African American Eras Library

Cover......Page 1
Copyright......Page 5
Table of Contents......Page 6
Reader’s Guide......Page 20
Chronology......Page 24
Era Overview......Page 30
1. Activism and Reform......Page 34
Chronology......Page 35
Headline Makers......Page 38
MANDY CARTER (1948– )......Page 41
BENJAMIN CHAVIS (1948– )......Page 43
ELDRIDGE CLEAVER (1935–1998)......Page 47
ANGELA DAVIS (1944– )......Page 51
MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN (1939– )......Page 54
KWEISI MFUME (1948– )......Page 57
AL SHARPTON (1954– )......Page 61
CORNEL WEST (1953– )......Page 64
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION TAKES AIM AT INSTITUTIONAL RACISM......Page 67
BLACK PANTHER PARTY IS FOUNDED......Page 69
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.’S ASSASSINATION SHOCKS THE NATION......Page 75
JESSE JACKSON FOUNDS THE RAINBOW/PUSH COALITION......Page 77
WOMANISM GIVES VOICE TO BLACK WOMEN’S STRUGGLES......Page 80
SUPPORT BUILDS FOR SLAVERY REPARATIONS......Page 82
THE BLACK COMMUNITY REACTS TO RODNEY KING VERDICT......Page 85
LOUIS FARRAKHAN ORGANIZES THE MILLION MAN MARCH......Page 87
HURRICANE KATRINA HIGHLIGHTS RACIAL INEQUALITIES......Page 89
JENA SIX CASE STIRS RACIAL SENTENCING DEBATE......Page 92
AFRICAN AMERICANS FIGHT FOR GAY AND LESBIAN RIGHTS......Page 94
THE BLACK PANTHER PARTY’S 10-POINT PLATFORM AND PROGRAM (1966)......Page 97
ROBERT F. KENNEDY’S SPEECH ANNOUNCING THE DEATH OF MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. (1968)......Page 99
COMMISSION TO STUDY REPARATION PROPOSALS FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS ACT (1989)......Page 101
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 104
For More Information......Page 105
2. The Arts......Page 108
Chronology......Page 109
Overview......Page 111
MAYA ANGELOU (1928– )......Page 113
JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT (1960–1988)......Page 116
OCTAVIA BUTLER (1947–2006)......Page 118
SAVION GLOVER (1973– )......Page 119
BILL T. JONES (1952– )......Page 121
WYNTON MARSALIS (1961– )......Page 122
TONI MORRISON (1931– )......Page 126
SUZAN-LORI PARKS (1964– )......Page 130
NTOZAKE SHANGE (1948– )......Page 135
ALICE WALKER (1944– )......Page 137
BLACK ARTS MOVEMENT SHOWCASES AFRICAN AMERICAN ARTISTIC EXPRESSION......Page 139
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM OPENS ITS DOORS......Page 143
BLACK PLAYWRIGHTS SHAKE UP THE WORLD OF THEATER......Page 145
FREE JAZZ AND TRADITIONAL JAZZ BOTH FLOWER......Page 149
ORGANIZATION OF BLACK AMERICAN CULTURE INSPIRES BLACK VISUAL ARTISTS......Page 151
GRAFFITI BECOMES A NEW KIND OF FOLK ART......Page 154
AFRICAN AMERICAN POETS REACH NEW HEIGHTS......Page 156
BLACK WOMEN AUTHORS FIND MAINSTREAM SUCCESS......Page 158
OPERA OPENS UP TO AFRICAN AMERICANS......Page 161
SAMO GRAFFITI MESSAGES (1970S)......Page 164
NOBEL PRIZE COMMITTEE HONORS TONI MORRISON (1993)......Page 165
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 167
For More Information......Page 168
3. Business and Industry......Page 170
Chronology......Page 171
Overview......Page 174
URSULA BURNS (1958– )......Page 177
KENNETH I. CHENAULT (1951– )......Page 178
SEAN COMBS (1969– )......Page 181
