black History in Two Minutes (or so)

Black History in Two Minutes (or so) is the new way to immerse yourself in Black History. The digital video series features dozens of short, engaging and factually accurate videos about important historical events or people who have shaped American history. Like never before, people of all ages, backgrounds and educational levels can learn more about the African American experience.

Launched in 2019 by visionary Executive Producer Robert F. Smith, who is the Founder, Chairman and CEO of Vista Equity Partners, the media platform has covered topics from the beginning of American history to the present day. To ensure historical accuracy, the episodes are well researched and narrated by renowned historian and Executive Producer, Henry Louis Gates Jr. Teaching guides for educators also accompany some of the episodes, affording teachers the ability to incorporate the information from the videos, and the videos themselves, into their lessons.

As an award-winning series, Black History in Two Minutes has received numerous accolades, including two Webby Awards in 2020, 2 more in 2021 and yet again, 1 more in 2022.

Check out some of the episodes for yourself below.


Martin Luther King Jr. – Was his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech Improvised?

Martin Luther King Jr. – Was his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech Improvised?

While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s influence was large, perhaps his greatest legacy came when he delivered his famous “I Have a Dream”…

Oscar Micheaux: The First Black Indie Filmmaker | Black History in Two Minutes (or so)

Oscar Micheaux: The First Black Indie Filmmaker

Transitioning from job to job as a teenager, Oscar Micheaux was able to write a story that was inspired by his experience on a farm. The…

The History of Black Farmers

Well before formal legislation was passed, promising freed slaves certain land rights, Black farmers traveled west, exploring, and…

The Beginning of Black History: Juan Garrido | Black History in Two Minutes (or so)

The Beginning of Black History: Juan Garrido

In the early 1500s, a West African man named Juan Garrido joined the ranks of Spanish explorers who ventured out in hopes of discovering…

Separate But Equal: Homer Plessy and the Case That Upheld the Color Line

Separate But Equal: Homer Plessy and the Case That Upheld the Color Line

In June of 1882, a 30-year-old shoemaker by the name of Homer Plessy of New Orleans led a revolution that aimed to overturn Jim Crow…

The Second Middle Passage | Black History in Two Minutes (or so)

The Second Middle Passage

As the United States began to expand, the demand for cotton led to an increase of slave trades in the country. Eager to capitalize, slave…