“History has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” ― Michelle Obama

February 1st ushered in Black History Month in the United States. In celebration, each week this month we will be focusing on inspiring African-American women in the realms of art, education, and activism. This week though, we explore and celebrate a few of the men and women who, from the civil rights era to modern day, have left a lasting impact on our society through the mediums of poetry, art, photography, and song.

“I, Too” by Langston Hughes

“Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou

Artist Jacob Lawrence’s The Migration Series

Lawdy Mama, by Barkley L. Hendricks

The Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights March, 1965, photographs by James Karales

Black in America: a photography series by Michael A. McCoy

Songs of the Civil Rights Movement

In 2018 rapper Kendrick Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize for Music

In Alabama: Poet Sonia Sanchez was born in Birmingham in 1934. Read her poem “Haiku and Tanka for Harriet Tubman” here.