JANICE BRYANT HOWROYD (1952– )......Page 184
DAYMOND JOHN (1969– )......Page 186
ROBERT L. JOHNSON (1946– )......Page 188
RICHARD PARSONS (1948– )......Page 190
RUSSELL SIMMONS (1957– )......Page 192
DAVID L. STEWARD (1951– )......Page 194
OPRAH WINFREY (1954– )......Page 195
AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAMS RISE, THEN DECLINE......Page 199
BLACK ENTREPRENEURS INTRODUCE TRADITIONAL FOODS TO NEW FANS......Page 206
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION FOUNDED FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN CAREER WOMEN......Page 211
WAGE GAP PERSISTS BETWEEN AFRICAN AMERICANS AND WHITES......Page 213
COLLAPSE OF THE AUTOMOBILE INDUSTRY DEVASTATES AFRICAN AMERICANS......Page 216
MODERN ECONOMY CHALLENGES AFRICAN AMERICANS......Page 219
THE FIRST FEDERAL AFFIRMATIVE ACTION POLICY (1965)......Page 222
SUPREME COURT’S BAKKE DECISION (1978)......Page 224
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 228
For More Information......Page 229
4. Communications and Media......Page 232
Chronology......Page 233
Overview......Page 235
MARA BROCK AKIL (1970– )......Page 238
JAYSON BLAIR (1976– )......Page 239
ED BRADLEY (1941–2006)......Page 240
FARAI CHIDEYA (1969– )......Page 241
DON CORNELIUS (1936– )......Page 243
BILL COSBY (1937– )......Page 244
EARL G. GRAVES SR. (1935– )......Page 246
GWEN IFILL (1955– )......Page 248
TOM JOYNER (1949– )......Page 249
SPIKE LEE (1957– )......Page 251
ROBERT C. MAYNARD (1937–1993)......Page 253
MICHELE NORRIS (1961– )......Page 254
SHONDA RHIMES (1970– )......Page 255
BERNARD SHAW (1940– )......Page 257
TAVIS SMILEY (1964– )......Page 258
WILL SMITH (1968– )......Page 260
SUSAN L. TAYLOR (1946– )......Page 261
DENZEL WASHINGTON (1954– )......Page 262
AFRICAN AMERICAN MEDIA CHALLENGED BY MODERN TIMES......Page 265
STUDIOS TURN TO fBLAXPLOITATIONf FILMS......Page 272
BLACK MUSICIANS CROSS OVER TO FILM......Page 275
BLACK COMEDIANS THRIVE IN FILM IN THE 1970S AND 1980S......Page 276
A NEW GENERATION OF BLACK FILMMAKERS FINDS SUCCESS......Page 278
TELEVISION OPENS UP TO BLACK STORIES AND CHARACTERS......Page 283
CABLE NETWORKS TARGET AFRICAN AMERICANS......Page 287
DO THE RIGHT THING MOVIE REVIEW (1989)......Page 291
TESTIMONY ON THE IMPACT OF THE 1996 TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT ON BLACK RADIO (2006)......Page 293
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 296
For More Information......Page 297
5. Demographics......Page 300
Chronology......Page 301
Overview......Page 304
ROLAND G. FRYER (1977– )......Page 307
BELL HOOKS (1952– )......Page 309
MILDRED LOVING (1939–2008)......Page 313
THE 2000 CENSUS PROVIDES A SNAPSHOT OF AFRICAN AMERICAN DEMOGRAPHICS......Page 317
DRUGS AND GANGS PLAGUE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES......Page 318
AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY LIFE UNDERGOES CHANGES......Page 324
A BLACK MIDDLE CLASS EMERGES......Page 330
GREAT MIGRATIONS CHANGE THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF U.S. CITIES......Page 333
SUPREME COURT’S LOVING V. VIRGINIA DECISION (1967)......Page 337
TEN PLACES OF 100,000 OR MORE POPULATION WITH THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF BLACKS OR AFRICAN AMERICANS: 2000......Page 339
