African American History – 1865 to Present Unit 10 Review: African American Culture and Thought

Key Concepts and Themes

• Explores the intellectual, cultural, and artistic contributions of African Americans from the post-Civil War era to the present day
• Examines the impact of slavery, segregation, and systemic racism on the development of African American culture and thought
• Highlights the role of African American leaders, activists, and artists in shaping American society and culture
• Discusses the influence of African American culture on mainstream American culture, including music, literature, and fashion
• Analyzes the intersection of race, class, and gender in the African American experience
• Emphasizes the importance of community, resistance, and resilience in the face of adversity
• Investigates the ongoing struggle for civil rights, equality, and social justice

Historical Context

• Covers the period from the end of the Civil War in 1865 to the present day
• Begins with the Reconstruction era (1865-1877), which saw the abolition of slavery and the granting of citizenship rights to African Americans
  • Reconstruction was followed by the rise of Jim Crow laws and segregation in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
• Includes the Great Migration (1916-1970), during which millions of African Americans moved from the rural South to urban areas in the North and West
• Encompasses the Harlem Renaissance (1920s-1930s), a cultural movement that celebrated African American art, literature, and music
• Covers the Civil Rights Movement (1954-1968), which fought to end segregation and discrimination against African Americans
  • Key events include the Montgomery Bus Boycott (1955-1956), the March on Washington (1963), and the passage of the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Voting Rights Act (1965)
• Extends to the present day, including the Black Lives Matter movement and ongoing struggles for racial justice

Major Figures and Movements

• W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963): Sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist; co-founded the NAACP and advocated for African American rights and Pan-Africanism
• Booker T. Washington (1856-1915): Educator and leader; founded Tuskegee Institute and promoted vocational education and economic self-reliance for African Americans
• Marcus Garvey (1887-1940): Jamaican-born activist and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA); advocated for black nationalism and Pan-Africanism
• Langston Hughes (1902-1967): Poet, novelist, and playwright; a key figure of the Harlem Renaissance who celebrated African American culture and experience in his works
• Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968): Baptist minister and civil rights leader; led the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the March on Washington; advocated for nonviolent resistance and racial equality
• Malcolm X (1925-1965): Muslim minister and activist; advocated for black nationalism and self-determination; later embraced a more inclusive vision of racial justice
• Black Power movement (1960s-1970s): Political and social movement that emphasized black pride, self-determination, and resistance to white supremacy
  • Key figures include Stokely Carmichael, Huey P. Newton, and Angela Davis

Cultural Expressions

• African American music has had a profound impact on American culture, including blues, jazz, gospel, soul, funk, hip-hop, and rap
  • Notable artists include Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, James Brown, Aretha Franklin, and Tupac Shakur
• African American literature has explored the black experience, identity, and struggle for equality
  • Notable authors include Frederick Douglass, Zora Neale Hurston, Richard Wright, Toni Morrison, and Ta-Nehisi Coates
• African American art has celebrated black culture, history, and resistance
  • Notable artists include Jacob Lawrence, Romare Bearden, and Kara Walker
• African American dance has influenced American dance styles, including tap, jazz, and hip-hop
  • Notable dancers include Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, Katherine Dunham, and Alvin Ailey
• African American fashion has shaped American style, from the zoot suit to hip-hop fashion
• African American cuisine has contributed to American food culture, including soul food and Creole cuisine

Social and Political Developments

• The Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s led to the desegregation of public spaces, the end of legal discrimination, and the expansion of voting rights for African Americans
  • Key legislation includes the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965
• The Black Power movement of the 1960s and 1970s emphasized black pride, self-determination, and resistance to white supremacy
• The election of Barack Obama as the first African American president in 2008 was a historic milestone, but also highlighted ongoing racial inequalities and tensions
• The Black Lives Matter movement, which emerged in 2013 in response to police brutality and systemic racism, has brought renewed attention to issues of racial justice and inequality
• African Americans continue to face disparities in education, employment, housing, health care, and the criminal justice system
  • For example, African Americans are more likely to be incarcerated and to experience poverty than white Americans
• African American women have played a key role in the struggle for racial and gender equality, from Sojourner Truth and Ida B. Wells to Rosa Parks and Angela Davis

Impact on American Society

• African American culture and thought have had a profound impact on American society, shaping music, literature, art, fashion, and cuisine
• African American struggles for freedom, equality, and justice have transformed American democracy and inspired other social movements, including the women's rights movement and the LGBTQ+ rights movement
• The contributions of African American leaders, activists, and artists have enriched American culture and expanded the nation's understanding of diversity and inclusion
• The ongoing struggle for racial justice and equality has challenged Americans to confront the legacy of slavery, segregation, and systemic racism
• The experiences and perspectives of African Americans have deepened the nation's understanding of identity, community, and resilience
• The influence of African American culture can be seen in the popularity of hip-hop music, the success of African American athletes and entertainers, and the growing recognition of African American history and heritage

Contemporary Relevance

• Despite progress, African Americans continue to face systemic racism, discrimination, and inequality in American society
  • Examples include police brutality, voter suppression, and disparities in education, employment, and health care
• The Black Lives Matter movement has brought renewed attention to issues of racial justice and has sparked a national conversation about racism and inequality
• The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted racial disparities in health care and economic opportunity, with African Americans disproportionately affected by the virus and its economic fallout
• The ongoing debate over Confederate monuments and symbols has sparked discussions about the legacy of slavery and the need for a more inclusive and accurate understanding of American history
• The election of Kamala Harris as the first African American vice president in 2020 was a historic milestone, but also highlighted the ongoing underrepresentation of African Americans in positions of power
• The continued relevance of African American culture and thought underscores the need for ongoing efforts to promote racial justice, equality, and inclusion in American society

Further Reading and Resources

• "The Souls of Black Folk" by W.E.B. Du Bois (1903)
• "Their Eyes Were Watching God" by Zora Neale Hurston (1937)
• "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison (1952)
• "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Malcolm X and Alex Haley (1965)
• "The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness" by Michelle Alexander (2010)
• "Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates (2015)
• National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
• Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City
• African American Intellectual History Society (AAIHS)
• Black Lives Matter website and resources
• "13th" (2016) and "I Am Not Your Negro" (2017), documentaries by Raoul Peck
• "The 1619 Project" by The New York Times (2019)