Origins of Black History Month (2:20)
A brief look at the history of African Americans and Black History Month.
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Videos (33)
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Origins of Black History Month
Origins of Black History MonthVideo Clip (2:20)
Video Clip (2:20)
A brief look at the history of African Americans and Black History Month.
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Bet You Didn't Know: Rosa Parks
Bet You Didn't Know: Rosa ParksVideo Clip (2:35)
Video Clip (2:35)
Did you know Rosa Parks wasn't the first African-American woman to refuse to give up her seat? Get the full story.
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King Leads the March on Washington
King Leads the March on WashingtonVideo Clip (3:10)
Video Clip (3:10)
On August 28, 1963, a quarter million people gather to support civil rights, and share Dr. King's "dream" of equality.
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Jackie Robinson Breaks Barriers
Jackie Robinson Breaks BarriersVideo Clip (3:06)
Video Clip (3:06)
Jackie Robinson's accomplishments on and off the field opens doors for all African Americans.
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Meet Madam CJ Walker
Meet Madam CJ WalkerVideo Clip (1:49)
Video Clip (1:49)
From her rough beginnings as an orphan, Madam CJ Walker went on to corner the market in black women's hair care and became the first self-made female millionaire.
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Separate But Not Equal
Separate But Not EqualVideo Clip (2:21)
Video Clip (2:21)
In 1954, the Supreme Court unanimously strikes down segregation in public schools, sparking the Civil Rights movement.
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The Harlem Renaissance
The Harlem RenaissanceVideo Clip (2:53)
Video Clip (2:53)
As African Americans flocked to Northern cities in the 1920s, they created a new social and cultural landscape.
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Condoleeza Rice Remembers MLK
Condoleeza Rice Remembers MLKVideo Clip (1:42)
Video Clip (1:42)
Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice recalls her memories of Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad
Harriet Tubman and the Underground RailroadVideo Clip (3:07)
Video Clip (3:07)
Born a slave, Harriett Tubman became a famous "conductor" on the Underground Railroad, leading hundreds of slaves to freedom.
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The Gettysburg Address: A New Declaration of Independence
The Gettysburg Address: A New Declaration of IndependenceVideo Clip (1:45)
Video Clip (1:45)
After the carnage at the Battle of Gettysburg, Lincoln reaffirms his commitment to achieving freedom for all.
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Massachusetts 54th Regiment
Massachusetts 54th RegimentVideo Clip (2:48)
Video Clip (2:48)
The 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was one of the first official black units in the U.S. armed forces. Their courageous assault on Fort Wagner played a key role in bringing about an end to slavery.
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761st Enters Combat
761st Enters CombatVideo Clip (2:16)
Video Clip (2:16)
Two Months after D-Day the first all black panther tank battalion was ordered to the front lines.
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David Gilmore
David GilmoreVideo Clip (2:54)
Video Clip (2:54)
WWII veteran David Gilmore recalls his struggles during combat and the long road home.
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Voting Rights Bill
Voting Rights BillVideo Clip (1:44)
Video Clip (1:44)
Newsreel footage of President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Bill.
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Civil Rights Act of 1964
Civil Rights Act of 1964Video Clip (2:57)
Video Clip (2:57)
After years of struggle and setbacks, advocates for equality celebrate the passage of sweeping legislation that prohibits racial discrimination.
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Fair Housing Act
Fair Housing ActVideo Clip (1:40)
Video Clip (1:40)
President Johnson signed the Fair Housing Act in 1968.
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W.E.B. Dubois and the Niagara Movement
W.E.B. Dubois and the Niagara MovementVideo Clip (3:44)
Video Clip (3:44)
W.E.B. Dubois was integral to the advancement of racial equality.
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Malcolm X
Malcolm XVideo Clip (1:42)
Video Clip (1:42)
Malcolm X speaks to reporters about the Black Nationalist Movement and the need to establish Black Rifle Clubs.
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Stokely Carmichael
Stokely CarmichaelVideo Clip (1:14)
Video Clip (1:14)
Stokely Carmichael, leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, spoke to a crowd in Greenwood, Mississippi in 1964.
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Path to the Podium: Barack Obama
Path to the Podium: Barack ObamaVideo Clip (3:18)
Video Clip (3:18)
Follow Barack Obama's political journey from his early years to the White House.
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Freedom March
Freedom MarchVideo Clip (1:38)
Video Clip (1:38)
Newsreel footage of the freedom march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, led by Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Forest Whitaker: Growing Up with Dr. King
Forest Whitaker: Growing Up with Dr. KingVideo Clip (1:12)
Video Clip (1:12)
Actor Forest Whitaker reflects on the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Blacks in the Military
Blacks in the MilitaryVideo Clip (3:12)
Video Clip (3:12)
Learn how blacks serving in WWII helped forward the Civil Rights Movement.