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 341
For More Information......Page 342
6. Education......Page 344
Chronology......Page 345
Overview......Page 348
JOE CLARK (1939– )......Page 351
JOHNNETTA B. COLE (1936– )......Page 354
MICHAEL ERIC DYSON (1958– )......Page 359
HARRY EDWARDS (1942– )......Page 363
HENRY LOUIS GATES JR. (1950– )......Page 366
ROD PAIGE (1933– )......Page 371
BLACK STUDIES PROGRAMS ARE ESTABLISHED IN HIGHER EDUCATION......Page 376
COURTS ORDER SCHOOL BUSING TO ACHIEVE INTEGRATION......Page 379
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS PROPOSE EBONICS TO AID BLACK STUDENTS......Page 385
CHARTER SCHOOLS PROVIDE AN ALTERNATIVE TO MINORITY STUDENTS......Page 387
STATES TAKE OVER FAILING INNER-CITY SCHOOLS......Page 391
HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES FACE CHALLENGES......Page 396
SUPREME COURT’S GREEN V. COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD OF KENT COUNTY DECISION (1968)......Page 402
THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT STATEMENT OF PURPOSE (2001)......Page 404
IMPACT OF THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT (2004)......Page 406
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 408
For More Information......Page 409
7. Government and Politics......Page 412
Chronology......Page 537
Overview......Page 540
JANICE ROGERS BROWN (1949– )......Page 543
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM (1924–2005)......Page 418
KEITH M. ELLISON (1963– )......Page 420
BARBARA JORDAN (1936–1996)......Page 423
CYNTHIA MCKINNEY (1955– )......Page 425
CAROL MOSELEY-BRAUN (1947– )......Page 428
BARACK OBAMA (1961– )......Page 430
CONDOLEEZZA RICE (1954– )......Page 432
J. C. WATTS JR. (1957– )......Page 435
L. DOUGLAS WILDER (1931– )......Page 437
BLACK VOTERS PLAY IMPORTANT ROLE IN ELECTIONS......Page 440
WALTER WASHINGTON BECOMES fFATHER OF MODERN WASHINGTONf......Page 442
CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS INCREASES POLITICIANS’ CLOUT......Page 444
DETROIT’S MAYORS FACE A CITY IN CRISIS......Page 447
BLACK LEADERSHIP FORUM EXERTS INFLUENCE......Page 451
MARTIN LUTHER KING DAY DECLARED A FEDERAL HOLIDAY......Page 452
HAROLD WASHINGTON TRIES TO REFORM CHICAGO POLITICS......Page 453
BARACK OBAMA BECOMES FIRST BLACK PRESIDENT......Page 455
BARBARA JORDAN’S OPENING STATEMENT TO THE HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, PROCEEDINGS ON THE IMPEACHMENT OF RICHARD NIXON (1974)......Page 461
PRESIDENT-ELECT BARACK OBAMA’S VICTORY SPEECH (2008)......Page 463
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 466
For More Information......Page 467
8. Health and Medicine......Page 468
Chronology......Page 469
Overview......Page 472
PATRICIA BATH (1942– )......Page 475
KEITH L. BLACK (1957– )......Page 481
CLIVE CALLENDER (1936– )......Page 483
BENJAMIN CARSON (1951– )......Page 487
JOYCELYN ELDERS (1933– )......Page 493
LEVI WATKINS JR. (1945– )......Page 500
TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY OUTRAGES BLACK COMMUNITY......Page 505
AFRICAN AMERICAN POVERTY LEADS TO HEALTH DISPARITIES......Page 507
BREAST CANCER HITS AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN HARDER......Page 511
