A Different Civil Rights Archive

The April anniversary of the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., is a good time to mention a recent, unique addition to digital archives of the American civil rights movement. The Civil Rights Struggle, African-American GI's, and Germany brings together films, oral history videos, photos, and other materials that document the experiences of the 2-3 million African-American soldiers and civilian employees who lived in Germany between 1945 and the end of the Cold War. This fascinating archive is a collaborative project of German Historical Institute, Heidelberg Center for American Studies at the University of Heidelberg, and Vassar College. Take a look and expand your understanding of the civil rights story to encompass the role played by the largest group of African-American soldiers stationed outside the country at a time of great social change, and the impact of the American civil rights movement on the wider world community.


Ernster, the Virtual Library Cat