1968 was marked by war and protest, tragedy and revolution—a year around which a whole era of political turmoil, cultural change, and social unrest turned. So much happened in one year, including: The Tet Offensive and the My Lai Massacre in Vietnam. The “Prague Spring” liberalizations in Czechoslovakia, followed by the Soviet invasion. The assassination […]
Today, we commemorate the 50th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s death: his assassination by James Earl Ray in Memphis, Tennessee, where King was preparing to march on behalf of sanitation workers on strike. In marking this tragic anniversary, we also celebrate the U.S. Civil Rights Movement King did so much to advance. Indeed, […]
Frederick Douglass was born into slavery on a plantation in Talbot County, Maryland, around 1818; the exact date of his birth was unknown to him, but he chose to celebrate it on February 14. In honor of his 200th birthday, we’re highlighting some of his many writings and speeches in the Special Collections Reading Room, […]
What does it mean to be free? In its final weeks, be certain to drop by M-Level to view Freedom Papers: Black Assertions from the Archives. Telling five compelling stories, the exhibit gives voice to Black people, who through their own determination and will, defined and claimed their freedom as they saw it. Drawn from […]