Jazz emerged as a uniquely African American art form, expressing creativity, improvisation, and resistance to oppression.

Black vernacular English is a distinct dialect with its own grammatical rules and cultural significance, reflecting African American history and identity.

Spirituals were religious songs created by enslaved Africans, expressing faith, hope, and coded messages of resistance.

The blues is a genre of music that originated in the African American community, expressing themes of hardship, resilience, and emotional depth.

Hip hop emerged as a cultural movement that includes music, dance, art, and fashion, reflecting the experiences and perspectives of urban Black communities.

Storytelling is a vital tradition that preserves history, transmits values, and fosters community among African Americans.

A concept introduced by W.E.B. Du Bois that describes the internal conflict experienced by Black people in a racist society, seeing themselves through their own eyes and the eyes of a prejudiced white society.

Call and response is a musical pattern where a leader sings or plays a phrase (the call) and a group responds, creating a dynamic and interactive musical experience.

A network of performance venues throughout the eastern, southern, and mid-western United States that provided commercial and cultural opportunities for African American entertainers during the era of segregation.

Black churches have served as centers of spiritual, social, and political life, providing community support, leadership, and a platform for activism.

New Negro Movement: Focused on cultural and intellectual empowerment, challenging stereotypes. | Civil Rights Movement: Focused on legal and political equality, challenging segregation and discrimination.

Assimilation: Integrating into the dominant culture, potentially losing distinct cultural identity. | Cultural Pride: Celebrating and preserving African American culture, fostering a sense of identity and community.

Black History Month: To promote the study and celebration of African American history to the general public. | Journal of Negro History: To provide a scholarly platform for research and analysis of African American history and culture.

Eurocentric: Centers European history, culture, and perspectives. | Afrocentric: Centers African and African diasporic history, culture, and perspectives.

Harlem Renaissance: Occurred in the 1920s and 1930s, focused on artistic expression and cultural identity. | Black Arts Movement: Occurred in the 1960s and 1970s, focused on political activism and Black Power.

Integration: The act of uniting or bringing together, especially people of different races. | Segregation: The action or state of setting someone or something apart from other people or things or being set apart.

Activism: The policy or action of using vigorous campaigning to bring about political or social change. | Complacency: A feeling of smug or uncritical satisfaction with oneself or one's achievements.

Equality: The state of being equal, especially in status, rights, or opportunities. | Equity: The quality of being fair and impartial.

Knowledge: Facts, information, and skills acquired by a person through experience or education; the theoretical or practical understanding of a subject. | Ignorance: Lack of knowledge or information.

Racial Pride: A sense of self-respect and esteem associated with one's race. | Racial Shame: Feelings of embarrassment and humiliation associated with one's race.

Cause: Desire to challenge racist stereotypes and assert Black identity. Effect: Increased racial pride, cultural production, and groundwork for future movements.

Cause: Systemic biases in the education system. Effect: Perpetuation of racial inequality and internalized racism.

Cause: Racial discrimination, violence, and limited economic opportunities in the South. Effect: Increase in Black populations in northern cities, contributing to the Harlem Renaissance.

Cause: Economic demand for labor in agriculture. Effect: Forced labor, dehumanization, and long-lasting racial inequality.

Cause: Racial prejudice and discriminatory laws. Effect: Limited access to resources, unequal opportunities, and social injustice.

Cause: Systemic racial discrimination and denial of basic rights. Effect: Legal and social changes, including desegregation and voting rights protections.

Cause: Frustration with the slow pace of civil rights reforms and persistent racial inequality. Effect: Increased Black pride, self-determination, and advocacy for Black community control.

Cause: Discriminatory housing policies. Effect: Limited access to homeownership and wealth-building opportunities for Black families.

Cause: Political and social concerns about drug use. Effect: Disproportionate incarceration rates for Black individuals.

Cause: Unequal access to technology and internet. Effect: Limited access to information, education, and economic opportunities for marginalized communities.