Black History month presents an opportunity to reflect on the wide range of achievements by black and African-American writers, thinkers, musicians, artists, and activists. As part of our effort to direct attention to their work and to recognize the range accomplishments, the NDQ editorial board put together this little gaggle of links both to things in NDQ and elsewhere that represent a tiny fraction of the massive contributions that the black community has made in the U.S.

First, check out this collection of poems by leading African American poets compiled by the Poetry Foundation.

Then, check out the poem “Rain” by Marcus Amaker (as well as his music) published in NDQ 86.3/4. 

For discussions that range from current events to critical engagement with thinkers, books, popular culture, and issues the  African American Intellectual History Society blog “Black Perspectives” overflows with amazing content.

In fact, NDQ Editor Eric Burin republished a number of contributions to that blog in his master class on the Colin Kaepernick’s activism: Protesting on Bended Knee: Race, Dissent and Patriotism in 21st Century America published by NDQ’s sister project, The Digital Press at the University of North Dakota.  

The “Digital Schomburg” project of the New York Public Library presents some of the massive collection of material collected by their Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem.  

The reach of African American culture is nearly ubiquitous, but a few years ago,  Malinda Maynor, published an interesting article that examined the intersection of Native America and African American culture: “Indians Got Rhythm: Lumbee and African American Church Song” in NDQ 67 (2000), 72-91. You can read that here.

Another historical perspective is offered by the Wisconsin Historical Society which has made available its digitalized version of Freedom’s Journal, the first African American Newspaper in U.S. 

NDQ Reviews Editor, Sharon Carson offered some notes on the complexities surrounding Nicodemus, Kansas, the first all black settlement in Kansas that was founded in 1877 to provide sanctuary for African Americans fleeing the violence of post-War Kentucky. 

Collaborative humanities project, The Black Past, brings together many contributors to produce an expansive resource for exploring culture, social history, intellectual history, economics, and politics.    

Last but not least, one of the most popular posts from a few years ago always rewards a revisit, check out Eric Burin’s conversation with Wilmot Collins, the Liberian-American mayor of Helena, Montana who is currently running for Senate.

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As always, please remember that NDQ relies on our outstanding contributors, editors, and subscribers to thrive. Please consider submitting to NDQ, subscribing, or downloading our previous volume. For some content from NDQ 86.1/2, click here, and for content from our most recent issue, 86.3/4, click here.