Library of Congress
Loc: America's Story:jackie Robinson Throws Opening Pitch
Jackie Robinson was not only one of the all-time great baseball players, he was the first African American to play in the Major Leagues. The Library of Congress presents a site with information and photographs of this amazing man.
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet [Pdf]
"Gwendolyn Brooks, Poet" is a one page, biographical passage about Gwendolyn Brooks, an African-American poet from Chicago. It is followed by an open-ended question which requires students to provide evidence from the story; it includes...
CommonLit
Common Lit: Dancing Towards Dreams
CommonLit.org is a wonderful resource to use in a Language Arts classroom. Each story or article is accompanied by guided reading questions, assessment questions, and discussion questions. In addition, students can click on words to see...
American Academy of Achievement
Academy of Achievement: Ernest J. Gaines
Biography of American author, Ernest Gaines, well-known for his novels and essays, including The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman and A Gathering of Old Men, both adapted for television.
Black Past
Black Past: Ellison, Ralph
This encyclopedia article gives a brief biography of Ralph Ellison, African American novelist and essayist, famous for his book, "Invisible Man."
Curated OER
History Matters: w.e.b. Du Bois Critiques Booker T. Washington
W.E.B.DuBois, famous African American activist, wrote an essay disputing the path Booker T. Washington advocated in his Atlanta Compromise speech, and, instead, proposed a call for greater political power, civil rights, and higher...
Other
Rhode Island College: About Edward Mitchell Bannister
This site provides a detailed biography of the famous African American artist, Edward Mitchell Bannister.
University of Illinois
University of Illinois: Modern American Poetry: Claude Mc Kay
A biography and analysis of the life of the famous author, as well as literary criticism as well as online poems, letters and a bibliography. Includes many quotes and his poetry.
National Humanities Center
National Humanities Center: Toolbox Library: Capture, Making of African American Identity: V. 1
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...
US House of Representatives
History, Art, and Archives: Barbara Charline Jordan 1936 1996
One of the first African-Americans elected from the Deep South and the first black Congresswoman ever from that region, read about how Barbara Jordan emerged as a powerful interpreter of the Watergate impeachment investigation.
University at Buffalo
Phat African American Poetry Book: Arna Bontemps
Three of Arna Bontemps' more famous poems are printed here.
Other
Afgen.com: George Washington Carver
This resource reviews the life of famous African American inventor George Washington Carver. Includes mention of how this humble, soft-spoken man drew the attention of many important world figures of his day and how he "revolutionized...
Other
Romare Bearden Foundation
Site provides not only a biography of this great African-American artist, but many beautiful images of his work. At this site you can use "Bearden in the Classroom," for teaching ideas across grade levels. A great place to explore!
Columbia University
Columbia University: The Price of Freedom [Pdf]
A lengthy interview with Mr. Ferguson who was a very early follower of Malcolm X and who was present at the assassination of the famous African American leader.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: American Masters Collection: Sammy Davis Jr.
This is a collection of three video lessons about Sammy Davis Jr., comedy, race, segregation in 1960's Hollywood, politics, identity, and The Civil Rights Movement.
Annenberg Foundation
Annenberg Learner: American Passages: Social Realism: Booker T. Washington
Focused on his personal racial and civil philosophy, Booker T. Washington moved mountains making the public aware of the injustices and inequalities of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Click "Booker T. Washington...
Read Works
Read Works: Famous African Americans Sojourner Truth
[Free Registration/Login Required] This passage shares biographical content about the abolitionist named Sojourner Truth. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and...
Read Works
Read Works: Famous African Americans Martin Luther King, Jr.
[Free Registration/Login Required] This biographical sketch contains information about the Civil Rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and...
Read Works
Read Works: Famous African Americans Thurgood Marshall
[Free Registration/Login Required] This mini-biographical pieces shares information about Thurgood Marshall. This passage is a stand-alone curricular piece that reinforces essential reading skills and strategies and establishes...
Read Works
Read Works: The Struggle for Equality
[Free Registration/Login Required] This nonfiction passage gives biographical information about famous African Americans who have worked hard to fight against inequality. This passage reinforces essential reading comprehension skills....
Polk Brothers Foundation Center for Urban Education at DePaul University
De Paul University: Center for Urban Education: George Washington Carver [Pdf]
"George Washington Carver" is a one page, biographical passage about George Washington Carver, a famous African American, who taught farmers better farming methods including planting peanuts to improve the soil. It is followed by an...
Other
Texas Black History Preservation Project: William Goyens (1794 856)
A biography of William Goyens, a mixed African American and Cherokee married to a white woman, whose father was a freed slave. Goyens was a Texas businessman who himself participated in the slave trade, and friends with many of the well...
Georgetown University
Georgetown University: Sterling A. Brown (1901 1989)
Resource includes theme, perspective, form, style and audience of this famous Harlem Renaissance author's work.
Georgetown University
Georgetown University: Langston Hughes (1902 1967)
Excellent research site on Langston Hughes. Includes theme, perspective, form, style, audience, comparison and contrast of the famous Harlem Renaissance author's work.