When Martin Luther King Jr. came to Selma, Alabama to lead an assault against discriminatory voter registration practices, it could hardly be predicted that the nation would witness just how brutal segregationists could be. It was this same brutality, however, that led President Johnson and Congress to one conclusion—it was time to pass voting rights legislation and give black citizens the same voting rights as whites.Must Reads
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Presidential Inauguration
The Inauguration of Barack Obama
Barack Obama will be given the presidential oath of office on January 20, 2009. Learn what is planned for this historic day.
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Celebrating the Life of Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr. had what it took to inspire the conscience of the American public. He appealed to the moral sense of Americans and after years of leading activists in nonviolent protest, his leadership helped desegregate the South.
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Jessica's African-American History Blog
Voting Rights in Selma, Alabama
Wednesday January 14, 2009
When Martin Luther King Jr. came to Selma, Alabama to lead an assault against discriminatory voter registration practices, it could hardly be predicted that the nation would witness just how brutal segregationists could be. It was this same brutality, however, that led President Johnson and Congress to one conclusion—it was time to pass voting rights legislation and give black citizens the same voting rights as whites.Benjamin Banneker: An American Pioneer
Monday January 12, 2009
Benjamin Banneker made his mark on history with his contributions to astronomy, science, and math. He became known for building the first wooden clock, his almanacs, and for his part in building the capital city. By the end of his life, his achievements were well-known around the world.
Image courtesy of The National Archives.
Joe Louis: A National Hero
Friday January 9, 2009
Joe Louis could not have guessed that a career in boxing would make him into national hero. As World War II loomed, Joe Louis was thrust into the political arena when he fought Germany’s Max Schmeling. Louis’ win over Schmeling was a win for America. Surprisingly, at a time when segregation and discrimination were prevalent, he became a hero for both black and white America.
Photo courtesy of Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, NYWT&S Collection.
The Disenfranchisement of Blacks with Literacy Tests
Wednesday January 7, 2009
Literacy tests disenfranchised southern blacks for nearly one hundred years after they were given the right to vote through the Fifteenth Amendment. Although patently unfair, these tests passed constitutional scrutiny because blacks were excluded on the basis of literacy and not race. Discuss
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