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

Am I Not a Woman and a Sister?

ca. 1833

View this visual representation of a rallying cry for abolition among Black women.

Primary Source

The Roots in performance on stage at the House of Blues — band members include (left to right) a saxophonist, trumpeter, keyboardist, guitarist, vocalist (Tariq "Black Thought" Trotter, wearing a white shirt, jeans, sunglasses and a dark hat while holding a microphone), drummer (Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson, behind the drum kit, wearing a black t-shirt), sousaphonist, and percussionist.

“Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around”

2012

Watch a modern performance of a classic song from the Black Freedom struggle.

Video

Joe Louis, a Black man wearing a light colored cardigan sweater and white polo shirt, next to Fidel Castro, a bearded Latino man wearing a dark coat and smoking a cigar held in his left hand.

Joe Louis and Fidel Castro

1960

View a photograph from the boxer’s trip to Havana with a delegation of African Americans in business.

Primary Source

Two Black women in military uniform (dark jackets, light shirts and ties, dark skirts and boots) looking on at two rows of other Black women in military uniform standing at attention.

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion

1945

View this photograph of Black women serving in the Women’s Army Corps during World War II.

Primary Source

A wooden crucifix sculpture with three crosses stacked vertically, each with a Christlike crucified figure

Christianity and the Kingdom of Kongo

with John K. Thornton

Take a deep dive into Nzinga a Nkuwu (João), Nzinga Mbemba (Afonso), and the Kingdom of Kongo's move to Catholicism.

Video

A black historical marker with white text and the seal of the Georgia Historical Society at top.

White Supremacy in the Early Twentieth Century: Causes and Responses

with Adriane Lentz-Smith

Take a deep dive into the proliferation of white supremacist violence in the 1910s and 1920s, and responses from Black communities.

Video

Two water fountains: at left, a larger water fountain labeled "white" and a smaller fountain labeled "colored." The labels appear above the fountains.

Segregated Water Fountains

n.d.

See another example of how Jim Crow discrimination was made manifest in the built environment.

Primary Source

A black-and-white photograph of James Brown, a Black man wearing a white shirt, sunglasses, a metal bracelet, and wristwatch waving as fans wave pieces of paper and look on in the distance.

The Origins and Elements of Hip-Hop

with Jeff Chang

Learn more about the genres, composers, and performers who developed the building blocks for what would become hip-hop.

Video

Photograph of a multi-buttoned drum machine and sampler. The machine consists of a black plastic box with a small screen in the upper left corner, multiple key pads, and a vertical design of black musical notes along the left, center and right of the box.

The Evolution of Hip-Hop and Breakdancing

with Jeff Chang

Explore the development of turntables, sampling, and breakdancing as key elements of hip-hop artistry and culture.

Video

Three boys playing atop the roof of a blue car, in front of an apartment building with graffiti written on the ground floor.

The Influence of the 1960s and 1970s on Hip-Hop

with Jeff Chang

Explore the importance of place and community on the development and growth of hip-hop in its earliest days.

Video

A white angel with brown hair and a white robe and holding a staff in his left hand speaking to a white woman, her right arm outstretched, and her left hand turning the page of a book. A dove is surrounded by a halo above them. Below both of them is a textile created in Kongo.

Textiles in the Kingdom of Kongo

with John K. Thornton

Learn more about the development of textiles in Kongo.

Video

Africa's Major Rivers

by Exploring Africa, Michigan State University

View some of the key geography of the African continent.

Thematic Map

AP African American Studies Resource Library

Am I Not a Woman and a Sister?

ca. 1833

“Ain't Gonna Let Nobody Turn Me Around”

2012

Joe Louis and Fidel Castro

1960

The 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion

1945

Christianity and the Kingdom of Kongo

with John K. Thornton

White Supremacy in the Early Twentieth Century: Causes and Responses

with Adriane Lentz-Smith

Segregated Water Fountains

n.d.

The Origins and Elements of Hip-Hop

with Jeff Chang

The Evolution of Hip-Hop and Breakdancing

with Jeff Chang

The Influence of the 1960s and 1970s on Hip-Hop

with Jeff Chang

Textiles in the Kingdom of Kongo

with John K. Thornton

Africa's Major Rivers

by Exploring Africa, Michigan State University

Stay up to date, and subscribe to our quarterly newsletter.