African American History: From Emancipation through Jim Crow

Overview

Reveal the historical realities of African American life in the United States after the end of slavery and before the rise of the Civil Rights Movement, and explore how African Americans from all backgrounds fought back to secure key freedoms across public and private life.

Course Details

The abolition of slavery in 1865 did not bring about the progress free Black men and women in America were hoping for. The late 19th and early 20th centuries were some of the darkest decades for African Americans. They endured discrimination in every aspect of life: politically, socially, and economically.

In African American History: From Emancipation through Jim Crow, Associate Professor Hasan Kwame Jeffries of The Ohio State University tracks the spread of Jim Crow laws across the South as well as Northern racism, revealing the battles waged by ordinary and notable Black people to protect their rights and freedoms. This 12-part course covers various themes, including:

• The cultural life of the period
• The impact of the Harlem Renaissance
• The individual experiences of famous Black figures

Video Lessons

1. Emancipation: The Fight for Rights Begins (34 min)

• Explore the continued struggle for rights after the Emancipation Proclamation.

1. The Promise and Betrayal of Reconstruction (37 min)

• Investigate the rise of sharecropping and the Ku Klux Klan post-Reconstruction.

1. Separate and Unequal: The Rise of Jim Crow (36 min)

• Learn how the “separate but equal” doctrine legitimized discrimination.

1. Lift Every Voice and Sing (37 min)

• Discover how Black communities used culture to insulate themselves from harsh realities.

1. The Terror of White Supremacy (33 min)

• Understand the violent racial terrorism faced by African Americans in the early 20th century.

1. World War I: Hell in Our Own Land (31 min)

• Explore the experiences of African American soldiers during World War I.

1. Marcus Garvey Builds a Black Nation (32 min)

• Learn about Marcus Garvey and the ideology of Black Nationalism in the early 20th century.

1. The “New Negro” Fights Back (37 min)

• Examine the Northern Black experience and the flourishing of Black art.

1. The Scottsboro Boys and the Great Depression (34 min)

• Tackle the Scottsboro case and its implications during the Great Depression.

1. A New Deal for African Americans (34 min)

• Understand how the New Deal programs affected African Americans.

1. World War II: Fighting at Home and Abroad (35 min)

• Learn about the dual struggle for jobs and military desegregation.

1. Black Athletes Break Barriers (38 min)

• Discover the challenges faced by Black athletes breaking into professional sports.