Internet Sites

African Americans and the U.S. Navy

Features illustrations from throughout the Navy’s history and links to more detailed written information, including a list of ships named for African Americans, and recruiting posters featuring African Americans.

African Americans in the U.S. Army

Beautiful site with after-action reports and additional information from specific units, including paintings, and photographs.

Black Men in Navy Blue During the Civil War

This article by Joseph Reidy in the National Archives’s <i>Prologue</i> magazine includes an excellent overview of African Americans in the Navy during the Civil War, statistics on percentage of black men serving in the crews, and several photographs.

Blacks in the Military

Quick overview of African American participation in every branch of the armed forces.

Brief History of Black Women in the Military

Provides overview beginning with the Civil War and includes illustrations.

Department of Defense Celebrates Black History Month

Contains several recent articles, photographs, and links to other related sites.

Photographs of the 369th Infantry and African Americans during World War I

Includes photographs, background and resources for exploring the contributions of the African American 369th Infantry.

Videos

The Bicycle Corps : America's Black Army on Wheels     60 min "In 1897, the U.S. Army theorized that the newly developed 'safety' bicycle could replace the horse as means of troop transport. As a result, the 25th Infantry established a Bicycle Corps to test the overall practicality of military cycling. Twenty African-American soldiers put their bicycles, their bodies and the Army's theory to the test with a 2000-mile ride from Montana to St. Louis, Missouri. The Bicycle Corps: America's Black Army on Wheels chronicles their journey through the eyes of two black sergeants who guided and motivated the men"--Container. Check this item in our catalog

The Tuskegee Airmen     60 min The story of an experiment - "to see if Blacks had the intellectual and physical ability to fly an aircraft in combat." These pilots, trained in the "deep South," became the Tuskegee Airmen, flying combat aircraft during World War II for their country. They had to battle on 2 fronts: the Axis powers in Europe and North Africa, and the racism at home. Check this item in our catalog

Databases

African-American History and Culture

This electronic encyclopedia includes thousand of entries covering the entire breadth of African-American history - from African beginnings through the slave trade and the Civil Rights Movement to the present. Entries are organized into five sections: Biographies, Encyclopedia, Historical Documents, Gallery and Maps and Charts. Each entry is cross-referenced through hyperlinks and searchable by topic, by historical era, and by keyword.

maintained by the staff of the African American Department, State Library Resource Center, Enoch Pratt Free Library