The Black Panther Party from Marxist Internet ArchiveIn October of 1966, in Oakland California, Huey Newton and Bobby Seale founded the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense. The Panthers practiced militant self-defense of minority communities against the U.S. government, and fought to establish revolutionary socialism through mass organizing and community based programs. The party was one of the first organizations in U.S. history to militantly struggle for ethnic minority and working class emancipation — a party whose agenda was the revolutionary establishment of real economic, social, and political equality across gender and color lines.
A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United StatesThis guide offers a history of various movements by citizens in the United States to gain political and social freedom and equality. It highlights resources available through the library and also offers a list of current civil rights organizations.
Civil Rights Movement from the History ChannelThe civil rights movement was a struggle struggle for social justice that took place mainly during the 1950s and 1960s for blacks to gain equal rights under the law in the United States. The Civil War had officially abolished slavery, but it didn’t end discrimination against blacks—they continued to endure the devastating effects of racism, especially in the South. By the mid-20th century, African Americans had had more than enough of prejudice and violence against them. They, along with many whites, mobilized and began an unprecedented fight for equality that spanned two decades.
Digital Public Library of AmericaThe Digital Public Library of America empowers people to learn, grow, and contribute to a diverse and better-functioning society. We do this by maximizing public access to our shared history, culture, and knowledge.
DPLA connects people to the riches held within America’s libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural heritage institutions. All of the materials found through DPLA—photographs, books, maps, news footage, oral histories, personal letters, museum objects, artwork, government documents, and so much more—are free and immediately available in digital format. The cultural institutions participating in DPLA represent the richness and diversity of America itself, from the smallest local history museum to our nation’s largest cultural institutions. To learn more about DPLA as an organization, our partners, and the communities we serve, please visit DPLA Pro.
The Digital Public Library of America is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit organization headquartered in Boston.
Links to resources about Civil RIghts in CWU digitized content
Black Prison Reform Unlimited at Walla Walla State PenitentiaryIn this interview, Wallace (Wally) Webster speaks to representatives of the Black Inmates Forum Unlimited at the Washington State Penitentiary in Walla Walla. The forum was founded in December 1969 with the intention of helping African American prison inmates to extricate themselves from the prison system and succeed in general society. The forum also addressed racial inequities in the treatment of prison inmates at the penitentiary.
REVOLUTION:Sixth Annual Symposium, First Panel DiscussionA panel discussion of the topic of Revolution from the sixth annual symposium at Central Washington State College on April 20, 1967.Sixth Annual Symposium, First Panel Discussion, REVOLUTION.
Panel presided by Professor Charles Blake. Panel Members included Stokely Carmichael, John Dyckman, Sidney Hook, Conor Cruise O'Brien, Robert Mezey, Fred Haley, Fred Stockholder, and Dan McIver.
Ron Sims InterviewRon Sims attended Central Washington State College, 1966-1971. He speaks about protests against racial and gender discrimination at Central during the 1960s. Sims went on to serve on the Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board, the Board of Regents of Washington State University, the Puget Sound Leadership Council, and the Board of Directors of the Washington Health Alliance. For twelve years, he acted as Executive for King County in Washington state. From 2009 to 2011, he also served as Deputy Secretary for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Stokely Carmichael Speech at Garfield High School, Seattle, WashingtonThis recording features a speech by Stokely Carmichael, given on April 19, 1967, at Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington. Here Carmichael speaks out against racism and the Vietnam War. Please note: This recording contains strong language that should be understood within its historical context.
Stokely Carmichael Speech at Huey Newton RallyThis recording features a speech by Stokely Carmichael at a Huey Newton rally on August 22, 1968. Huey was a young black man convicted of murdering police patrolman John Frey in November 1967. Carmichael joined others in the Black Panther party to advocate Huey's release. In this speech, Carmichael also speaks against racism, capitalism, imperialism, and the Vietnam War.
Wiliam Seraile Video InterviewWilliam Seraile is a retired professor of African American History who taught at Lehman college at City University of New York. In this interview he discusses attending Central Washington State College as an undergraduate in the early 1960’s. He discusses what it was like to be black at Central in the 1960's. He also talks about his pioneering work teaching and writing African-American history.
Downsizing Prisons by 
Marked by 
Mass Inceration and Offender Reentry in the United States by 
Ask the Libraries
