Buffalo Soldiers  After the Civil War a lot of black men went to the west because they felt that they would have more freedom there.  Some were cowboys, some were soldiers, such as the cavalry unit  that became known as the "Buffalo Soldiers."  They were led by Henry Flipper,  the first black graduate of West Point, who has his own tragic story. 

The Emancipation Proclamation  More than any other single statement, this proclamation by Abraham Lincoln can be said to have brought about the end of slavery.

Heroes in the Ships:  African American Whaling Men  African Americans has a major role in the American shipping industry both during and after slavery.  This site tells about their place on whaling ships. 

Life and Writings of Frederick Douglass  Frederick Douglass was a very great man.  His influence began long before slavery ended and lasted long after it was destroyed.  Here is a short biography and links to some of his most important writings. 

Plessy v. Ferguson  A short, understandable page on one of the most important court cases of all times.  In 1893 it deprived African Americans of the right to be with whites in public places. The right was not won back for more than 60 years. 

Principles of the Ku Klux Klan  Founded after the Civil War, it succeeded for for decades in its goal of depriving African Americans of the right the War should have won for them. 

Lynching in America  For one hundred years after slavery, murder of African Americans was tolerated as a part of the tradition of the South.  This site documents one lynching and its coverage in a dozen contemporary newspapers.

The Victims of Lynching  This site gives names of Americans lynched in the last century, not all of them so very long ago.  It also has many links to sources of information on lynching.

William Sheppard  Forgotten today, Sheppard was a great world figure who should be revered for helping end the murder of millions in the Congo during the rule of King Leopold of Belgium.  Sheppard was a missionary who proved to be a brilliant linguist and extraordinary explorer.  Upon discovering the unmatched evil of Leopold's rule, he started and led a movement that eventually brought about its end.  His profound effect on world history should not be ignored.

Valley of the Shadow  A brilliant, complex site detailing the Civil War activities of two communities, one Southern and one Northern, separated by the length of a valley.  Much excellent material is related to slavery in the one and thoughts about slavery in the other.

Booker T. Washington was the most powerful black man in the United States at the time he lived.  He was founder and president of Tuskeegee University and a writer on the needs black people.  His belief that African Americans could be satisfied with a segregated society put him at odds with W. E. B. Du Bois and Ida B. Wells.