Resistance

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An NAACP flyer campaigning for the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives in 1922, but was filibustered to defeat in the Senate. Dyer, the NAACP, and freedom fighters around the country, like Flossie Baily, struggled for years to get the Dyer and other anti-lynching bills passed, to no avail. Today there is still no U.S. law specifically against lynching. In 2005, eighty of the 100 U.S. Senators voted for a resolution to apologize to victims' families and the country for their failure to outlaw lynching. Courtesy of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Some Exhibits to Come – One Hundred Years of Jim Crow
Mammy Statue JC Museum Ferris
Bibliography – One Hundred Years Of Jim Crow
Claude, age 23, just months before his 1930 murder. Courtesy of Faith Deeter.
Freedom’s Heroes During Jim Crow: Flossie Bailey and the Deeters
Souvenir Portrait of the Lynching of Abram Smith and Thomas Shipp, August 7, 1930, by studio photographer Lawrence Beitler. Courtesy of the Indiana Hisorical Society.
An Iconic Lynching in the North
Lynching Quilt
Claxton Dekle – Prosperous Farmer, Husband & Father of Two
Joshua Glover Plaque
Some Exhibits to Come – Three Centuries Of Enslavement
Harriet Tubman, "The Conductor," with fugitive slaves in Underground Railroad station
Bibliography – Three Centuries of Enslavement
Ancient manuscripts about mathematics and astronomy from Timbuktu, Mali
Some Exhibits to Come – African Peoples Before Captivity
Shackles for Adults & Children from the Henrietta Marie
Some Exhibits to Come – The Middle Passage
Slaveship Stowage Plan
What I Saw Aboard a Slave Ship in 1829
Arno Michaels
Life After Hate: A Former White Power Leader Redeems Himself

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"Resistance" is one of America's Black Holocaust Museum's four themes, which serve as pillars in our virtual museum.

People of African descent in this country have been targets of injustice for five hundred years, but they have not been simply victims. At America's Black Holocaust Virtual Museum, we remember the many ways that black people and freedom-loving white people have resisted injustice, even when doing so threatened their lives and liberty.

However, resistance can also take on a negative format when those people who have benefitted from systemic racism oppose changes that would benefit the Black community or other people of color. We are currently in the midst of cultural and political resistance that threatens equality and progress.

Many events and breaking news articles continue to showcase this theme as Black Americans break stereotypes and barriers to success.

Butter Pecan Ice Cream : A Taste of Resistance and Home

November 24, 2025

Discover the rich heritage of butter pecan ice cream, a delicious symbol of resilience and cultural pride that transcends generations. From its origins rooted in the struggles of Black Americans to its beloved status in homes across the South and beyond, this flavor embodies the spirit of innovation and joy in the face of adversity. Each scoop serves as a reminder of the rich history and creative ingenuity that turn a simple dessert into an act of defiance and celebration.

Finding Myself Inspired by a Modern Day Teenage Activist

August 23, 2023

After 144 years of silent indifference, seven African American men lynched in October 1878 are officially recognized with a memorial bench and sign in Mt. Vernon, Indiana. Thanks to Sophie Kloppenburg, a true inspiration, we will never forget.

Portraiture of Resistance

February 6, 2023

Resist! Exhibit features the artistic portraits of prominent resistance leaders. Poetry creatively walks the audience through the exhibit and our historical journey towards a more just and balanced world.

Founding the New Free Black Community

August 3, 2020

Millions of freed Black Americans built their own communities across the South post-Civil War. They worked to establish a life of freedom and prosperity for themselves and future generations. Schooling, church, and family were important pillars of community-building. They meant to enjoy their freedom to live with family, unite in marriage, raise children, worship in the open, and educate the next generation.

Stories Behind the Postcards: Paintings and Collages of Jennifer Scott

August 12, 2019

This series of six paintings and three collages is the response of Chicago artist Jennifer Scott to souvenir lynching postcards. She thought about what she did not see in the postcards: the family members left behind to take down the victim, to mourn and bury the remains-if there was enough to bury.

The Freedom-Lovers’ Roll Call Wall

July 9, 2019

ABHM calls on people everywhere to work for liberty and justice for all. Stand with us by signing our Freedom Lovers’ Pledge. Let others know of your commitment by putting your name (and photo if you’re willing) alongside other Freedom Lovers on our Roll Call Wall. Thank you!

The Double Struggles of June Jordan, Poet and Social Activist

August 29, 2017

Do you know June Jordan? If not, you should! In this exhibit you can read and hear the powerful poems of this amazing Jamaican-American activist, feminist, and mother.

After 100 Years Of Challenges, The 1st Nat’l Black History Museum Is Here

September 24, 2016

Black history has finally taking its rightful place within the Smithsonian Institution with the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s grand opening in September 2016. Discover the 100-year history of the project, take a virtual tour, watch the full dedication ceremony and video interviews.

Traces of the Trade: The North’s Complicity in Slavery

August 14, 2015

Learn about the significant complicity of the northern states in the slave trade and slaveholding in the history of slavery in the United States. Many northern industries and business were dependent on slave labor in both the North and South. Northern consumers were dependent on the products of this slave labor for food, clothing, and amenities like rum and sugar.

By Us, For Us: The Crucial Role of the Black Press

August 8, 2015

This exhibit gives a short history of the black press, some of the important journalist involved, and the vital role it has played in advancing the ideals of American democracy and supporting African American identity and culture.