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Preserving Her Legacy: The Birth of the National Archives for Black Women’s History

Mary McLeod Bethune never stopped building. Long after she founded the National Council of Negro Women in 1935 she realized something deeper was missing. The voices of Black women who shaped America were scattered in pieces across the country. Letters diaries speeches photos and records of a people who had built schools led marches raised communities and lifted generations were at risk of being forgotten. So she took action again. Out of that vision came the National Archives for Black Women’s History in Washington D.C. The archive was created to collect preserve and share the stories of African American women whose impact was too often ignored by mainstream institutions. It became the first national archive devoted entirely to documenting the achievements struggles and leadership of Black women throughout American history. Bethune’s own papers and those of the National Council of Negro Women became the foundation. From there the collection grew to include photographs letters oral histories and rare documents from educators activists and community leaders who changed the world in quiet and powerful ways. The National Archives for Black Women’s History stands today as a home for memory. Every file and photograph reminds us that our stories matter and that progress has roots. Bethune believed that education and history go hand in hand. She wanted future generations to see the strength of Black women not just in the pages of history books but in the evidence of their own hands and voices. Her vision was clear. What we do must be remembered. And through this archive her legacy keeps every name every story and every victory alive. A woman who built schools also built a home for our memories. #BlackHistory #MaryMcLeodBethune #WomensHistory #NABWH #CommunityVoices #LegacyLivesHere

Preserving Her Legacy: The Birth of the National Archives for Black Women’s HistoryPreserving Her Legacy: The Birth of the National Archives for Black Women’s History
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WILLIAM DORSEY SWANN: A HIDDEN FIGURE IN AMERICAN HISTORY

William Dorsey Swann’s name rarely appears in history books, but his story reaches back to the late 1800s. Born into slavery in 1860, Swann stepped into freedom determined to create space for people who lived on the margins. In Washington D.C. he organized private gatherings now recognized as some of the earliest drag balls in the United States. These events were often targeted by police, leading to raids and arrests. Even in the face of that pressure, Swann defended his right to assemble and live openly, becoming the first known person in America to call himself a Queen of Drag. Whether someone agrees with the lifestyle or not, his courage and willingness to stand up to a hostile society make him a significant figure in Black history and in the early struggle for LGBTQ rights. His life shows how many different paths contributed to the broader fight for freedom in this country. A story from the past that reminds us how many different battles shaped American history. #WilliamDorseySwann #BlackHistory #AmericanHistory #LGBTQHistory #HistoricalFigures #CommunityVoices #UntoldStories #LataraSpeaksTruth

WILLIAM DORSEY SWANN: A HIDDEN FIGURE IN AMERICAN HISTORY
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The Tuskegee Study: Why This Story Still Hits Home

Some stories refuse to fade into the archives… they tap the mic every generation and say, “Hey, don’t forget me.” The Tuskegee Study is one of those stories. From 1932 to 1972, hundreds of Black men in Tuskegee, Alabama were told they were getting care… when the truth was colder than that. Doctors watched, recorded, and withheld treatment, even after penicillin became the cure-all. And yeah, folks love to say, “Why don’t some communities trust the medical system?” But c’mon, trust isn’t a switch; it’s built over time… and broken the same way. History like this carved caution deep into the bones of families, passing down quiet warnings right along with recipes and church fan stories. We don’t bring up Tuskegee to reopen wounds. We bring it up because remembering is how we guard the door. It’s how we honor the men who were wronged. It’s how we make sure the mistakes of yesterday don’t get a reboot. Because the past doesn’t stay gone… it shapes how we move today. #TuskegeeStudy #HistoryMatters #CommunityVoices #HealthJustice #AmericanHistory #TruthAndMemory #LearnFromThePast #BlackHistory365 #CommunityTalks

The Tuskegee Study: Why This Story Still Hits Home
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