/themes/african-american-history.aspx

The Kennedy Center: ARTSEDGE — the National Arts and Education Network

MY ARTSEDGE |

educators
Lessons How To's Standards
Families
At School At Home Out & About
Students
KC Connections Features Just For You
themes
multimedia

African American History

Learn about the African American experience through the arts — and discover the contributions of African Americans to the history and culture of the United States.

Website
What's Going On... Now
What's Going On... Now
A national youth campaign to inspire young people to share their art and expression by telling us "How have things changed?"
Website
Drop Me Off in Harlem
Drop Me Off in Harlem
Drop Me Off in Harlem will give students the opportunity to explore the art, music, and people that changed Harlem from a neighborhood into a historical landmark
Audio Series
Blues Journey
Blues Journey
Out of the hardships of Black Americans at the turn of the 20th century came the blues, a music that helped ease their suffering.
Master + Work
Alvin Ailey's Revelations
Alvin Ailey and Revelations
Meet a master artist through one of his most important works
Audio Series
Jazz In DC
Jazz in DC
Take a tour through jazz history in Washington, DC! Pianist Billy Taylor and saxophonist and flutist Frank Wess lead listeners through their hometown's music scene in this six-part audio series.
The Story Behind The Song
We Shall Overcome mural
We Shall Overcome
In this story, find out how a song helped steel the courage of African Americans as they struggled for civil rights
Website
Jazz In Time
Jazz in Time
Take part in this in-depth exploration of one of America's richest musical forms, the jazz movement, which is investigated through interactive web content and music clips.
Lesson
Dancers in silhouette
Lift Every Voice and Sing
Explore and analyze Lift Every Voice and Sing, a poem by James Weldon Johnson.
Lesson
Bessie Smith
Musical Harlem
Students will learn to identify musical styles and musicians associated with Harlem, focusing on jazz.
Lesson
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman: An Informative and Impressionistic Look
Students take a hands-on approach to examining the life of Harriet Tubman through a comparison of informative resources and impressionistic art.
Lesson
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman: Dancing on the Freedom Trail
In this lesson, students are introduced to the emotional struggles Tubman faced as she helped slaves escape and travel north along the Underground Railroad.
Lesson
Levi Coffin's home in Fountain City, Indiana, formerly Newport. Known as Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad.
Harriet Tubman: Illustrating History
Using collage, students create a scene from the life of Harriet Tubman.
Lesson
The Drinking Gourd Constellation
Harriet Tubman: Secret Messages Shared through Song
In this lesson, students are introduced to the African-American spiritual and its use of a secret language to share information within the slave community.
Lesson
Man playing harmonica
Twelve-Bar Blues
Learn about the history, key players and musical qualities of the blues
Lesson
The Great Migration
The Great Migration
In this lesson, students will learn about the migration of African Americans to Harlem.
Lesson
Wagon and mules
Capturing History
Through teacher-guided discussions and hands-on activities, students will understand the political and economic reasons for the African-American migration to Northern cities between the World Wars.
This Day in the Arts
Alvin Ailey
A Dance Revelation
January 05, 1931: Alvin Ailey is born in Rogers, Texas
This Day in the Arts
Hitsville USA, The birthplace of Motown
Get Down With the Motown Sound
January 12, 1959: Motown Records is founded in Detroit, Michigan
This Day in the Arts
James Earl Jones
The Man with the Velvet Voice
January 17, 1931: James Earl Jones is born in Arkabutla, Mississippi
This Day in the Arts
Roots
Rooted in Front of the TV
January 23, 1977: Roots premieres on television
This Day in the Arts
Apollo Theater
Where Stars Are Born and Legends Made
January 26, 1934: The Apollo Theater opens in Harlem, New York
This Day in the Arts
Langston Hughes
From Busboy to Poet
February 01, 1902: Langston Hughes is born in Joplin, Missouri
This Day in the Arts
Sidney Poitier
Breaking the Color Line
February 20, 1927: Sidney Poitier is born in Miami, Florida
This Day in the Arts
Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind Blows the Competition Away
February 29, 1940: Gone with the Wind sets records
This Day in the Arts
Mississippi John Hurt
Guitar Hero
March 08, 1892: Mississippi John Hurt is born in Teoc, Mississippi
This Day in the Arts
Quincy Jones
On Q
March 14, 1933: Quincy Jones is born in Chicago, Illinois
This Day in the Arts
Uncle Tom's Cabin
The Little Book that Made a Big War
March 20, 1852: Uncle Tom’s Cabin is published
This Day in the Arts
Arthur Mitchell
Breaking Ballet’s Barriers
March 27, 1934: Arthur Mitchell is born in New York City
This Day in the Arts
Muddy Waters
The Father of Chicago Blues