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Barbara Jordan's Keynote Address
Barbara Jordan's Keynote AddressVideo Clip (2:12)
Video Clip (2:12)
An excerpt from Barbara Jordan's keynote speech at the Democratic National Convection. Jordan was the first African-American woman ever elected to Congress from a southern state.
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Martin Luther King III on his Father
Martin Luther King III on his FatherVideo Clip (1:26)
Video Clip (1:26)
Martin Luther King III remembers his father's love of all people and transformative effects on the world.
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Tom Brokaw on King's Legacy
Tom Brokaw on King's LegacyVideo Clip (1:49)
Video Clip (1:49)
Tom Brokaw talks about Martin Luther King, Jr.'s lasting effects on American Society.
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Bill Clinton on Martin Luther King Jr.
Bill Clinton on Martin Luther King Jr.Video Clip (1:44)
Video Clip (1:44)
Bill Clinton speaks on his memories of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Doxie Whitfield's Personal Story of Integration
Doxie Whitfield's Personal Story of IntegrationVideo Clip (2:52)
Video Clip (2:52)
Doxie Whitfield was a nurse in Atlanta in 1963 when the hospital floors were desegregated.
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Jesse Jackson Recalls MLK's Last Day
Jesse Jackson Recalls MLK's Last DayVideo Clip (2:05)
Video Clip (2:05)
Jesse Jackson remembers Martin Luther King Jr.'s reflective mood on the day he was assassinated.
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Jesse Jackson: MLK's Agony
Jesse Jackson: MLK's AgonyVideo Clip (2:31)
Video Clip (2:31)
Jesse Jackson talks about Dr. King's suffering during the Civil Rights Movement.
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Integration at Ole Miss
Integration at Ole MissVideo Clip (2:03)
Video Clip (2:03)
Newsreel footage of President Kennedy's address to the American people after the University of Alabama riots in 1962.
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Little Rock Nine
Little Rock NineVideo Clip (1:51)
Video Clip (1:51)
Silent footage of members of the 101st U.S. Airborne Division escorting the Little Rock Nine into Central High School on September 25, 1957.
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761st Activated
761st ActivatedVideo Clip (2:42)
Video Clip (2:42)
The 761st Panther Tank division was called to duty in 1962.
Photo Galleries (11)
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Barack Obama
Barack Obama(18 Photos)
18 Photos
The 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama was elected in 2008 and is the first African American to hold the office.
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March on Washington
March on Washington(9 Photos)
9 Photos
See pictures from the famous March on Washington.
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Martin Luther King Jr.
Martin Luther King Jr.(16 Photos)
16 Photos
See pictures from the life of civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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Integration of Central High School
Integration of Central High School(9 Photos)
9 Photos
In 1957 nine black students enrolled at the formerly all-white Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas.
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Black Women in Politics
Black Women in Politics(10 Photos)
10 Photos
View images of famous female African American politicians and activists.
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Black Women Authors
Black Women Authors(11 Photos)
11 Photos
View images of famous female African American authors.
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Black Women Musicians
Black Women Musicians(20 Photos)
20 Photos
View images of famous female African American singers and musicians.
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Black Women Athletes
Black Women Athletes(16 Photos)
16 Photos
View images of famous female African American athletes.
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The Battle Over Slavery
The Battle Over Slavery(12 Photos)
12 Photos
Explore images of abolitionists, the Underground Railroad and much more as you learn about the battle over slavery in the United States.
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Slave Life
Slave Life(9 Photos)
9 Photos
View pictures of North American slave life during the 18th and 19th centuries, featuring pictures of slaves themselves and the environments in which they worked and lived.
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The Slave Trade
The Slave Trade(10 Photos)
10 Photos
Explore images of the Atlantic and African Slave Trades, from holding cells in Africa to auction houses in Atlanta.
Speeches & Audio (30)
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Louis Beats Schmeling
Louis Beats SchmelingAudio Clip (1:05)
Audio Clip (1:05)
Two years after Max Schmeling's knockout of the undefeated Joe Louis in a non-title bout, they met again on June 22, 1938, for a dramatic rematch at Yankee Stadium. Playing out in live coverage, the match goes to Louis who defeats the German in two minutes and four seconds. Louis was hailed as a hero for all Americans.
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Joe Louis Beats Freddie Beshore
Joe Louis Beats Freddie BeshoreAudio Clip (0:26)
Audio Clip (0:26)
Live coverage of boxing champ Joe Louis is captured in a broadcast from Olympia Stadium in Detroit on January 3, 1951. Mounting a comeback, Louis beats Freddie Beshore in the fourth round.
