Welcome to BlackPast 3.0

The wait is over—the new BlackPast.org is officially live! We’ve redesigned our site to bring you a modern, user-friendly experience that makes exploring Black history easier and more engaging than ever.

BlackPast is dedicated to providing reliable information on the history of Black people across the globe, and especially in North America. Our goal is to promote greater understanding of our common human experience through knowledge of the diversity of the Black experience and the ubiquity of the global Black presence. Welcome to the largest online encyclopedia on African American and Global African history on the Internet.

In Defense of Black History

This editorial page is part of an ongoing effort to present the ideas and opinions of individuals both within and beyond BlackPast.org that address the pressing issues and challenges facing African Americans and people of African Ancestry around the world, which are rooted in their historical experiences.

Featured Article

Shirley Chisholm was a true trailblazer. As the first Black woman elected to Congress and the first to run for president, she broke through barriers and fought for change in ways that still resonate today. Find out more about her incredible legacy by visting her BlackPast article.

The Interactive African American History Timeline

Discover the rich and inspiring stories of Black history through our interactive timeline, highlighting key moments and figures that have shaped our world. Dive in and explore how history connects to the present and inspires the future!

The African Capitals

Africa’s capitals are full of life, history, and culture. From the energy of Lagos to the charm of Cairo, each city has its own story to tell. Discover what makes these places special on our African Capitals page.

What’s New on BlackPast?

Tyre Deandre Nichols (1993–2023)

Tyre Deandre Nichols was a 29-year-old African American man who died on January 10, 2023, after...

Thomas Moorehead (1944- )

Thomas Allen Moorehead, born on April 21, 1944, in Monroe, Louisiana, is a pioneering...

Sonya Massey (1988-2024)

Sonya Massey, a 36-year-old African American woman was shot and killed in her home in Woodside...

Explore More On BlackPast

King Ezana of Axum (global-geography.org)

King Ezana of Axum (?- 360 CE)

King Ezana of Axum, the monarch of the Kingdom of Aksum (Now Ethiopia) from 320’s-360 CE, was...
The Trans-Saharan Trade (Guido Picardi)

The Trans-Saharan Salt and Gold Trade (500 BCE-1800 AD)

The Trans-Saharan Salt and Gold Trade was the major economic and cultural exchange between North...
Cetshwayo kaMpande (public domain)

Cetshwayo kaMpande (1826-1884)

King Cetshwayo of the Zulu Kingdom, was born in 1826 in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to Zulu king...
Cedric Glover (Wikipedia)

Cedric Bradford Glover (1965- )

Cederic Bradford Glover is an American politician who became the first African American mayor of...

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