Category Archives: African-American History

Lynching: One of America’s Grandest Traditions (HIST 1323)

There is little room to debate against the idea that the horrific crime against humanity known as lynching was a fixture in this nation for nearly four centuries after the first stolen Africans arrived in a British mainland colony. In many ways, lynching was a primal expression of Power in this nation. We must also remember that Blacks were not the only victims of this nation’s lynch culture.

What you will find below are two relatively short videos (approximately 10 minutes each) that discuss American lynch culture.

Please view the videos and leave a comment that describes how you feel inside after being exposed to this information.

 

WPA SLAVE NARRATIVES (HIST 2813)

During the Great Depression, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt commissioned writers and folklorists, the most notable being the esteemed writer Zora Neale Hurston, to travel throughout the South and capture the voices of the last living victims of American chattel slavery. What grew out of this research was volumes and volumes of interviews from the last living enslaved Africans. Their accounts are in a word, riveting.

Your task is to view the theatrical portrayals of these irreplaceable stories and chose at least one to highlight as your favorite and please explain why it stands out to you.

Click on the video to view U.S. History. I am sure that you will recognize many of the actors participating in this brilliant project.

Insurrections of Rebellious Africans

Beyond the Gun: A Discussion of the Black Panther Party’s Political Education Programs

Please join MRCi — Manhood, Race, and Culture interactive for a discussion of the Political Education Programs of the Black Panther Party.

Please join us tonight — September 10th (Thursday) at 7:30 EST & 6:30 CST for an interactive presentation titled “Beyond the Gun: A Discussion Over the Black Panther Party’s Political Education Programs.

Click here to enter.

Click here to enter.

A View of All Black Towns (Black Wall Street) — HISTORY 1323

As discussed in class, racial bigotry and institutionalized racial bias that provided an avenue for horrific violence against Blacks to go unpunished facilitated the “exodus” of many from their homes. Many of these people migrated west to build a new life with other like-minded individuals. Black Wall Street was such a place.

View the accompanying videos and take a few moments to consider if such a western migration was worth the travel. Please comment on topics such as: What were the pitfalls of such a movement? What were the successes of the creation of all-Black towns? Do you consider “Black Wall Street” a success? What does its destruction mean?