Each year, February is set aside to honor the contributions Black people have made throughout American history. Even now, records are being rewritten to diminish, obscure, or even erase the truths of African American life. One of the most important ways to counteract this rewriting of history is to uplift Black voices. The theme of Black History Month 2024 is ‘African Americans and the Arts.’ In this spirit, we offer a small sampling of art demonstrating the incalculable impact Black people have had on American history and culture. To learn more about the organization that founded Black History Month (then week) over 100 years ago, visit: https://asalh.org/about-us/
The National Gallery of Art highlights the works of Black artists, featuring photographs of the following works and many more.
The Seine by Henry Ossawa Tanner, 1902
Burn For Love by Renée Stout, 2000
You can’t listen to American radio without hearing the influence of African American music. Carnegie Hall has created an interactive Timeline of African American Music that shows the evolution of Black music in the United States, from the sacred to the secular. The clips below represent a small fraction of the extensive media included in this timeline, which has a music player embedded to listen to key examples of evolving genres.
Syncopated dance music with roots in post Civil War sound, "Knox Country Stomp" by the Tennessee Chocolate Drops
Jazz in musical conversation with Blues and Bebop, "Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis
Black American life was highlighted in 500 photographs in the Paris Exposition of 1900. Over 200 of these photographs are held by the Library of Congress today. Both these holdings and other images featured in the exhibit have been digitized and are available to view on the Library of Congress collection page, including the one below. We encourage you to explore the collection, which includes everything from photos of Black college dining halls to formal portraits to images of churches, stores, and family homes, to take a glimpse into the past.
Two Men in a Carriage in GA, 1899 or 1900, feat. In album contributed by W.E.B Dubois
Grocery Store in GA, 1899 or 1900, feat. In album contributed by W.E.B Dubois
Henry A. Rucker of the IRS at office in Atlanta GA, 1899 or 1900, feat. In album contributed by W.E.B Dubois
Find more digital resources at https://www.blackhistorymonth.gov/
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