Black History Month 2017: Blogs Related to Black Power

Happy Black History Month! This year the Rediscovering Black History blog at the National Archives would like to highlight select posts from the past. This public blog was created to inform researchers, scholars, students, and anyone interested in records related to African-American history at the National Archives and Presidential Libraries on the vast amount of … Continue reading Black History Month 2017: Blogs Related to Black Power

Revolutionary Movements Then and Now: Black Power and Black Lives Matter

In 1966, Black Power emerged as a rallying call for African Americans to shift their focus from freedom now to the embrace of black cultural, political, and economic power. In a speech during the March against Fear in Mississippi, Stokely Carmichael made public the phase Black Power and moved the civil rights movement towards a … Continue reading Revolutionary Movements Then and Now: Black Power and Black Lives Matter

Elaine Brown: Leader and Activist

Today’s post was written by Daniella Furman, Archivist in the Textual Processing Branch at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland It is important to look back and examine the similarities and differences between the Black Power Movement of the past and the Black Lives Matter Movement of today, to see the important lessons learned … Continue reading Elaine Brown: Leader and Activist

Black Power Politics: The Congressional Black Caucus

Today's blog was written by Dr. Tina L. Ligon, Supervisory Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland This year is the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Black Power movement in America. During the 1960s and 1970s, African Americans experienced an increase in the embrace of racial pride, self-determination, and started to … Continue reading Black Power Politics: The Congressional Black Caucus

Bayard Rustin: The Inmate that the Prison Could Not Handle

Today's post was written by Shaina Destine, a student intern in Textual Processing at the National Archives in College Park. Bayard Rustin was the perpetual hero that history forgot.  I learned of Bayard Rustin in regards to his Civil Rights and Gay Rights work in my early 20s.  I heard about him being a Quaker … Continue reading Bayard Rustin: The Inmate that the Prison Could Not Handle

Photographed: Summertime in 1970s Chicago

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Tina L. Ligon, Supervisory Archivist in Textual Processing at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland During the 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sponsored the Documerica program that photographed subjects of environmental concern and everyday life in America. The series DOCUMERICA: The Environmental Protection Agency's Program to Photographically … Continue reading Photographed: Summertime in 1970s Chicago

Unbought and Unbossed: Shirley Chisholm and the 1972 Presidential Run

Today’s post was written by Tiffany Walker, Archivist in the Textual Processing Branch at the National Archives in College Park, Maryland Earlier this month, Hillary Clinton clinched the Democratic Presidential nomination, thus becoming the first woman in United States history to lead the ticket of a major political party. However, Clinton was not the first woman to … Continue reading Unbought and Unbossed: Shirley Chisholm and the 1972 Presidential Run

“Turn this Town Out”: Stokely Carmichael, Black Power, and the March against Fear

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Tina L. Ligon, Supervisory Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland The March against Fear that took place in June 1966, is considered the last great march against racism of the 1960s Civil Rights era in the South. Participants of this march included the Southern Christian Leadership … Continue reading “Turn this Town Out”: Stokely Carmichael, Black Power, and the March against Fear

Tribute: Muhammad Ali, “The Greatest”

“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. His hands can't hit what his eyes can't see. Now you see me, now you don't. George thinks he will, but I know he won't.” ~ Muhammad Ali On June 3, 2016, Muhammad Ali passed at the age of 74 in Phoenix, Arizona. He was a professional … Continue reading Tribute: Muhammad Ali, “The Greatest”

Black Panther: A News Reel Video

Today’s blog was written by Dr. Tina L. Ligon, Lead Archivist at the National Archives at College Park, Maryland The ideology of Black Power promotes cultural appreciation and black self-determination. Although it sometimes has negative connotations, the phrase "Black Power" represented racial pride, political and economic empowerment, and community service among those of African descent. … Continue reading Black Panther: A News Reel Video