As every American knows, February is Black History Month. And as every American also knows — if the events of 2020 haven’t warped their sense of time too badly — is isn’t February right now. But thanks to online learning technology, we all have the freedom to study any subject we want, as much as we want, whenever we want, irrespective of the time of year. Sources of internet-based education have proliferated in the 21st century, but long-respected institutions of higher learning have also got in on the action. Yale University, for example, has produced the online course African American History: Emancipation to the Present, whose 25 lectures by history professor Jonathan Holloway you can watch on YouTube, or at Yale’s web site. The first lecture appears above.
Originally recorded in the spring of 2010, Holloway’s course examines “the African American experience in the United States from 1863 to the present,” involving such chapters of history as “the end of the Civil War and the beginning of Reconstruction” and “African Americans’ urbanization experiences.”
It also includes lectures on the “thought and leadership of Booker T. Washington, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, W.E.B. Du Bois, Marcus Garvey, Martin Luther King Jr., and Malcolm X” — all writers and thinkers Open Culture readers will have encountered before, but a course like African American History: Emancipation to the Present offers the opportunity to consider their lives and work in clearer context and greater detail.
Black history has deeper roots in some parts of the United States than others. But that doesn’t mean the universities of the west have nothing to offer in this department: take, for example, Stanford University’s African-American History: Modern Freedom Struggle, taught by the historian (and editor of MLK’s papers) Clayborne Carson. Available to watch on YouTube and iTunes (or right above), its 18 lectures deliver an introduction to “African-American history, with particular emphasis on the political thought and protest movements of the period after 1930, focusing on selected individuals who have shaped and been shaped by modern African-American struggles for freedom and justice.” Taken together, these online courses offer you more than enough material to hold your own Black History Month right now.
Note: Clay Carson’s course can also be taken as a MOOC on edX. Enroll now in American Prophet: The Inner Life and Global Vision of Martin Luther King, Jr. And find the courses listed above in our collection, 1,700 Free Online Courses from Top Universities.
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Based in Seoul, Colin Marshall writes and broadcasts on cities, language, and culture. His projects include the book The Stateless City: a Walk through 21st-Century Los Angeles and the video series The City in Cinema. Follow him on Twitter at @colinmarshall, on Facebook, or on Instagram.
Thank you Thank you! I am 74 and did not have the history I needed. 1 paragraph on slavery. College 4 paragraph plus Black professor who went beyond our books.
I am a living History Actor and research all of my characters. Madame CJ Walker, Zora, Ona Judge Staines, Harriet Tubman.
I am very interested in taking the African American history courses. What do I need to do as my next step?
Ckifford
I want to take part in the course work that’s being offered.
Clifford Makins
77, excited and ready to enroll
As a retired educator. I would like to take these courses also. I am am also a public speaker.
I would love to take some courses. I haven’t had the opportunity in the past. I have a master degree in psychology and would like to add more content pertaining to the African American community.
I would love to register for this course. PLEASE provide me with the neccessary information to do so. Thanks in advance!
I would like to take the African American history class
I would love to take this class. I want to know more about
my history so I can teach my
grandson.
How do I get this information.
Where can I find the registration information to enroll in this history class.
Thank You
I would like to take this African American course. I need this. Thank you
I am interested. Please let me know the start date.
I would like to enroll for this African American history classes.
I am interested in the courses on African American history.
Awesome. Thank you.
I am ready to start at 69 years old to learn more about my African-American,(and if possible caribbean) History.
Thanks for this free opportunity, we can learn something new everyday and share/teach others,both young and old.
“I AM READY TO LEARN”.
I want to tske the course
This might be seen as good intentions I’m offended that my history is becoming a FOTM
Flavor of the month.
What white Americans need are courses on the real history of white people in this country.
Every dispicable thing they have done and continue to do should be taught. Title:
From cannibalism to lynching 101.
ADOS AMERICAN DESCENDANTS OF SLAVERY ‘S HISTORY IS SEPARATE FROM HISTORY OF CARIBBEAN PEOPLE. THEY ARE SKIN FOLK, NOT KINFOLK. OUR STORY IN THIS COUNTRY IS UNIQUE TO ADOS.
PLEASE DO NOT CONFUSE OR INCLUDE OTHERS INTO OUR NARRATIVE.
ONCE YOU START READING YOU WILL FIND THIS OUT.
START WITH READING 1. THE DESTRUCTION OF BLACK CIVILIZATION 2.WHO NEEDS THE NEGRO,3.THEY WERE HER PROPERTY, BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING ELSE. THEN YOU’LL BE PREPPED FOR THE CLASSES.
I would like to take these courses
I would love to take these courses and any others with similar subject matter. This is a great way to get the knowledge base needed to teach my grandchildren about their heritage beyond the standard facts. Please tell me how to sign up for all of the courses.
