Activity 1- Progress of A People

In 1898 the National Afro-American Council met in Washington, D. C. to consider the status of their race at the turn of the century. Using African American Perspectives: Pamphlets from the Daniel P. Murray Collection, 1818-1907 in American Memory, Library of Congress, you will simulate attendance at this Council meeting. Although this collection does not include the actual speeches made at the meeting, it does offer similar voices, ideas, and concerns. To "attend" one of these three sessions click on the ticket below that matches the one you received in your materials packet.

Activity 2- Research

Now, in 1953, fifty years after the 1898 meeting you attended, you are going to plan a similar meeting of the National Afro-American Council. Your task is to consider the status of the race at mid-century. The American Memory historical collections of the Library of Congress will provide many of the resources needed to help you discuss the same topic of the session you visited in Activity One, Progress of A People.

1. Reform groups based on your tickets. (Your group is the Expert Group on your topic.)
2. Use the Resource Guide for your topic to begin your research.
• Segregation and Violence Resource Guide
• Solving the Race Problem Resource Guide
• Contributions to the Nation Resource Guide

Activity 3- Synthesis of the 1953 Convention

1. Meet in your Expert Groups to examine the resources and information each of you located in your research.
2. Next, your Expert Group will evaluate these resources to determine which two or three of them give a good overview of the topic and plan a short meeting session.
3. Use the Planning Guide: 1953 Afro-American Council Meeting to identify these sources.