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Tuskegee Airmen Fly First Mission by Black Pilots
Tuskegee Airmen Fly First Mission by Black PilotsAudio Clip (2:31)
Audio Clip (2:31)
In an interview, 2nd Lt. William A. Campbell describes his experience flying as a wingman in the first combat mission for the 99th Fighter Squadron, which was sent to North Africa in April 1943.
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Brown v. Board of Education Ruling
Brown v. Board of Education RulingAudio Clip (2:32)
Audio Clip (2:32)
On May 17, 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. A commentary on the ruling explores the differing theories on integration at the time.
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Althea Gibson Wins U.S. Tennis Championship
Althea Gibson Wins U.S. Tennis ChampionshipAudio Clip (0:59)
Audio Clip (0:59)
Live coverage at Wimbledon in 1957 captures Althea Gibson's victory. Gibson was the first African-American woman to win Wimbledon and the U.S. Nationals.
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"A Raisin in the Sun" Depicts Black Life
"A Raisin in the Sun" Depicts Black LifeAudio Clip (1:04)
Audio Clip (1:04)
African-American playwright Lorraine Hansberry offers insight into the meaning of her first play, "A Raisin in the Sun," which opened on Broadway in 1959 to great critical acclaim.
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Ralph Ellison on "Invisible Man"
Ralph Ellison on "Invisible Man"Audio Clip (4:05)
Audio Clip (4:05)
American author Ralph Ellison describes his process of discovery as he worked on his masterful novel "Invisible Man," published in 1952.
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Barbara Jordan's Keynote Address
Barbara Jordan's Keynote AddressAudio Clip (2:12)
Audio Clip (2:12)
An excerpt from Barbara Jordan's keynote speech at the Democratic National Convection. Jordan was the first African-American woman ever elected to Congress from a southern state.
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Barbara Jordan Delivers Keynote Address
Barbara Jordan Delivers Keynote AddressAudio Clip (3:20)
Audio Clip (3:20)
In July 1976, as the first African-American to deliver a keynote address at the Democratic National Convention, Rep. Barbara Charline Jordan speaks about a solution to the problems facing America.
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Jesse Jackson at Democratic Convention
Jesse Jackson at Democratic ConventionAudio Clip (5:16)
Audio Clip (5:16)
In 1984, Jesse Jackson embarked on the first prominent presidential campaign by an African American in U.S. history.
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Outbreak of '92 Los Angeles Riots
Outbreak of '92 Los Angeles RiotsAudio Clip (1:06)
Audio Clip (1:06)
A live news report on April 29, 1992, captures the outbreak of looting and violence in Los Angeles following the announcement of the acquittal of four white Los Angeles Police Department officers in the beating of black motorist Rodney King.
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Rodney King Responds to Los Angeles Riot
Rodney King Responds to Los Angeles RiotAudio Clip (0:22)
Audio Clip (0:22)
Following the April 29, 1992, verdict in which four white Los Angeles Police Department officers were acquitted of charges in the beating of black motorist Rodney King, riots broke out across Los Angeles. On May 1, 1992, King pleads with citizens to stop the violence and "get along."
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O.J. Simpson Verdict Announced
O.J. Simpson Verdict AnnouncedAudio Clip (3:26)
Audio Clip (3:26)
In 1995, O. J. Simpson was acquitted of the 1994 double murder of his estranged wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend Ronald Goldman.
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Musicians Boycott South Africa
Musicians Boycott South AfricaAudio Clip (0:27)
Audio Clip (0:27)
A news report describes the protest set off by British pop star Dusty Springfield when she refused to perform during a tour in South Africa unless she could sing to a non-segregated audience. Although her 1964 tour was cancelled, many other British rock stars joined her in condemning apartheid.
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Tutu Speaks Out Against Apartheid
Tutu Speaks Out Against ApartheidAudio Clip (1:54)
Audio Clip (1:54)
In an October 28, 1985, address to the United Nations Special Political Committee, Bishop Desmond Tutu calls for the immediate dismantling of apartheid.
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Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Truth and Reconciliation
Archbishop Desmond Tutu on Truth and ReconciliationAudio Clip (0:40)
Audio Clip (0:40)
On October 29, 1998, South Africa's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, headed by Archbishop Desmond Tutu, released its final report about crimes and atrocities that occurred during apartheid. Upon presenting the 3,500-page report to Nelson Mandela, Archbishop Tutu delivers a speech focusing on healing the divided country.
