AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY

PRIMARY DOCUMENTS

The following are documents which have contributed to the shaping of African American history. These documents are a starting point for additional research and discussions that help further our understanding of the history of people of African ancestry in the United States.

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US Supreme Court

<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1583" height="881" src="data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=" data-src="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg" alt="US Supreme Court" title="The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0" class="divi-nitro-defer wp-image-1636" data-defer-srcset="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg 1583w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-1280x712.jpg 1280w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-980x545.jpg 980w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-480x267.jpg 480w" data-defer-sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1583px, 100vw" /><noscript><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1583" height="881" src="data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=" data-src="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg" alt="US Supreme Court" title="The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0" class="divi-nitro-defer wp-image-1636" data-defer-srcset="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg 1583w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-1280x712.jpg 1280w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-980x545.jpg 980w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-480x267.jpg 480w" data-defer-sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1583px, 100vw" /><noscript><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1583" height="881" src="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg" alt="US Supreme Court" title="The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0" class="wp-image-1636" srcset="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg 1583w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-1280x712.jpg 1280w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-980x545.jpg 980w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-480x267.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1583px, 100vw" />

(1967) Reitman v. Mulkey

387 U.S. 369 (1967) REITMAN ET AL. v. MULKEY ET AL. No. 483. Supreme Court of United States. Argued March...

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January 15th, 2025

US Supreme Court

<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1583" height="881" src="data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=" data-src="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg" alt="US Supreme Court" title="The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0" class="divi-nitro-defer wp-image-1636" data-defer-srcset="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg 1583w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-1280x712.jpg 1280w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-980x545.jpg 980w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-480x267.jpg 480w" data-defer-sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1583px, 100vw" /><noscript><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1583" height="881" src="data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=" data-src="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg" alt="US Supreme Court" title="The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0" class="divi-nitro-defer wp-image-1636" data-defer-srcset="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg 1583w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-1280x712.jpg 1280w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-980x545.jpg 980w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-480x267.jpg 480w" data-defer-sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1583px, 100vw" /><noscript><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1583" height="881" src="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg" alt="US Supreme Court" title="The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0" class="wp-image-1636" srcset="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg 1583w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-1280x712.jpg 1280w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-980x545.jpg 980w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-480x267.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1583px, 100vw" />

(2023) Students for Fair Admissions v. Harvard and Students for Fair Admissions v. University of North Carolina

STUDENTS FOR FAIR ADMISSIONS, INC. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College certiorari to the united states court of appeals...

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January 11th, 2025

US Supreme Court

<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1583" height="881" src="data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=" data-src="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg" alt="US Supreme Court" title="The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0" class="divi-nitro-defer wp-image-1636" data-defer-srcset="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg 1583w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-1280x712.jpg 1280w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-980x545.jpg 980w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-480x267.jpg 480w" data-defer-sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1583px, 100vw" /><noscript><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1583" height="881" src="data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=" data-src="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg" alt="US Supreme Court" title="The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0" class="divi-nitro-defer wp-image-1636" data-defer-srcset="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg 1583w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-1280x712.jpg 1280w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-980x545.jpg 980w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-480x267.jpg 480w" data-defer-sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1583px, 100vw" /><noscript><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1583" height="881" src="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg" alt="US Supreme Court" title="The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0" class="wp-image-1636" srcset="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg 1583w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-1280x712.jpg 1280w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-980x545.jpg 980w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-480x267.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1583px, 100vw" />

(2013) Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin

Abigail Noel FISHER, Petitioner v. UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AT AUSTIN et al. No. 11-345. Supreme Court of United States. Argued...

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November 22nd, 2024

US Supreme Court

<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1583" height="881" src="data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=" data-src="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg" alt="US Supreme Court" title="The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0" class="divi-nitro-defer wp-image-1636" data-defer-srcset="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg 1583w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-1280x712.jpg 1280w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-980x545.jpg 980w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-480x267.jpg 480w" data-defer-sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1583px, 100vw" /><noscript><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1583" height="881" src="data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs=" data-src="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg" alt="US Supreme Court" title="The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0" class="divi-nitro-defer wp-image-1636" data-defer-srcset="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg 1583w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-1280x712.jpg 1280w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-980x545.jpg 980w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-480x267.jpg 480w" data-defer-sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1583px, 100vw" /><noscript><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1583" height="881" src="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg" alt="US Supreme Court" title="The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0" class="wp-image-1636" srcset="https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0.jpg 1583w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-1280x712.jpg 1280w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-980x545.jpg 980w, https://new.blackpast.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/The-U.S.-Supreme-Court-Joe-Ravi-License-CC-BY-SA-3.0-480x267.jpg 480w" sizes="(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) and (max-width: 1280px) 1280px, (min-width: 1281px) 1583px, 100vw" />

(1974) Milliken v. Bradley

MILLIKEN, GOVERNOR OF MICHIGAN, ET AL. v. BRADLEY ET AL. No. 73-434. Supreme Court of United States. Argued February 27,...

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November 21st, 2024

Signers of the Declaration of Sentiments

(1848) Frederick Douglass, “The Rights of Women”

On July 19-20, 1848, 68 women and 32 men attended the First Women’s Rights Convention which was held in the...

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March 12th, 2022

United States Capitol

(2022) Emmett Till Antilynching Act

One Hundred Seventeenth Congress of the United States of America AT THE SECOND SESSION Begun and held at the City...

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March 11th, 2022

Kansas-Nebraska Map

(1854) Kansas-Nebraska Act

An Act to Organize the Territories of Nebraska and Kansas. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives...

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January 30th, 2022

Incomplete U.S. Capitol Building

(1861) The First Confiscation Act

CHAP. LX.–An Act to confiscate Property used for Insurrectionary Purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives...

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January 29th, 2022

Missouri Compromise Map (Kappa Map Group)

(1820) The Missouri Compromise

An Act to authorize the people of the Missouri territory to form a constitution and state government, and for the...

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January 11th, 2022