Black Power Salute and Peter Norman – the third man
The picture of Tommie Smith and John Carlos giving the Black Power Salute is iconic and instantly recognisable to many. But few people know of the bravery and tragedy of the other guy, the third …
Civil Rights
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka: A Landmark Supreme Court Case in the Fight for Equality
The Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka case, decided on 17 May 1954, was a seminal moment in the American Civil Rights Movement. This landmark Supreme Court decision declared the “separate …
Billie Holiday sings Strange Fruit
Originally written as a poem “Bitter Fruit” by Abel Meeropol became a song performed famously by Billie Holiday. Meeropol, a white, Jewish high school teacher from the Bronx and a member …
Nelson Mandela: A life of resilience and triumph
Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid revolutionary, political leader, and philanthropist left an indelible mark on the world through his resilient journey to freedom and equality in South Africa. From …
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass, a towering figure in American history, was a former slave who became one of the most prominent abolitionists, human rights advocates, and orators of the 19th century. His life and …
Rosa Parks – civil rights activist
Civil rights leader Rosa Parks was honoured with a commemorative statue in the US Capitol building in Washington DC, on Wednesday, 27 February 2013.
Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a …
Before Rosa Parks – Ida B Wells
Ida B Wells was born into slavery on July 16, 1862, in Holly Springs, Mississippi. Her father, James, was a carpenter, and her mother, Elizabeth, was a famous cook. Both parents were literate and …
Southern Horrors – Lynch Law in All Its Phases – by Ida B Wells
Southern Horrors – Lynch Law in All Its Phases was written by activist Ida B Wells.
Preface Hon. Fred. Douglass’s Letter The Offense The Black And White Of It The New Cry The Malicious …
Tommie Smith and John Carlos – Black Power Salute
On 16 October 1968, American sprinters Tommie Smith and John Carlos took a stand that would see them banished from the Olympic games.
In 1968, the United States already had a lot on its plate. This …
African American Women and the right to vote: Pioneers in the Suffrage Movement
Throughout history, African American women have played a significant role in the fight for universal suffrage. Despite facing numerous obstacles due to their race and gender, these trailblazers made …
The American Black Panther Party: A revolutionary movement for equality and justice
The American Black Panther Party was a political organisation founded in 1966 by Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale in Oakland, California. It aimed to challenge the oppressive systems present in the …
Booker T. Washington: The great accommodator and educator
Booker T. Washington, born into slavery in 1856, rose to prominence as an influential African American intellectual and educator of the 19th century. Washington’s life and work continue to …