In celebration of Black History Month, we’re excited to draw attention to a number of our unique and inspiring databases which focus upon Black scholarship, arts, and heritage.
Black Thought and Culture
Offers an explosive 100,000 pages worth of engaging readings in non-fiction by and about Black leaders and other historical figures drawn from across a range of disciplines and eras. There’s sobering depth to the inexhaustible range of Black experience on offer.
From a Huey P. Newton interview originally published in the San Francisco based Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) newspaper The Movement in August 1968:
“That’s political power. That’s power itself. Matter of fact what is power other than the ability to define phenomenon and then make it act in a desired manner? When black people start defining things and making it act in a sired manner, then we call this Black Power!”
To the 1878 book The Colored Cadet at West Point: Autobiography of Lieut. Henry Ossian Flipper, USA, First Graduate of Color from the U.S. Military Academy:
“The impression made upon me by what I saw while going from the adjutant’s office to barracks was certainly not very encouraging. The rear windows were crowded with cadets watching my unpretending passage of the area of barracks with apparently as much astonishment and interest as they would, perhaps, have watched Hannibal crossing the Alps. Their words, jeers, etc., were most insulting.”
Black Studies in Video
Brings together an abundance of archival footage, making much of it available for the first time in digital format. There’s the full-length documentary on journalist, activist, suffragist and anti-lynching crusader of the post-Reconstruction period: Ida B. Wells: A Passion For Justice along with the brief yet sensational 1972 conversation on Black Power: Angela Davis: Interview from Jail.
ProQuest Historical Newspapers: Chicago Defender
An ideal resource for those interested in a deep, specific locale-oriented dive. Includes the full content of one of the nation’s most important Black newspapers, covering the years 1909-2010.
To link to articles, ebooks, and articles see Linking to Library Resources. To link to content in Black Culture and Thought and Black Studies in Video, see instructions for Alexander Street resources.
These and many more databases are gathered together on our Databases A to Z: African-American Studies page. There are always further surprises!
Black American Collection (Independent Voices)
Delves into smaller community-oriented magazines arising from out various scenes of Black Identity during the decades following the landmark Civil Rights Act of 1964. For instance, the above image is taken from the cover of Freedomways, Volume 11, Issue 2, 1971. Other publications, ranging from Muhammad Speaks to Black Dialogue and well beyond, give direct access to critical social voices from the era. There are many layers of stored up knowledge for intrepid adventurers to sift their way through. Enjoy!
(Feature image: cover of Muhammad Speaks Volume 12, Issue 15, December 22, 1972 courtesy of Independent Voices)