Black History Month

Learn about black history and the story of the civil rights movement in Atlanta, the birthplace of Martin Luther King Jr. Join The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as we take a look at some of the most prominent individuals, events and stories that have impacted America, over the course of Black History Month.

Collage of Black History Month articles from AJC in February 2021.

Amid pandemic, racial strife, Black History Month Series still inspires

AJC reporter Ernie Suggs, the editor of the AJC Sepia Black History Month series, shows off his Afro in Dunwoody, Monday, Feb. 15, 2021. (Alyssa Pointer / Alyssa.Pointer@ajc.com)

For many, an Afro isn’t just a hairstyle

Mashama Bailey is the James Beard award-winning executive chef and partner of the Grey in Savannah. (Courtesy of Cedric Smith)

Chef Mashama Bailey brings ‘a little bit of Black Power’ to the plate

Actress Nichelle Nichols wasn't sure that she wanted to continue portraying Lieutenant Uhura on the original "Star Trek" television show until Martin Luther King, Jr. — a Trekkie — convinced her that her presence on the show was valuable. (Paramount Television; Chick Harrity / AP)

A conversation with MLK Jr. kept Nichelle Nichols from exiting Star Trek

Ella Baker, official of the Southern Conference Educational Fund, speaks at the Jeannette Rankin news conference on Jan. 3, 1968. AP Photo

Ella Baker led civil rights movement from the shadows

More coverage of Black History Month from the AJC

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in Sam Pollard’s "MLK/FBI." IFC Films

King books find a new old home

Two teachers and 55 students were photographed in the 1920s in front of the Jefferson Jacob School in Kentucky. Andrew Feiler reproduced the photo for his book on the Rosenwald Schools. Early in the school building program, Booker T. Washington sent Julius Rosenwald photographs like this of schoolchildren and teachers standing proudly in front of their schools. Rosenwald was deeply moved by these images, and they contributed to his decision to expand the initiative; he eventually built almost 5,000 schools for Black children. Photo: Andrew Feiler

Atlanta photographer documents the life-changing Rosenwald schools

210422-ATLANTA-Charles Person, at 18, was the youngest of the original Freedom Riders. Photographed at his Atlanta home on Thursday afternoon, April 22, 2021. Ben Gray for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Charles Person, a Freedom Rider then and now

Freedom Riders: 60 years ago, they rode to challenge segregation

How the ‘Weeping Time’ became a lost piece of Georgia history

‘The Weeping Time’: Largest sale of enslaved blacks in U.S. history

Black History Month 2019: The Greenwood Massacre

Tulsa Race Riots: White mobs reduced Black community to rubble in 1921

Black History Month 2019: Double consciousness

Black double-consciousness: Du Bois’ century-plus concept still valid

The Black Woman

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - AUGUST 11: Simone Biles of the United States waves to fans after winning the gold medal during the Women’s Individual All Around Final on Day 6 of the 2016 Rio Olympics at Rio Olympic Arena on August 11, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Simone Biles: Gold medal Olympic gymnast soars to new heights

VIDEO: Celebrating Black History Month - Ida B. Wells

Ida B. Wells: Journalism Giant

Black History: Mary Mahoney

29 reasons to celebrate Black History Month: No. 24 Mary Mahoney

Marcus Garvey was a self-taught Jamaican social activist and black nationalist. He founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association (UNIA) in 1914 and moved to Harlem in 1916, where he promoted black economic independence through his newspaper and businesses. His “Back to Africa” movement made him a lightning rod among black leaders and the FBI alike, and some historians have interpreted his conviction of mail fraud in 1922 as a politically motivated prosecution. He served two years of a four-year sentence in Atlanta before being deported to Jamaica in 1927. He later moved to London and died in 1940. (George Grantham Bain / Library of Congress)

Marcus Garvey’s audacious Pan-Africanism inspired black nationalism

Black History Month 2019: Richard Pryor

Richard Pryor: His mixture of pain, brilliance pushed comedy’s limits

Black History Month 2019: Muhammad Ali

The Louisville Lip: Muhammad Ali’s fighting words fueled a movement

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