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Black Life in America

The experience and impact of African Americans as recorded by the news media, 1704 to today
Summary
Learn what makes this product unique
  • Comprehensive coverage of the African American experience from the early 18th century to the present day
  • Sourced from more than 19,000 American and global news sources, including over 400 current and historical Black publications
  • An easy-to-use online resource—updated daily—for every institution working toward social justice and racial equity

From the early days of slavery to modern times, people of African descent have had a profound impact on American history. While many Black achievements are not covered in most textbooks, Black Life in America—a unique digital archive of news media—presents the broad sweep of African American history in ways no other online resource can match. By offering balanced coverage from diverse sources published across four centuries, this extraordinary product provides critical perspectives on the experiences of being Black in America.

From Black-owned newspapers to mainstream publications, this primary source collection offers an expansive window into centuries of African American history, culture and daily life—as well as the ways the dominant culture has portrayed and perceived people of African descent. Packed with information unavailable elsewhere, Black Life in America is sourced from more than 19,000 American and global news sources, including over 400 African American publications. At a time when social justice is a prevalent topic, this three-part collection is an invaluable resource for exploring issues of equity, race, and related topics.

Series 1: 1704-1877: Arrival in America through Reconstruction
It is impossible to understand the struggles and successes of people of African descent in America without understanding their roots. Series 1 brings to life a pivotal era in American history, with original reporting and contemporary perspectives on the lives of enslaved and newly freed people, Nat Turner’s revolt, Harriet Tubman’s heroism, the Underground Railroad, the Civil War and Reconstruction, and more. Through firsthand reporting, editorials, obituaries, illustrations, and advertisements, these historical newspapers shed new light on critical events while revealing the impact of African Americans whose stories are less well known.

Series 2: 1878-1975: Jim Crow through the Civil Rights Movement
Even after slavery was toppled, many laws and policies continued to disadvantage Black Americans. Men and women such as W.E.B. Du Bois, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Martin Luther King, Jr., helped rectify these injustices, even while fighting a system often designed to silence them. Through historical newspapers, Series 2 provides insight into their efforts and those of hundreds of other civil rights leaders, as well as daily life during the Jim Crow era and the lasting contributions of African Americans in nearly every field imaginable. It also offers a range of views and reporting on the court decisions and policy changes that profoundly shaped the African American experience.

Series 3: 1976-Today: Black History Month to Today
Available by subscription from NewsBank. For more information on Series 3, visit NewsBank.com/BlackLife

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“…OUTSTANDING...”
“…an outstanding resource for newspapers and primary sources, relevant across a wide range of disciplines at our institution.”
Azeem Khan, Rresearch & Instruction Librarian, Whittier College
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Areas of Study
This product supports the following subjects
African American Studies
American Studies
Ethnic Studies
US History
Title List
Reviews & Accolades

Black Life in America and Hispanic Life in America are outstanding resources for newspapers and primary sources, relevant across a wide range of disciplines at our institution. I have been impressed by the approachable layout, suggested searches and above all, the historical material contained within these two databases. I have also recommended the suggested searches for students looking for a topic for a research project.

I have explored these databases with students both in workshops and one-on-one, and in both cases we have found historical newspaper articles that contribute valuable information to students’ research topics. Most importantly, many of these students have gone on to continue to use these databases on their own. The databases are simple to learn and use, especially with easily accessible geographic and date filters.

A group of seniors told me that they had worked as a group to find relevant articles for their final research papers after attending one of my workshops. The students mentioned being surprised by the quality and relevance of material that they found.

I plan to continue showcasing both databases in my classes, workshops and individual research consultations with students in the future. Historical newspapers are an often underutilized resource when students are conducting research. Both databases offer an approachable entry point for students to find invaluable historical resources on a wide range of topics.

Azeem Khan, Research & Instruction Librarian, Whittier College

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