AP African American Studies Resource Archive | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

The front page of a newspaper titled "The Independent Gazetteer; Or, The Chronicle of Freedom" and dated April 12, 1788.

Fighting for the Rights of Black Lives in the Founding Era

with Mandel Holland, Elijah Malcomb, and Sandra Trenholm

Explore the writings of Prince Hall and James Forten.

Video

Union troops, primarily African American, in blue uniforms, charging White Confederate troops in gray uniforms. An American flag waves in the center midground; a Confederate battle flag hangs in the left background.

The Massachusetts 54th

with Jermain Corbin and Sandra Trenholm

Explore the history of the Massachusetts 54th Volunteer Infantry.

Video

Title page of an aging book, with "William Parker" handwritten in cursive at the top of the page. The book's title is, "A narrative of the proceedings of the black people, during the late awful calamity in Philadelphia, in the year 1773: and a refutation of some censures thrown upon them in some late publications."

Black Volunteers in the Nation’s First Epidemic

1794

Read Absalom Jones and Richard Allen’s narrative of the African American community’s response to the 1793 yellow fever epidemic.

Primary Source

James Forten, Sailmaker

by Julie Winch

Read about James Forten, an African American craftsman and businessman in nineteenth-century Philadelphia who employed an integrated workforce.

Essay

Henri Christophe, a Black man, in military uniform (blue double-breasted jacket with tails, white shirt, white pants, yellow boots), holding a sabre and dark hat in his right hand with his left in his jacket pocket.

The First and Last King of Haiti

with Marlene L. Daut

Explore the life, career, and brief reign of Henri Christophe.

Video

A green book cover with gold text reading "Harriet, the Moses of Her People"

Harriet, the Moses of Her People

1886

Read an authorized description of Tubman’s escape written by a White woman who had interviewed Tubman.

Primary Source

Title page of The Refugee: or the Narrative of Fugitive Slaves in Canada

Harriet Tubman’s reflection in The Refugee

1856

Read Tubman’s memories of enslavement and freedom in her own words.

Primary Source

An engraving of a bust of a bearded Black man wearing a black suit, white shirt, and dark bow tie, in three-quarter view looking toward the left

“An Address to the Slaves of the United States”

1843

Explore this speech, rejected by the National Colored Convention.

Primary Source

Color print of a Black Union soldier in uniform (blue wide brimmed hat with an emblem, blue double-breasted coat with a black belt and gold US belt buckle and red sashes, blue pants, black shoes), holding a sword in his right hand and its sheath in his left; a large American flag flies over his head and there are military tents and a Black soldier in the background.

Martin R. Delany on Emigration

1852

Learn more about the many emigration and colonization pathways for formerly enslaved people.

Primary Source

A handwritten letter in cursive

An Account of the Stono Rebellion

1739

Explore James Oglethorpe’s account of the Stono Rebellion in South Carolina.

Primary Source

Cover of the 1830 pamphlet edition of Walker's Appeal ... to the Colored Citizens of the World printed in Boston

“Walker’s Appeal”

1829

Black abolitionist David Walker wrote a powerful pamphlet on the effects of enslavement on African Americans and what enslaved people should do to escape.

Primary Source

Hidden History: Celebrating That Freedom Day

with Michael Hurd

Take a deep dive into the first Juneteenth celebrations where it all began, in Galveston, Texas.

Video