In 1833, John Randolph of Roanoke in Virginia died, freeing his slaves. After a 13 year battle in the courts due to the contesting of the will by his brother, the Randolph slaves were finally free to leave. This is their story, and follows their travel to Ohio to claim the land that John Randolph had provided the money for in his will, and the heartbreak they suffered once they arrived.

In mid-20th century America, most black dolls represented stereotypes, like mammies, dolls advertised as “picaninnies,” and raggedy little boys and girls. Cartoonist Jackie Ormes said, “No more Sambos… Just KIDS!” She transformed her spunky Patty-Jo cartoon character into the first American black doll to have an extensive upscale wardrobe.

Those famous words “Boop-Oop-A-Doop” that are so famously associated with Betty Boop, were first sung on stage in the Cotton Club by a jazz singer named Baby Esther. The “Betty Boop” ca…

Matthias de Sousa, an indentured servant, was the only black person to serve in the colonial Maryland legislature. As such he is the first African American to sit in any legislative body in what would become the United States. As one of nine indentured servants … Read MoreMatthias de Sousa ( ? — ? )

John Rankin House Freedom Stairway photograph

From the February 2003 edition of the Smithsonian Magazine, "Cast in Bondage Copper neck tags evoke the experience of American slaves hired out as part-time laborers," by Victoria Dawson: It seems, at first glance, an innocuous if enigmatic artifact, a copper medallion 1.5 inches square, rough-edged and engraved with the words "Charleston. 571. Porter. 1856." But the inscription—a city, a number, an occupation and a year—is stamped on a rare fragment of the past, known to scholars of the…

Find out more about the extraordinary circumstances of seven of history’s most unlikely friendships.

by Dr. Boyce Watkins Jaylen Bledsoe is a one-of-kind superstar. The 15-year old sophomore started his own tech company a few years ago, and has found entrepreneurship to be his calling. As a result, he is his own man, and a millionaire because of it. Jaylen says that he started his firm when he was […]

Use slave ship names and records found in newspapers to trace your ancestors. Learn how these records can help your find lost family history. Learn more!

The Black Victorians. Who were they? And why haven’t we heard more about them? Similar to the legend that was Dido Elizabeth Belle, a biracial aristocrat (unearthed by filmmaker Amma Asante, …

The 1950s saw a burst of Black talent in Hollywood and in the world of entertainment in general. Seeing the start of the Civil Rights Moveme...

Many Native Americans welcomed African Americans into their villages. Even as slaves many African Americans became part of a family group, and many intermarried with Native Americans - thus many later became classified as Black Indians.

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disabledgirlism: “ This incredible woman is Claudia Gordon, Claudia Gordon, the first Black deaf female attorney in the U.S., has been an advocate for people with disabilities since high school. It...