Beyond the Library

Black History Month: Virtual Exhibits, Tours, Videos, & More!

This week to celebrate Black History month we have a list of online exhibits, educational videos, conversations, and tours to check out.

APEX Museum

“The mission of the APEX Museum is to interpret and present history from an African American perspective to help all Americans and international visitors better understand and appreciate the contributions of African Americans to America and the world.” APEX Museum, the African-American Panoramic Experience Museum, has some short video on their website of exhibits.

The African American Museum in Philadelphia

The African American Museum in Philadelphia has two different online exhibits available:

“Rendering Justice is a powerful exhibition, curated by artist Jesse Krimes, that showcases an expansive examination of mass incarceration and an unflinching depiction of contemporary America. The artworks are part of Mural Arts Philadelphia’s Reimagining Reentry program, which supports formerly incarcerated artists in the creation of public art projects. The nine artist’s work individually and in pair to to highlight a broad range of issues bound in mass incarceration, with a focus on Philadelphia.” 

“Through His Eyes: Youth Activism in the Civil Rights Era in Philadelphia is an online exhibition that pulls from the Jack T. Franklin photographic collection at AAMP to explore Philadelphia’s often overlooked civil rights activists – Black youth. As today’s youth struggle through mass school closures, police brutality, and racial discrimination, these images taken by Franklin are a poignant reminder that anyone at any age can make a change.”

MoAD

MoAD is “a contemporary art museum, celebrates Black cultures, ignites challenging conversations, and inspires learning through the global lens of the African Diaspora.” MoAD has many videos of available ranging from artist talks, discussions of exhibits, book launches, open mic night, film discussions and more.

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum

The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum has videos of 22 stories retold by Bob Kendrick, President of the Negro League Museum. 

“Fighting through the mire of segregation, some of the game’s greatest players make-up the backdrop as Bob Kendrick explains the historical impact of chicken wire and why it is so prominent throughout the Museum.”

Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

“This museum takes visitors on a trip through time starting with the Black Experience in America with its history Galleries that start from Slavery to Emancipation and then from Segregation to Today. There are also exhibits that focus on Black History in popular culture. You can explore more than 3,500 exhibits online.”

Not sure where to start? Check out “A Changing America, 1968 and Beyond” or learn about James Baldwin in “Chez Baldwin: An Exploration of James Baldwin’s Life and Works Through the Powerful Lend of His House ‘Chez Baldwin’ in St. Paul de Vence, France.”

Archives of African American Music and Culture

Archives of African American Music and Culture has many archival photographs and four online exhibits (that include photos, audio, and video) of the Golden Age of Black Radio.  

  • Part 1 – The Early Years
  • Part 2 – Deejays
  • Part 3 – Community Engagement
  • Part 4 – Gender Equality and Civil Rights
Dance Theater of Harlem

Dance Theater of Harlem “is the first Black classical ballet company and the first major ballet company to prioritize Black dancers. This school was founded more than 50 years ago. There are four online exhibits about the history of this world-famous dance company.”

DuSable Museum of African American History

DuSable Museum of African American History was “founded in 1961 by teacher and artist Dr. Margaret Burroughs with other leading Chicago citizens, the DuSable Museum of African American History is one of the few independent institutions of its kind in the United States. The DuSable’s mission is to promote understanding and inspire appreciation of the achievements, contributions, and experiences of African Americans through exhibits, programs, and activities that illustrate African and African American history, culture and art. The DuSable’s diverse collections include both fine art and historical materials, with substantial holdings in African art and artifacts, archival documents, and works created by some of the most influential African American artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.” Check out their online exhibit “Freedom, Resistance, and the Journey Toward Equality.”

Library of Congress – Rosa Parks

The Library of Congress has listed online resources of educational materials for children, printmaking activities for kids, digital archival materials from the civil rights era, online exhibits, and “webcast” videos about Rosa Parks.

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center has 3 online exhibits: “A Slave Pen Journey,” “Rachel at Longwood,” and “My Dear Wife, I Love You.” Here you can also find some videos of tours, conversations, short documentaries, and stories from the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center.

International Civil Rights Center & Museum

There is an online filmed tour of “The Battlegrounds of the Struggle for Civil Rights” and an interactive virtual tour of “the Complex Tapestry of a Civil-Rights America.” (cost: $10-15)

Upcoming Virtual Events

Check back next week for our next installment of this series!

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