Cultural survival in the Black diaspora was not accidental. It was strategic. Enslavers understood that language, music, and religion sustained identity, which is why those elements were targeted for destruction. What followed was not loss, but transformation.

In 1781, a British slave ship named the Zong threw more than one hundred and thirty enslaved Africans into the Atlantic Ocean. This was not an accident or a tragedy of the sea. It was a calculated decision made by the crew to preserve their water supply, but more importantly, to protect their financial interests.

When people say "Africans sold Africans," they often try to erase the massive imbalance of power and scale. This phrase ignores the structure that shaped individual choices and the broader system engineered by European powers.

Rewatching Judas and the Black Messiah reveals how history is rarely simple. It is layered, full of contradictions, and deeply human. The story of Fred Hampton and Bill O’Neal shows this clearly. Their lives reflect the complexity of the Civil Rights and Black Power movements, and the ways in which systems of power exploited divisions within Black communities.

In 2010, Michelle Alexander published the influential book The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness. This work has since sparked crucial conversations about race and the criminal justice system in America. Its main argument is striking: “We have not ended racial caste in America; we have merely redesigned it.” This bold statement questions our understanding of race and justice today.

In 2019, Nikole Hannah-Jones launched The 1619 Project, a pivotal initiative that reexamines American history through the lens of slavery. By putting the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Virginia in 1619 at the forefront, the project challenges the oversimplified and often romanticized narrative of American origins. It exposes how slavery has been a vital force in shaping the United States. This bold assertion has led to significant controversy resulting in the book

And that’s why they’re banned. This series reads the books they don’t want you to. We’ll explore why each work was censored, what truth it threatened, and how those same forces still shape today’s political, racial, and cultural battles. You’ll see patterns. You’ll recognize language. And you’ll realize that the fight against banned books is the fight for memory itself.

Bayard Rustin deserves recognition alongside the prominent figures of the Civil Rights Movement. As a master strategist, pacifist, and mentor to Martin Luther King Jr., Rustin was instrumental in organizing the 1963 March on Washington, which remains one of the most significant demonstrations in American history.

Carter G. Woodson is widely celebrated as the Father of Black History, a title he earns through his foundational work in establishing Negro History Week, which eventually grew into Black History Month. This initiative transformed how America reflects on its past.

Alberta Jones was a true pioneer whose story deserves recognition and celebration. In 1959, she achieved a remarkable milestone by becoming the first Black lawyer to pass the Kentucky bar exam. At a time when segregation was deeply rooted in society and the legal system, Alberta opened her own law practice.

In 2025, the Pentagon shocked the nation by announcing it would restore a massive portrait of Confederate General Robert E. Lee to the West Point library. This nearly 20-foot tall portrait shows Lee on horseback, with a Black enslaved man holding the reins.

Florida’s history with slavery doesn’t show up in the curriculum the way Georgia, Alabama, or Mississippi’s does and that’s not an accident. Florida was a place of contradictions: where freedom was promised to the desperate, and where that freedom was violently revoked once the United States claimed the land.

The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, commonly known as the GI Bill, is frequently celebrated as a game-changer in American history. By providing returning World War II veterans with key benefits such as higher education, low-interest home loans, and job training, it played a vital role in expanding the American middle class. Yet, this promise was not shared equally among all veterans. Black veterans faced significant barriers that denied them the full benefits of the GI

In December 2023, a monument notorious for its offensive imagery was removed from Arlington National Cemetery. This 32-foot bronze statue, laden with Lost Cause symbolism, depicted smiling enslaved individuals and celebrated Confederate heroes, all while suggesting the South fought nobly for freedom through a Latin inscription.

The story of the Civil War is often presented as a simple conflict between freedom and oppression. While it is undeniable that the war aimed to end the horrific practice of slavery, it is crucial to recognize a significant truth: the conflict did not provide reparations to the descendants of enslaved individuals.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. has devoted his life to shining a light on the vast and often overlooked narratives of Black history. His...

In recent years, calls for justice from Black communities across the United States have intensified. Each demand for accountability and systemic change reveals a familiar set of deflections. Phrases like “What about Chicago?” or “What about Black-on-Black crime?” frequently pop up in discussions, often derailing crucial conversations about race, justice, and reparations.

Racism isn't always loud; it often hides quietly within our society. This subtle yet harmful form of discrimination shows how deeply rooted racism is in our laws, policies, and daily interactions. It doesn't always shout; sometimes, it whispers, causing profound damage.

In 1987, the McCleskey v. Kemp case shifted the focus on systemic racism in America, particularly regarding the death penalty. The case exposed the stark inequalities faced by racial minorities within the justice system, ultimately altering the landscape of racial justice in the United States.

The sudden passing of Malcolm-Jamal Warner has left a profound void in the hearts of many, especially those who grew up watching him portray Theo Huxtable on "The Cosby Show."