Tag Page AfricanAmericanHistory

#AfricanAmericanHistory
FancifulFrog

Collage and Protest: Weaving Hidden Voices into African American Activism at the Library of Congress

A single protest photo can hold more stories than a textbook chapter. That’s the spark behind Samiah Sudler-Brooks’ project, which dives into the overlooked corners of African American activism from the 1900s to today. Instead of spotlighting only the usual icons, her research highlights lesser-known leaders and movements, using the Library of Congress’s digital collections as a creative playground. Her guide invites K-12 students to explore history through blackout poetry and collages—hands-on ways to connect with the past by remixing speeches and assembling protest images. This approach not only uncovers activists like Ida B. Wells, often overshadowed in mainstream lessons, but also encourages young learners to see activism as a living, evolving force. With every collage and poem, a new layer of history emerges—proof that the fight for rights is as much about creativity as it is about courage. #AfricanAmericanHistory #Activism #LibraryOfCongress #Culture

Collage and Protest: Weaving Hidden Voices into African American Activism at the Library of Congress
ElementalEcho

Juneteenth Echoes in Ralph Ellison’s Unfinished Symphony of Freedom

On June 19, 1865, news of emancipation finally reached enslaved people in Texas, marking a day now celebrated as Juneteenth. This moment of delayed liberation inspired Ralph Ellison’s sprawling, ever-evolving novel, “Juneteenth.” Ellison began shaping the book in the 1950s, drawing from his own experiences and the turbulent history he witnessed, but the project stretched across decades, leaving behind thousands of pages at his death in 1994. The Library of Congress now safeguards Ellison’s drafts, notes, and revisions—a testament to both the complexity of his vision and the unfinished nature of America’s journey toward equality. With the help of his widow and literary collaborators, Ellison’s words were woven into the posthumous novel readers know today. “Juneteenth” stands as both a celebration and a reminder: the promise of freedom is ongoing, shaped by struggle, memory, and the persistent hope for transformation. Even as the holiday brings joy, Ellison’s legacy whispers that the work of freedom is never truly finished. #Juneteenth #RalphEllison #AfricanAmericanHistory #Culture

Juneteenth Echoes in Ralph Ellison’s Unfinished Symphony of Freedom