Black History

After the Civil War, many formerly enslaved people left Louisiana and moved to the North or out West in search of better opportunities.

This is the story of those that decided to stay behind in West Feliciana parish.

Their success in the post-war world and the unbelievably difficult times ahead hinged on the impact of education and one man – John Dawson – and those that believed in him.

Hard work and new industry eventually propelled African Americans in West Feliciana to a level of prosperity not seen in many of Louisiana’s communities. It’s a story that has many Black Louisianans looking back on the challenges and wondering just exactly, “How we got over?”

Signpost to Freedom: The 1953 Baton Rouge Bus Boycott is a one hour documentary that recounts the circumstances and events that led to the nation’s first large-scale boycott protesting segregation and then examines its impact on the evolution of grassroots civil rights activism across the country during the early years of America's Civil Rights Movement.

In an effort to bring this remarkable, untold story to millions of Americans, Signpost features interviews with eminent civil rights scholars and the personal stories of the boycott’s primary participants and witnesses. Rare archival photographs, film footage, and newspaper articles help in presenting a complete and accurate presentation of the boycott’s history.

Winner of the prestigious Suncoast Emmy Award for Best Long Form Historical/Cultural Program. This LPB digital-first series and documentary explores the history of the Louisiana businesses and places found in "The Negro Travelers' Green Book" - a guide that offered services and safety to Black travelers during the Jim Crow era.

How has the Black Church helped Louisiana’s African American community persevere through centuries of turmoil? From the Civil Rights Movement of days past to the struggles of the modern age, LPB’s Kara St. Cyr explores the importance of the Black Church in Louisiana, taking you on a journey across our state to show you the history and the culture that makes our state so unique.

Join the LPB Education team for the Celebrating Black History Play & Learn! Celebrate three, amazing African-American heroes that made significant contributions. Learn about Mae Jemison, Muhammad Ali, and Matthew Henson from the book Young, Gifted and Black. Design spacesuits, make a healthy snack and play a fun, PBS KIDS game, Sled Dog Dash.

The Louisiana Digital Media Archive (LDMA) is highlighting Black History Month during the month of February with a collection of videos highlighting African American history and culture in Louisiana.

The LDMA is the online home of the Louisiana Public Broadcasting Digital Collection and the Louisiana State Archives Multimedia Collection. This is the first project in the nation to combine the media collections of a public broadcaster and a state archives.