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Nelson Mandela Gathers Support to Abolish Apartheid
Nelson Mandela Gathers Support to Abolish ApartheidAudio Clip (2:03)
Audio Clip (2:03)
After being held for 27 years as a political prisoner, the newly freed Nelson Mandela stands before the United Nations on June 22, 1990. As deputy president of the African National Congress, Mandela delivers a speech to the Special Committee Against Apartheid and calls for continued economic sanctions against South Africa to help force an end to segregation.
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Nelson Mandela Released From South African Prison
Nelson Mandela Released From South African PrisonAudio Clip (0:49)
Audio Clip (0:49)
On February 10, 1990, South African President F.W. de Klerk announces that after 27 years in prison Nelson Mandela will be released the following day. De Klerk asks for the release to "take place in a dignified and orderly manner."
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Magic Johnson's HIV Announcement
Magic Johnson's HIV AnnouncementAudio Clip (1:05)
Audio Clip (1:05)
On November 8, 1991, Earvin "Magic" Johnson announced in a press conference that he had tested positive for HIV and would be retiring from basketball immediately. A news report covers the story, including a host of reactions from the shocked public.
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Obama Addresses 2004 Democratic Convention
Obama Addresses 2004 Democratic ConventionAudio Clip (2:51)
Audio Clip (2:51)
On July 27, 2004, Barack Obama, then a little-known Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate from Illinois, delivers the keynote address at the Democratic National Convention. His speech, in which he describes his personal story of the American Dream, catapults him into the national spotlight.
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Barack Obama Elected President
Barack Obama Elected PresidentAudio Clip (1:38)
Audio Clip (1:38)
On November 4, 2008, Barack Obama is elected the 44th president and becomes the first African-American chief executive of the United States. In his victory speech, President Obama remarks that "change has come to America."
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LBJ on Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.
LBJ on Assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.Audio Clip (1:39)
Audio Clip (1:39)
On April 4, 1968, civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. was shot and killed by a sniper while standing outside his hotel room in Memphis. After attending a memorial service the next day, President Lyndon B. Johnson speaks to the nation about the tragedy in a broadcast from the White House.
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Andrew Young Speaks During Confirmation as U.N. Ambassador
Andrew Young Speaks During Confirmation as U.N. AmbassadorAudio Clip (1:10)
Audio Clip (1:10)
On January 25, 1977, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing to confirm Andrew Young as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. During the hearing, Young, who had come to national prominence as a leader in the civil rights struggle of the 1960s, makes clear his intention to use the democratic process to ensure world peace. He later became the first African-American to occupy this position.
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Riot at Paul Robeson Concert
Riot at Paul Robeson ConcertAudio Clip (4:20)
Audio Clip (4:20)
On August 27, 1949, a concert by Paul Robeson and other left-wing singers in Peekskill, New York, was called off after an outbreak of violence in protest of Robeson's communist leanings. When the concert was rescheduled for September 4, CBS News was on hand to record another eruption of violence at the concert grounds.
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Hank Aaron Addresses Congress
Hank Aaron Addresses CongressAudio Clip (0:17)
Audio Clip (0:17)
The baseball great known as Hammerin' Hank speaks before Congress around Flag Day in 1974 on the special meaning Old Glory has for him.
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Jackie Robinson on Racial Taunts
Jackie Robinson on Racial TauntsAudio Clip (0:52)
Audio Clip (0:52)
The first African-American to play major league baseball, Jackie Robinson describes his experience in the first few games of the 1947 season, when he was subjected to vicious epithets from other teams and spectators.
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Eisenhower Intervenes in Little Rock Crisis
Eisenhower Intervenes in Little Rock CrisisAudio Clip (2:10)
Audio Clip (2:10)
President Dwight D. Eisenhower is forced to take action when nine African-American students are prevented from entering Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas. In a broadcast to the nation on September 24, 1957, the president explains his decision to order Federal troops to Little Rock to ensure that the students are allowed access to the school, as mandated by the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Brown v. Board of Education.
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H. Rap Brown on the African-American Community
H. Rap Brown on the African-American CommunityAudio Clip (0:31)
Audio Clip (0:31)
H. Rap Brown, the 1960s leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), speaks about the state of the African-American community as a whole.
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Harold L. Ickes Introduces Marian Anderson at Lincoln Memorial
Harold L. Ickes Introduces Marian Anderson at Lincoln MemorialAudio Clip (5:16)
Audio Clip (5:16)
Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes stresses racial equality in his introduction of African-American singer Marian Anderson, who performs a concert on April 9, 1939, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C.
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Booker T. Washington on Race Relations
Booker T. Washington on Race RelationsAudio Clip (3:28)
Audio Clip (3:28)
On September 18, 1895, at the Atlanta Exposition, Booker T. Washington rises to national fame when he delivers what came to be known as his “Atlanta Compromise” speech, in which he advocates for the races to work together while remaining separate socially.
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