In this Fresh Air interview, author Colson Whitehead talks about how he re-imagined the escape from enslavement.
Category Archives: A New Birth of Freedom
Discovery Leads Yale to Revise a Chapter of Its Black History
Recently found letters and documents have uncovered that Richard Henry Green, an African-American man, graduated from Yale in 1857, nearly 20 years earlier than the man who was believed to be the first African-American graduate from Yale.
With slave ship Clotilda found, the work of healing a community begins
While the injustice of slavery can never truly be rectified, the discovery of a sunken slave ship brings hope that some form of justice can be found. Read more about how one African American community is trying to heal.
Annual event pays tribute to proclamation
In Beaufort, South Carolina, people come together every year to remember the day President Lincoln read the Emancipation Proclamation. Read this brief article to see how they celebrate.
A Cutting-Edge Second Look at the Battle of Gettysburg
Using modern-day technologies, a team of historians and mapmakers put together a new, interactive view of the Battle of Gettysburg. Explore the maps to get a better idea of what happened.
The Root: How Racism Tainted Women’s Suffrage
Read about Ida B. Wells’ fight to end the lynching of black people, a cause that stood in contrast to other suffrage leaders’ beliefs.
In 1870, Henrietta Wood Sued for Reparations—and Won
Henrietta Wood’s story of enslavement and kidnapping is not unique. However, her story is one-of-a-kind due to the fact that she won a civil suit against her kidnapper and was awarded reparations.
Did Quilts Hold Codes to the Underground Railroad?
Two historians claim quilts may have contained encoded messages for enslaved people looking to escape through the Underground Railroad. Though others disagree, it is an intriguing idea.
The First Pride Marches, In Photos
The struggle for Gay rights took many forms in the late 1900s, though their goals were the same: equality and acceptance. Look at photos of some of the first Pride parades and learn the history of how modern Pride celebrations came to be.
Descendants of Chinese Laborers Reclaim Railroad’s History
The first transcontinental railroad transformed America and came to symbolize a new spirit of unity and cooperation. Yet for decades after its completion, the Chinese workers who made the railroad’s construction possible were overlooked. Recently, steps have been taken to remedy this historical injustice.
Where the Buffalo No Longer Roamed
Though the Transcontinental Railroad made transportation of goods and people across the country much more convenient, there were a number of negative results, including the decimation of the buffalo population and war with Native American tribes.
Why celebrating Juneteenth is more important now than ever
Juneteenth celebrates when enslaved people in the deep Confederacy finally learned of their freedom years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. Read the article to learn more about the holiday and America’s history of oppression.
The Bold Accomplishments of Women of Color Need to Be a Bigger Part of Suffrage History
Uncover the hidden stories of the suffrage movement from women who faced bias and marginalization during their lives and whose legacies still fight to overcome those same hurdles.
The Underground Railroad
Explore significant stops along the Underground Railroad on this interactive map.
National Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage
Read about the history of opposition to women’s suffrage and view historical documents and images pertaining to the issue in this resource from the National Women’s History Museum.
Can these descendents of enslaved Africans save their unique culture?
The Gullah Geechee’s culture and way of life is threatened by gentrification and land development. Customs such as fishing and basket weaving are at risk of being lost.
“Slaves of the Marriage Union”
This article profiles Elizabeth Packard, a woman forced into an insane asylum by her husband during the Civil War. After her release, she became a women’s rights activist who argued that the condition of women was similar to slavery.
The Hopeful, Heartbreaking Ads Placed by Formerly Enslaved People in Search of Lost Family
In an effort to connect with separated family members, many freedpeople turned to newspaper advertisements after emacipation.
The Tragic Roots of America’s Favorite Cherry
Ah Bing is responsible for cultivating America’s most produced variety of cherry, but racism and the Chinese Exclusionary Act prevented him from reaping the benefits of his creation.
The breathtaking courage of Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave, a successful conductor in the Underground Railroad, a spy, and much more. Watch the video to learn more about the incredible life of an inspiration.