Black History

Language as Survival Under Oppression Throughout history, people who lived under oppression often developed ways of communicating that outsiders could not easily understand. Enslaved Africans in the United States were frequently denied the right to read, write, or openly organize. Yet human beings always find ways to communicate, share information, and preserve culture even under

The Logic That Never Made Sense For centuries, racial ideology in the United States and other parts of the Western world was built on a claim that Black people were intellectually, morally, and culturally inferior. These ideas were repeated through laws, pseudoscience, political speeches, and social customs. They became the justification for slavery, segregation, and

Challenging the Traditional Story of Enslavement American history often presents a very narrow story about how enslaved people experienced oppression and freedom. In many textbooks and popular narratives, enslaved people are often portrayed as passive figures who endured suffering while waiting for outside forces to bring freedom. This view overlooks the many ways enslaved people

Understanding Slavery Before the Atlantic System Slavery existed in many societies long before the rise of the transatlantic slave trade. In ancient civilizations such as Greece, Rome, parts of Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, forms of bondage were common. People could become enslaved after losing wars, falling into debt, or being captured during raids.

The Rise of an Unlikely Emperor In the year 193 CE, the Roman Empire entered one of its most chaotic periods. After the assassination of Emperor Commodus and a rapid succession of short-lived rulers, Rome descended into political instability. Amid this uncertainty, a provincial Roman official named Septimius Severus rose to power.Born in the North

A Crisis That Captured Global Attention In November 1979, one of the most dramatic international crises of the Cold War began when Iranian students stormed the United States Embassy in Tehran. The attackers took American diplomats and staff hostage in protest of the United States allowing the former Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, to

The Origins of a Historical Misconception For many generations, a persistent myth circulated in textbooks and popular culture that Africa contributed little to science, engineering, or technological development. This idea did not emerge by accident. During the colonial era, European writers often portrayed African societies as primitive or technologically stagnant. These portrayals helped justify colonial

A Struggle That Began With Humanity When discussing the history of Black people in America, many conversations begin with the fight for civil rights or freedom. However, an important historical reality often gets overlooked. Before Black people in America could fight for freedom, they first had to fight to be recognized as human beings. This

Understanding the Historical Context To understand the purpose of Jim Crow laws, we have to look at the period immediately following the end of slavery in the United States. When slavery ended in 1865, it did more than free millions of enslaved people. It also destroyed an enormous economic system that had enriched plantation owners

A Nation in Turmoil March 1965 was one of the most turbulent periods in American history. The Civil Rights Movement was challenging deeply rooted systems of segregation and discrimination across the United States. Peaceful protesters demanded equal voting rights, equal housing opportunities, and the basic protections promised by the Constitution. Yet many of these demonstrations