April 04, 1915: Muddy Waters is born in Jug’s Corner, Mississippi
This Day in the Arts
Billie Holiday
The Lady Sang the Blues
April 07, 1915: Billie Holiday is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This Day in the Arts
Supremes
Talent Times Three
April 08, 1964: The Supremes finish recording their first No. 1 hit, “Where Did Our Love Go”
This Day in the Arts
Marian Anderson
Let Freedom Sing
April 09, 1939: Marian Anderson performs at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, DC
This Day in the Arts
Ella Fitzgerald
The First Lady of Song
April 25, 1918: Ella Fitzgerald is born in Newport News, Virginia
This Day in the Arts
Ma Rainey
Mother of the Blues
April 26, 1886: Ma Rainey is born in Columbus, Georgia
This Day in the Arts
Duke Ellington
The Duke of Jazz
April 29, 1899: Duke Ellington is born in Washington, DC
This Day in the Arts
Stevie Wonder
Wonder Boy, Wonder Man
May 13, 1950: Stevie Wonder is born in Saginaw, Michigan
This Day in the Arts
Michael Jackson Moonwalks
A Marvelous Night for a Moon Dance
May 16, 1983: Michael Jackson moonwalks
This Day in the Arts
Lorraine Hansbury
Young, Gifted, and Black
May 19, 1930: Lorraine Hansberry is born in Chicago, Illinois
This Day in the Arts
Marvin Gaye
Soul Man
May 21, 1971: Marvin Gaye releases What’s Going On
This Day in the Arts
Shuffle Along
Breaking Broadway’s Barriers
May 23, 1921: Shuffle Along opens on Broadway
This Day in the Arts
Miles Davis
Miles Ahead
May 26, 1926: Miles Davis is born in Alton, Illinois
This Day in the Arts
Smokey Robinson
That Velvet Voice
June 19, 1973: Smokey Robinson releases his first solo record
This Day in the Arts
Louis Armstrong
When Satchmo Went North
July 08, 1922: Louis Armstrong moves to Chicago, Illinois to pursue music
This Day in the Arts
Bill Cosby
Just Be Cos
July 12, 1937: Bill Cosby is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This Day in the Arts
Louis Armstrong playing the trumpet
Horn of Plenty
August 04, 1901: Louis Armstrong is born in New Orleans, Louisiana
This Day in the Arts
Benny Carter
They Call Him “King”
August 08, 1907: Benny Carter is born in Harlem
This Day in the Arts
William “Count” Basie
The Count of Jazz
August 21, 1906: William “Count” Basie is born in Red Bank, New Jersey
This Day in the Arts
Charlie Parker
Rare Bird
August 29, 1920: Charlie Parker is born in Kansas City, Kansas
This Day in the Arts
Jimmy Reed
Bluesman Jimmy
September 06, 1925: Jimmy Reed is born in Dunleith, Mississippi
This Day in the Arts
B.B. King playing the guitar
The Thrill is Born
September 16, 1925: B.B. King is born in Itta Bena, Mississippi
This Day in the Arts
Will Smith
Will Power
September 25, 1968: Will Smith is born in West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
This Day in the Arts
Chuck Berry
The Father of Rock and Roll
October 18, 1926: Chuck Berry is born in St. Louis, Missouri
This Day in the Arts
Mahalia Jackson
An Amazing Grace
October 26, 1911: Mahalia Jackson is born in New Orleans, Louisiana
This Day in the Arts
The Nat King Cole Show
A First of Its Kind
November 05, 1956: The Nat King Cole Show premieres on television
This Day in the Arts
W.C. Handy
Father of the Blues
November 16, 1873: W.C. Handy is born in Florence, Alabama
This Day in the Arts
Scott Joplin
The Ragtime King
November 24, 1868: Scott Joplin is born near Texarkana, Texas
This Day in the Arts
Robert Johnson
Deal with the Devil
November 27, 1936: Robert Johnson records “Cross Road Blues”
This Day in the Arts
Thriller
A Monster Hit
December 02, 1982: Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” music video is released
This Day in the Arts
The Cotton Club
Setting Up Shop in Harlem
December 04, 1927: Duke Ellington opens at the Cotton Club
This Day in the Arts
James Brown
The Godfather of Soul
December 07, 2003: James Brown receives a Kennedy Center Honors Award
This Day in the Arts
Sammy Davis, Jr.
The Ultimate Entertainer
December 08, 1925: Sammy Davis, Jr. is born in New York City
Email Print Share

Text:

- +
Email a link to this page
Cancel
Print

Print This Page ›

Print All Pages in This Set ›

Cancel
Share This Page



| More


Cancel
Browse by Themes:
My Arts Edge
See All›
Most Popular Tags

© 1996-2012 John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts  

Educators
Families
Students
my ARTSEDGE
ABOUT US
Themes

ArtsEdge is a program of
the Education Department of

The Kennedy Center

with the support of

Department of Education Thinkfinity

Change Background:

Connect with us!    EMAIL US | YouTube | Facebook | iTunes | MORE!

© 1996-2012 John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts   Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions

Close

You are now leaving the ArtsEdge website. Thank you for visiting!

If you are not automatically transferred, please click the link below:
http://absoluteshakespeare.com

ArtsEdge and The Kennedy Center are in no way responsible for the content of the destination site, its ongoing availability, links to other site or the legality or accuracy of information on the site or its resources.

Cancel

Close