Hidden Voices: Stories of the Global African Diaspora Volume 1

The Hidden Voices project was initiated to help students learn about and honor the innumerable people, often “hidden” from the traditional historical record, who have shaped and continue to shape our history and identity. Hidden Voices encourages educators to honor the complexity of culture, develop respect for differences, teach from multiple perspectives, and ensure that instructional materials reflect a wide variety of racial, ethnic, and cultural backgrounds. Hidden Voices allows students to find their own voice as they become analysts of the past and make connections between the past and the present.

Hidden Voices: Stories of the Global African Diaspora delves into the perspectives, experiences, and impact that peoples of African descent have had—and continue to have—on United States and world history. These individuals influenced the social, political, cultural, and economic landscapes of the world and United States in so many ways, and their contributions continue to shape our collective history and identity. Understanding the context and histories of diverse groups helps students to develop empathy for others. This iteration of Hidden Voices follows the historical trajectories of the African diaspora in chronological fashion, beginning with a consideration of Africans in antiquity, and ending with figures whose work and import continue well into the twenty-first century.

This collection is divided into two volumes. The first volume begins in the ancient world and ends in the nineteenth century. The second volume begins in the nineteenth century and ends with the exploration of contemporary conceptions of the diaspora. Both guides include front and back matter with an emphasis on pedagogical considerations for this important content.

This guide consists of essays by historians and experts. This guide is intended to help teachers develop pedagogical content knowledge about the global African diaspora and its history. The 21 individual profiles and four portraits of an era essays featured in this instructional resource are just some examples of the range of figures and events that can be integrated within the broader historical narrative and social studies curriculum.