How African-Americans disappeared from the Kentucky Derby
Black jockeys won more than half of the first 25 runnings of the Kentucky Derby. Then they started losing their jobs.
Academic rigor, journalistic flair
Articles on Black History Month
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Hidden figures: How black women preachers spoke truth to power
Since the 19th century, a long line of black women preachers set in motion a tradition that spoke against injustices and questioned patriarchal attitudes. Here's their story.
America’s always had black inventors – even when the patent system explicitly excluded them
American slaves couldn't hold property – including patents on their own inventions. But that didn't stop black Americans from innovating since the beginning of the country's history.
African-American GIs of WWII: Fighting for democracy abroad and at home
When war broke out, black Americans fought in segregated units to serve their country. The breath of freedom they experienced in Europe flamed the fight for equality when they returned home.
Allison Davis: Forgotten black scholar studied – and faced – structural racism in 1940s America
His landmark contributions to anthropology have faded from memory, despite real-world policy impact during the mid-20th century.
How Obama’s presidential campaign changed how Americans view black candidates
Black politicians throughout US history have struggled to overcome deep, negative stereotypes held against them by white Americans. Obama succeeded at the highest level. Here's how.
Even before sanctuary cities, here’s how black Americans protected fugitive slaves
In the 19th century, slaveholders advertised widely for runaway slaves and often hired men to track and capture fugitives. African-American communities offered sanctuary space to the runaways.
The story of Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield, America’s first black pop star
In the 19th century, critics and audiences thought blacks were incapable of singing as well as their white, European counterparts. Greenfield forced them to reconcile their ears with their racism.
Exploiting black labor after the abolition of slavery
In the 12 years following the abolition of slavery, former slaves made meaningful political, social and economic gains. This moment was short-lived.
Will Trump’s ‘color-blind’ pro-business policies help black entrepreneurs too?
Despite an entrepreneurial heritage, black self-employment rates are about half that of whites. Could a rising economy lift their boats too?
Uncovering the roots of racist ideas in America
Ignorant and hateful people are not behind the production of racist ideas, as Americans are taught so often during Black History Month.
After the rediscovery of a 19th-century novel, our view of black female writers is transformed
When biographer Gretchen Gerzina came across an old British newspaper article calling Sarah E. Farro "the first negro novelist," she wondered: who was Farro, and why had she been lost to history?
The forgotten voices of race records: Pullman Porters, the Rev TT Rose, and the ‘Man with a Clarinet’
In the 1920s, many black musicians were exploited by record companies, and faded into anonymity. Here are some of their stories.
Top contributors
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Associate Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, Pennsylvania State University
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Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Drake University
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Associate Professor of Political Science and Africana Studies, University of Connecticut
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Instructor in Music, Pennsylvania State University
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Professor of English, Paul Murray Kendall Chair in Biography, University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Assistant Professor of History, University of Florida
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Associate Professor of Homiletics, Howard University
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Professor and Chair of History, Vassar College
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Postdoctoral Fellow in African-American Studies, Case Western Reserve University
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Associate Professor of History, University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Chair, Associate Professor, Journalism Department, University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Undergraduate journalism major, University of Massachusetts Amherst
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Professor of Sociology, Michigan State University
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Visiting Assistant Professor, Michigan State University
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Assistant Professor of History, Florida State University
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