AP African American Studies Resource Archive | Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

A black-and-white photograph of James Brown, a Black man wearing a white shirt, sunglasses, a metal bracelet, and wristwatch waving as fans wave pieces of paper and look on in the distance.

The Origins and Elements of Hip-Hop

with Jeff Chang

Learn more about the genres, composers, and performers who developed the building blocks for what would become hip-hop.

Video

Photograph of a multi-buttoned drum machine and sampler. The machine consists of a black plastic box with a small screen in the upper left corner, multiple key pads, and a vertical design of black musical notes along the left, center and right of the box.

The Evolution of Hip-Hop and Breakdancing

with Jeff Chang

Explore the development of turntables, sampling, and breakdancing as key elements of hip-hop artistry and culture.

Video

Three boys playing atop the roof of a blue car, in front of an apartment building with graffiti written on the ground floor.

The Influence of the 1960s and 1970s on Hip-Hop

with Jeff Chang

Explore the importance of place and community on the development and growth of hip-hop in its earliest days.

Video

A cartoon of a young Black man, mouth open, holding copies of The Black Panther newspaper, with a rifle strapped to his back. The front page of the copy in his right hand reads "ALL POWER TO THE PEOPLE."

The Black Arts Movement

by Yasmine Espert

Explore the origins, evolution, and key players and works of the Black Arts Movement.

Essay

People at right foreground and left background going up a set of stairs; in the center background, a multicolored glass mosaic of a city skyline with an elevated train, and below a tile mosaic reading "TO UP TOWN AND DOWN TOWN TRAINS."

“City of Glass”

by Romare Bearden

Explore the work of Romare Bearden in this posthumously completed piece.

Work of Art

A color photograph of two panels of perforated metal, buildings and the sky visible through the perforations

“Paroles Vagabondes/Wisdom Along the Way”

by Béatrice Lebreton

Explore a work of art in the New York City subway system honoring diverse Caribbean and African American perspectives.

Work of Art

A five-piece mural made out of steel grates of a person working in a field.

“Urban Garden Rail”

by Saya Woolfalk

Explore responses to food access issues in segregated communities through this work of art.

Work of Art

A color photograph of an outdoor train platform with a wall of glass panels overlooking the street below; the images include a propeller airplane, a Tuskegee airman, a car, and horse racing.

“Illuminations”

by Darryl Westly

View a work of art on the Long Island Rail Road paying homage, in part, to the Tuskegee Airmen.

Work of Art

Four multicolored abstract mosaic panels on an outdoor subway platform.

“People’s Instinctive Travels: Homage to the Tribe”

by Eamon Ore-Giron

Explore an abstract piece in the New York City subway system paying homage to hip-hop history.

Work of Art

A panoramic image of a mosaic featuring spirals and circles on a blue field.

“Funktional Vibrations”

by Xenobia Bailey

Explore a mosaic connecting visual art with music.

Work of Art

A multicolored, abstract glass mosaic.

“Just Jazz”

by Moe Brooker

Explore a work of art on the Long Island Rail Road inspired by jazz musician John Coltrane.

Work of Art

A mosaic featuring a black and white portrait of Audre Lorde surrounded by bursts of gold, white, and black tiles.

“Audre Lorde” in “Beacons”

by Rico Gaston

View a mosaic portrait of Lorde installed in the New York City subway system.

Work of Art