Tag Archives: Historic Figures

Martin Luther King was no prophet of unity. He was a radical

This opinion piece points out that people tend to remember Martin Luther King Jr. fondly as a civil rights leader while overlooking the fact that his views and actions were radical.

When Slavery Is Erased From Plantations

Slavery was a brutal institution in the era of the United States’ founding, but many historical sites fail to address the entwined legacy of former presidents and those they enslaved.

Linda Brown obituary

At age 9, Linda Brown was at the center of a landmark school desegregation fight. Learn about her life and accomplishments.

Why MLK Encouraged 225,000 Chicago Kids to Cut Class in 1963

Ten years after the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education decision, Chicago’s schools remained segregated and unequal. Over 200,000 children protested the conditions.

Gandhi statue removed from African university over claims of racism

We often idealize great leaders, but even those who have far-reaching positive influence on the world aren’t perfect. Read to learn about a recent controversy surrounding Mohandas Gandhi in the African nation of Ghana.

The Words That Remade America

Garry Wills, journalist and historian, recounts the events surrounding the Gettysburg Address and argues that Lincoln’s words changed the way Americans viewed country’s founding documents.

Muckrakers: Journalists of Progressive Era Expose Corruption

Muckrakers exposed corruption and injustices in ways that forced society to examine and confront these issues. We owe many social reforms to the efforts of these brave people.

See what U.S. bills would look like with all women on them

With the help of augmented reality and an app, important women in history can now appear on any dollar bill. Read the article to learn more.

CONQUISTADORS

Conquistadors made their way to America in search of wealth and glory. However, their experiences and the experiences of those they encountered were anything but glamorous.

How a Ragtag Band of Reformers Organized the First Protest March on Washington, D.C.

In this article, you’ll learn about an 1894 march organized to protest income inequality and demand a jobs bill. The slideshow at the top includes images of the march to Washington and its leader, Jacob Coxey.

Widow of Murdered Civil Rights Leader Medgar Evers Moves Beyond Hatred

In 1963, civil-rights activist Medgar Evers was murdered in his driveway by a white supremacist. Evers’s widow, Myrlie Evers-Williams, has carried on his legacy and spoke recently about the civil rights movement and her hopes for the future.

El Dorado Legend Snared Sir Walter Raleigh

Almost half a millennium ago in the New World, Spanish explorers heard tales of a land filled with gold and treasure. Soon, the myth of El Dorado was born. Read this article to learn the truth behind the myth. Did El Dorado really exist?

1969 Alcatraz Takeover “changed the whole course of history”

In 1969, a few young Native Americans occupied Alcatraz Island to protest the United States government’s poor treatment of all Native Americans. Read about what happened as a result of this daring decision.

Solving a Civil War Photograph Mystery

Even before computers made it easy, people have tampered with photographs. On this web site, you can examine an image from the Civil War and learn how experts determined it was fake.

Holocaust Survivor: Without Music, “I Wouldn’t Be Alive”

In this video clip from the nightly news, a 90-year-old Holocaust survivor takes the stage to share the music he played for fellow concentration camp prisoners.

“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.

A History in Which We Can All See Ourselves

You may have heard the phrase “representation matters.” So why is it important to include culturally diverse perspectives when studying history? This article addresses that question and suggests ways to make history curriculum more inclusive.