Celebrate and learn from those who fought, risked, and in some cases, gave their lives for equal rights. The month of February is about honoring their legacy and recognizing the struggles they went through. Without their dedication and perseverance our world would look very different. Despite the progress made over the past 200 years, the struggle for equal rights continues today. The Black Lives Matter movement, started in 2013, highlights the need for more progress in this fight. Police violence against people of color continues to be a common problem in the United States. The effort and actions of today's Black leaders are built on the foundation of these inspiring people.
The Places and Events That Shaped History
16th Street Baptist Church
Organizational headquarters for the Civil Rights movement in Birmingham, Alabama.
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African Burial Ground National Monument
The largest colonial-era cemetery for people of African descent.
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Alabama State Capitol
The third Selma to Montgomery march ended here with a speech from Martin Luther King Jr.
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Booker T. Washington National Monument
Learn about the life and times of this dominant African-American leader.
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Boston African American National Heritage Site
The Beacon Hill African-American community in Boston that led the fight against slavery.
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Brown v. Board of Education National Historic Site
Learn about the landmark decision of the U.S. Supreme Court that ended racial segregation in public schools
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Charles Young Buffalo Soldiers National Monument
Home of Charles Young, a West Point graduate, Buffalo Soldier, and first African-American colonel.
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Fort Pillow State Historic Park
"Remember Fort Pillow!" became the battle cry after the massacre at the Battle of Fort Pillow in 1864.
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Frederick Douglass National Historical Site
A brilliant orator, writer, social reformer and statesman, Douglass fought for the equality of all people.
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Freemen's Colony
A community of African-Americans living as freedmen and civilians after being freed during the Civil War.
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George Washington Carver National Monument
Born into slavery, Carver became a widely recognized and praised agricultural scientist and inventor.
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Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historic Park
Explore the life of abolitionist and political activist Harriet Tubman.
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Nicodemus National Historic Site
The only remaining western town established by African Americans following the American Civil War.
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Tuskegee Airmen National Historic Site
See where the famous Tuskegee Airmen trained to fly and maintain combat aircraft during World War II.
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