I am very interested in the courses. What do I need to do? Thanks in advance.
MAke black history course online in class mandatory and accredited starting from 1619 year to current times of black history. Then maybe some of this inferior stuff related to blacks and stereotypes will be looked at in other ways. Also. Our school systems are setup to teach 98 percent Eroupean history and government. So if I was white, I would somewhat fall for white people being superior to all races….what a illusion if you dont read and travel and open up yo other cultures.
I have watched the first lecture and would like to continue the course. Please direct me to instructions on how to do this.
Gratefully,
Debra Thomas-Zasadzinski
I would like to take the course. Please send me the information for me to do so.
Hello!
Interested in experiencing classes in African American History.
Please forward information about those classes.
Thank you.
I am interested in taking the courses that are being offered. What is the procedure to get started? When do these courses start?
OMG! What a great idea where do I start?
Yes how do start
Greetings- kindly provide information for this course please.
Thank you for the opportunity to learn!
Sincerely,
Carol
Would love to,, how can I sign up take the course?
I believe they all are available for view on Youtube
I would like to take the class.
Please provide procedure for course registration. Thank You.
I would like to take this class.
Where do I go to register for the course?
I want in! Where do I go to register for the course?
I’m interesting and I want to know more about the African School. Please let me know, when the class start, so I can register for it.
Good Afternoon, I would be interested in this course, however is it open for those of us who are based in the UK?
Many thanks
Joy Joseph
I am interested, where do I go to register.
I am interested,
I am Interested
I am ready to sign up for your free courses.
I’m interested
I’m interested in taking these courses. I would welcome the opportunity to learn more about my African American culture.
I am interested in taking these classes. Please send me more info.
I would love me to apply for these free on line courses! About my Black history heritage. Thank you! For the opportunity.
How soon can I start?
Thankyou
I definitely have an interest in this course that is being provided. Please respond favorably.
USAF Ret.
I would love to take this course. I really feel as if.my generation as well as the ones before and also after me.i believe it is imperative to know our history.
Hi Jonathan,
I really miss seeing your face on the Northwestern University campus.
Great idea but again you are such a strategic thinker. Yes! Teach the History for future generations. The story needs to be told.
Thank you….
Thanks for this opportunity, how do I register and when does the program start?
I would like to enroll in the courses ASAP!!!
where do I register for the class!?
Want to register for this free class. Please let me know how to. Thanks
I am very interested in taking these courses!
As most of us were NOT taught the real History of African American History! Please let me know next steps
Ready to start.
I’m am very excited and would like to participate in one of your classes
And I greatly appreciate the opportunity
Very interested in applying to take these courses. I took a course in African history learned a lot but it really left me wanting to learn more!
I am retired from Winston Salem State University in Winston Salem, NC (an HBCU) and believe in learning from the cradle to the grave.
I am 73 years old and I would love to learn more about my history .
I really want to take African-American history class I am interested African-American history it feels enjoy for me with my freedom speech
I very very interested in the course in Black history. Our people are being destroyed for the lack of knowledge, I’m age 67, so much I’ve seen but so little knowledge about our history.
Guys, type in on Google: ‘Open Yale course African American History From Emancipation to the Present by Jonathan Holloway’.
Then Download all the course pages.
If you want to read more about Black History, type in on Google ‘African American History free library’. They have a variety of books that you can educate & read for your own love of understanding Black culture.
Additionally, you can find study courses on Black History on Google such as the ‘Michigan State University African American Studies research guide’.
Another interesting read would be an article called ‘Nat Turner’s skull and my students’ purse by Daina Ramey Berry’ you can find it on Google.
Its important to search for free courses about Black History, as our culture has been sold/taken advantage of for centuries. You should never feel ashamed about feeling inexperienced in knowledge, your awareness of your history, as its never too late to obtain knowledge in anything.
Chinenye, age 19
I’m interested in taking Black History courses. I learned very little in high school. As an adult, it’s kind of embarrassing not knowing about all of the Black History figures and the contributions they’ve made. I desperately want to be in the know! Please tell me what I need to do to start the process. Thank you in advance!
The African history course
I would like to take this course. How do I register.
I would love to enhance my knowledge with this history course. Please send me registration information. Thank u
I’m interested in African American studies. Could you send me the cozy and any thing I need to know.
Hi,
I am interested in the free online courses on African American studies. Can I check this includes Reconstruction and the 13th,14th and 15th amendments and are any certificates given?
Many thanks.
Ro
I would love to add this subject to my resume. Please provide me with the information needed.
Thank you!
Kimberly A. Wright
kimberlywright53@gmail.com
How do I sign up for this course.
I am piggybacking on what Mr. Payne said. I, too, am 69 years old, and I don’t know what I should know about my Black Heritage.
I am retired, and I can now devote the time necessary to learn ALL I can about my Black History/Heritage.
Thank you for the opportunity.