-year-old beer residue unearthed in China, Neolithic cemetery uncovered in Transylvania, rare collection of early images by Black photographers acquired by the Smithsonian.

By All That's Interesting • Sep 3, 2021

News

This Week In History News, Aug. 29 – Sept. 4

9,000-year-old beer residue unearthed in China, Neolithic cemetery uncovered in Transylvania, rare collection of early images by Black photographers acquired by the Smithsonian.

By All That's Interesting • September 3, 2021

The Smithsonian Just Acquired Rare 19th-Century Portraits By America’s First Black Photographers

Of the 166 daguerreotypes known to have been taken by James P. Ball, Glenalvin Goodridge, and Augustus Washington, 40 have just been acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

By Marco Margaritoff • Sep 1, 2021

News

The Smithsonian Just Acquired Rare 19th-Century Portraits By America’s First Black Photographers

Of the 166 daguerreotypes known to have been taken by James P. Ball, Glenalvin Goodridge, and Augustus Washington, 40 have just been acquired by the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

By Marco Margaritoff • September 1, 2021

What Happened When A White Man “Became” Black In Mid-20th Century America

In an attempt to understand a non-white life in America, John Griffin dyed his skin "black" and set off to the South. His experience, recounted in Black Like Me was, as you might expect, painful.

By John Kuroski • Aug 31, 2021

What Happened When A White Man “Became” Black In Mid-20th Century America

In an attempt to understand a non-white life in America, John Griffin dyed his skin "black" and set off to the South. His experience, recounted in Black Like Me was, as you might expect, painful.

By John Kuroski • August 31, 2021

The Story Of Onesimus, The Enslaved Man Who Helped Save Boston From Smallpox

During the 1721 smallpox outbreak in Boston, a slave named Onesimus taught his master an early version of inoculation — and saved hundreds of people.

By Bernadette Giacomazzo • Aug 30, 2021

The Story Of Onesimus, The Enslaved Man Who Helped Save Boston From Smallpox

During the 1721 smallpox outbreak in Boston, a slave named Onesimus taught his master an early version of inoculation — and saved hundreds of people.

By Bernadette Giacomazzo • August 30, 2021