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Black History Month (February)

Library Databases

Research Areas

African American History Month

  • Main ideas: annual celebration of Black achievements, history, and culture; recognition of Black leaders and movements; promotion of education and social equity
  • Keywords: Black excellence, cultural heritage, historical commemoration, community programs, educational awareness

Black History Week

  • Main ideas: historical roots of Black History Month; founded by Carter G. Woodson; focus on highlighting Black contributions in American history
  • Keywords: Negro History Week, Carter Woodson, historical observance, Black heritage, tradition

Black History / African American History

  • Main ideas: study of Black experiences in America; exploration of identity, culture, and societal impact; critical analysis of problems and progress
  • Keywords: Black identity, cultural studies, historical change, race relations, resilience

American Civil Rights Movement

  • Main ideas: struggle for equal rights and justice; landmark movements and legislation; role of leadership and grassroots activism
  • Keywords: civil rights, equality, social justice, segregation, legal reform, activism

Free African Americans (Pre-Civil War)

  • Main ideas: experiences of legally free Black individuals before the Civil War; contributions, challenges, and community formation
  • Keywords: free persons, antebellum history, legal status, Black communities, social dynamics

Freedmen – United States

  • Main ideas: transition from slavery to freedom after the Civil War; role in Reconstruction; cultural and political change
  • Keywords: emancipation, Reconstruction era, former slaves, civil rights, postwar society

Slavery

  • Main ideas: history of enslaved Africans in America; impact on families and culture; resistance and abolition
  • Keywords: enslavement, plantation system, slave trade, resistance, cultural survival

Antislavery Movements and Abolitionists

  • Main ideas: activism and literature opposing slavery; key figures and events; influence on reform and emancipation
  • Keywords: antislavery, abolition, activism, emancipation, reform literature

Slaves' Writings

  • Main ideas: literary works by enslaved individuals; expression of lived experience; influence on public opinion and abolition
  • Keywords: slave narratives, autobiography, testimony, resistance writing

African Americans & Mass Media

  • Main ideas: representation of Black voices in media; evolution of stereotypes and cultural narratives; role in advocacy and change
  • Keywords: media studies, representation, cultural production, journalism, stereotype analysis

History of African American Civil Rights

  • Main ideas: chronological development of rights movements; milestones in legal and social progress; ongoing contemporary struggles
  • Keywords: civil rights history, legal milestones, activism, desegregation, voting rights

Crimes Against African Americans

  • Main ideas: documentation of violence, discrimination, and injustice; analysis of systemic racism and hate crimes
  • Keywords: hate crimes, racial violence, injustice, systemic racism, historical documentation

African Americans – Economic Conditions / Employment

  • Main ideas: analysis of labor history and economic opportunities; barriers and achievements
  • Keywords: labor, economic justice, discrimination, entrepreneurship, workforce

African American Genealogy

  • Main ideas: tracing Black family histories; overcoming obstacles to research; connections to broader historical narratives
  • Keywords: genealogy, ancestry, family history, records, cultural identity

Health of African Americans

  • Main ideas: health disparities and barriers; cultural competence in care; community health initiatives
  • Keywords: health equity, public health, disparities, medical access, chronic illness

African American Languages and Music

  • Main ideas: development and significance of Black linguistic traditions and music; cultural innovation and influence
  • Keywords: language, folklore, musicology, jazz, hip-hop, vernacular

African Americans in Politics, Sports, Art, and Motion Pictures

  • Main ideas: leadership and impact in civic life, athletics, creative arts, and entertainment
  • Keywords: political empowerment, activism, athletes, artists, media, visual culture, filmmaking