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Category: African American History

Three children color in a long black-and-white poster that says "Black Lives Matter Every Day All the Time"

Juneteenth: Remembrances & Recipes

Posted by: Alli Hartley-Kong

This post was authored by Monica Valentine, Program Specialist in the Informal Learning Office. June 19th became  a federal U.S. holiday in 2021. This date, known as Juneteenth, commemorates the anniversary of Union troops arriving in Galveston, Texas in 1865 with an announcement of freedom for enslaved African-Americans. Though President Abraham Lincoln had issued the …

A photograph of a man sitting in an office chair, smoking a pipe, his feet up. The photograph is in black and white and the room the man is in is filled with piano keyboards, typewriters, books, and electronics.

Family Activities for Exploring the Photography Lens of Gordon Parks: Perceive, Believe, Document

Posted by: Alli Hartley-Kong

This post is by Caneisha Mills, the 2022-2023 Library of Congress Teacher in Residence. The life and experience of Gordon Parks ensure his photographs speak to a range of audiences and help others perceive the world as he viewed it. In an article for the March/April 2023 issue of Social Education, the journal of the …

A ballet dancer wearing a white dress leans backwards in a dancing position, one leg extended. Her hands are over her head and her arms look muscular. She wears a hat.

Family Resources for Exploring the Work of Katherine Dunham: Experience, Research & Creation

Posted by: Alli Hartley-Kong

This post is by Caneisha Mills, the 2022-2023 Library of Congress Teacher-in-Residence.  What life experiences foster creativity for artists? One artist whose life answers this question is Katherine Dunham. She was a trailblazer in anthropology and modern dance, mixing dance genres to express her point of view as an artist. Born in Chicago in 1909, …

Dr. Hayden sits on a stage decorated with a flag and nice chairs, interviewing a panel of six Black women authors

Celebrating Black Teen Love This Valentine’s Day: Reflection Questions and Writing Activities

Posted by: Alli Hartley-Kong

This post was co-written by Alli Hartley-Kong and Monica Valentine, Education Programs Specialist in the Informal Learning Office.  How much diversity do you see in teen romance novels? During the pandemic, author Dhonielle Clayton spent time with her teenage niece binge-watching movies. As Clayton explained at the 2022 National Book Festival, her niece asked, “why …

A newspaper article with the headline "Larry Doby Welcomed Home by Citizens"

Baseball History Part Two: Finding Larry Doby in the Newspaper Collections

Posted by: Alli Hartley-Kong

This summer, I was inspired by our programs at National Park to explore my own family connections with baseball. This post is a follow-up to my colleague Lauren’s post, “Baseball History: Reflections & Family History Activities”. My grandfather grew up in Paterson, New Jersey, home of his baseball hero—Larry Doby. After serving in World War …

Two children seated at a table handling items, with an adult standing over them

Victory. Stand! Meet Tommie Smith, Human Rights Activist at the 1968 Olympics

Posted by: Alli Hartley-Kong

This post was written by Monica Valentine, Program Specialist in the Library’s Center for Literacy, Learning and Engagement 1968 was a turbulent year. Dr. Martin Luther King and Robert Kennedy were assassinated, and protest movements echoed across the world. The summer Olympics in Mexico City were no exception to this backdrop. During the medal ceremony, …