HIV/AIDS DISPROPORTIONATELY HARMS AFRICAN AMERICANS......Page 515
OBESITY EPIDEMIC IMPACTS AFRICAN AMERICANS......Page 519
AFRICAN AMERICANS HOPE FOR SICKLE CELL ANEMIA CURE......Page 521
NATIONAL BLACK WOMEN’S HEALTH IMPERATIVE ADVOCATES FOR HEALTH REFORM......Page 525
TUSKEGEE SYPHILIS STUDY APOLOGY (1997)......Page 527
SALLY SATEL’S CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY ON MINORITY HEALTHCARE REFORM (2008)......Page 529
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 533
For More Information......Page 534
9. Law and Justice......Page 536
LANI GUINIER (1950– )......Page 545
ANITA HILL (1956– )......Page 548
ERIC HOLDER (1951– )......Page 550
THURGOOD MARSHALL (1908–1993)......Page 552
CHARLES MOOSE (1953– )......Page 557
CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY (1921–2005)......Page 559
CHARLES J. OGLETREE JR. (1952– )......Page 561
CLARENCE THOMAS (1948– )......Page 564
THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT OF 1965 ENDS RACIAL DISCRIMINATION IN VOTING......Page 569
MAJOR COURT CASES DEFINE AFFIRMATIVE ACTION......Page 573
MAJOR CIVIL RIGHTS LEGISLATION PROMOTES EQUALITY......Page 577
POLICE BRUTALITY SPARKS PUBLIC OUTCRY......Page 579
CONTROVERSY ERUPTS AT CLARENCE THOMAS’S CONFIRMATION HEARING......Page 582
HIGH-PROFILE CASES SPARK DEBATE ABOUT HATE CRIME LAWS......Page 586
RACIAL PROFILING GENERATES CONTROVERSY......Page 589
CRIME EMERGES AS A MAJOR ISSUE FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES......Page 591
BAKKE DISSENTING OPINION (1978)......Page 595
GRUTTER V. BOLLINGER DISSENTING OPINION (2003)......Page 597
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 601
For More Information......Page 602
10. Military......Page 604
Chronology......Page 605
Overview......Page 608
CLIFFORD ALEXANDER (1933– )......Page 610
DANIEL “CHAPPIE” JAMES JR. (1920–1978)......Page 613
HAZEL JOHNSON (1927– )......Page 619
COLIN POWELL (1937– )......Page 621
J. PAUL REASON (1941– )......Page 628
VIETNAM WAR DISILLUSIONS BLACK SOLDIERS......Page 633
BOXER MUHAMMAD ALI REFUSES THE DRAFT......Page 635
RACIAL TENSIONS PROMPT CHANGES IN THE MILITARY......Page 639
THE GESELL COMMITTEE ADDRESSES DISCRIMINATION IN THE MILITARY......Page 643
COLIN POWELL OVERSEES GULF WAR......Page 645
AFRICAN AMERICAN PARTICIPATION IN THE MILITARY RISES AND FALLS......Page 646
COLIN POWELL MAKES THE CASE FOR WAR IN IRAQ TO THE UNITED NATIONS (2003)......Page 650
CLIFFORD ALEXANDER DEFENDS THE RIGHTS OF GAYS IN THE MILITARY (2009)......Page 653
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 657
For More Information......Page 658
11. Popular Culture......Page 660
Chronology......Page 661
Overview......Page 664
ARTHUR ASHE (1943–1993)......Page 666
BARRY BONDS (1964– )......Page 667
JAMES BROWN (1933–2006)......Page 669
ARETHA FRANKLIN (1942– )......Page 671
JIMI HENDRIX (1942–1970)......Page 672
MICHAEL JACKSON (1958–2009)......Page 676
MICHAEL JORDAN (1963– )......Page 681
KIMORA LEE SIMMONS (1975– )......Page 683
VENUS WILLIAMS (1980– ) SERENA WILLIAMS (1981– )......Page 685
STEVIE WONDER (1950– )......Page 686
TIGER WOODS (1975– )......Page 689
AFRICAN AMERICANS BREAK THROUGH IN GOLF AND TENNIS......Page 691
AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC GOES MAINSTREAM......Page 692
BLACK POWER SALUTE CAUSES STIR AT OLYMPICS......Page 695
THE AFRO HAIRSTYLE MAKES BOLD STATEMENT......Page 698
HANK AARON BREAKS HOME RUN RECORD......Page 700
FUNK AND SOUL GIVE WAY TO DISCO......Page 702
THE POP MUSIC COLOR BARRIER COMES DOWN......Page 705
AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE INFLUENCES FASHION......Page 709
RAP AND HIP HOP BECOME CULTURAL PHENOMENA......Page 713
BLACK COACHES MAKE PROGRESS IN SPORTS......Page 717
“SAY IT LOUD—I’M BLACK AND I’M PROUD” BY JAMES BROWN (1968)......Page 720
“LADIES FIRST” BY QUEEN LATIFAH (1989)......Page 721
TOMMIE SMITH REFLECTS ON HIS BLACK POWER SALUTE AT THE 1968 OLYMPICS (2007)......Page 723
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 725
For More Information......Page 726
12. Religion......Page 728
Chronology......Page 729
Overview......Page 732
JUANITA BYNUM (1959– )......Page 735
JAMES H. CONE (1938– )......Page 737
LOUIS FARRAKHAN (1933– )......Page 739
WILTON GREGORY (1947– )......Page 742
T. D. JAKES (1957– )......Page 745
BERNICE A. KING (1963– )......Page 747
VASHTI MURPHY MCKENZIE (1947– )......Page 748
ANNA PAULINE MURRAY (1910–1985)......Page 751
IYANLA VANZANT (1953– )......Page 753
JEREMIAH WRIGHT (1941– )......Page 755
AFRICAN AMERICAN RELIGIOUS LEADERS IMPACT POLITICS......Page 758
BLACK JUDAISM REMAINS DIVERSE......Page 761
NATION OF ISLAM OFFERS DIFFERENT APPROACH TO EQUALITY......Page 766
THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT SPARKS BLACK THEOLOGY......Page 768
THE WOMANIST THEOLOGY EMERGES......Page 772
BLACK WOMEN TAKE LEADERSHIP ROLES IN THE CHURCH......Page 773
AFRICAN AMERICANS CHALLENGE THE CATHOLIC CHURCH......Page 775
THE ISSUE OF GAY RIGHTS STRAINS BLACK CHURCHES......Page 777
CONTEMPORARY TIMES SEE CHANGES IN THE BLACK CHURCH......Page 779
“GO DOWN, MOSES” LYRICS (DATE UNKNOWN)......Page 781
THE NATION OF ISLAM RESPONDS TO THE SEPTEMBER 11TH TERRORIST ATTACKS (2001)......Page 782
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 787
For More Information......Page 788
13. Science and Technology......Page 790
Chronology......Page 791
Overview......Page 794
GUION “GUY” BLUFORD......Page 796
GEORGE R. CARRUTHERS (1939– )......Page 800
CHRISTINE DARDEN (1942– )......Page 804
PHILIP EMEAGWALI (1954– )......Page 808
SHIRLEY ANN JACKSON (1946– )......Page 811
MAE JEMISON (1956– )......Page 817
AIRLINE INDUSTRY EMPLOYS AFRICAN AMERICANS......Page 821
NASA IS INTEGRATED......Page 823
INVENTIONS BY AFRICAN AMERICANS IMPROVE LIVES......Page 830
AFRICAN AMERICANS SUFFER KNOWLEDGE GAP IN INFORMATION AGE......Page 833
BLACK SCIENTISTS PROMOTE SCIENCE EDUCATION FOR MINORITIES......Page 836
AFRICAN AMERICANS SHAPE THE AGE OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY......Page 839
SENATE TESTIMONY OF WILLIAM H. GRAY ON THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND MINORITY-SERVING INSTITUTIONS (2002)......Page 846
CHARLES BOLDEN’S CONFIRMATION HEARING TESTIMONY FOR NASA APPOINTMENT (2009)......Page 848
Research and Activity Ideas......Page 852
For More Information......Page 853
Where to Learn More......Page 854
Index......Page 856