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.
African American Higher Education
Opportunities for freed black children to further their educational journey after high school were limited. As a direct response to minimal…
Segregated Travel in Jim Crow America
Jim Crow’s separate but equal not only impacted restaurants and schools, but it also led to the segregation of travel on buses. Black…
Ella Baker – ‘The Mother of the Civil Rights Movement’
After graduating from Shaw University, Ella Baker moved to New York City and began her career as a grassroots organizer. Joining the NAACP…
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…
Mamie Till Mobley
The lynching of Emmett Till in 1955 became a pivotal point for race relations in the United States. Instead of sitting by silently, his…
The Birth of the Black Panthers
Electrified by the rhetoric of Malcolm X, founding members Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale created an organization aimed at protecting the…