Centennial Courses
Marshall University is celebrating “An American Milestone, the Centennial of Negro History Week/Black History Month, 1926-2026” with short, non-credit, introductory courses online that are free to the public – thanks to our generous donors. Who should register? Students enrolled in middle and high school and their teachers, college students as well as seniors and others who just want to learn about Black History and culture. Although the youngest of readers (elementary students) may require assistance from parents and teachers, there are no prerequisites for the courses. Everyone is invited to register for the courses to be taught in two terms – October 2025 and February 2026.
Upon completion of each course, learners will receive a digital certificate of completion. Note that this is not an official academic undergraduate or graduate certificate from Marshall University.
The American Milestone program considers the phrase “Black History” an umbrella term that incorporates various areas of study – such as literature, music, art, history, culture and other disciplines and topics associated with the arts and humanities. As such, we have constructed a program that includes courses about the history of Negro History Week/Month, jazz, Robert Johnson and the blues, slavery in Appalachia, poetry, health care and how to explore family histories and various other topics.
Students may take just one or any number of courses. Major categories include: Black History, the Arts, Literature, Journalism, and Black Appalachia & Huntington, West Virginia area history.
Note: Includes all courses
African Diaspora in Appalachia: West Virginia Roots
Instructor: Laurie Goux, director, Center for Cultural & International Affairs, West Virginia Wesleyan College
The course examines the rich arts culture created by generations of Appalachians of African descent in Cabell and Wayne Counties. Through craft, dance, music, and literature, it discusses the historical, social, and political expression of the African diaspora in Appalachia.
Jazz and Blues Records as Historical (Re)Sources: The Basics of Discography
Instructor: Professor Edward Komara, State University of New York at Potsdam
The course explores the history and development of jazz and blues records, covering recording processes, major record labels, and discography reading. It examines both 78-rpm and tape-recording eras, focusing on significant record companies and their contributions to the genres.
The Parents of the Blues
Instructor: Professor Edward Komara, State University of New York at Potsdam
An exploration of early blues history focusing on key figures like W.C. Handy and Ma Rainey. The course examines different interpretations of “original blues” and discusses the development of blues in various contexts.
The Creation of Jazz Then and Now
Professor Edward Komara, State University of New York at Potsdam
The course centers on Jelly Roll Morton’s 1938 Library of Congress interviews, exploring early jazz history in New Orleans. It examines the historical creation of jazz and its ongoing recreation in performance.
Reading the Fantastic: The Short Stories of N.K Jemisin
Instructor: Dr. Kim Wickham, Fairmont State University
This course analyzes selected short stories from N.K. Jemisin’s collection “How Long ‘Til Black Future Month?” It explores how Jemisin uses fantastic elements to examine social issues while introducing students to literary analysis techniques.
The Dr. C.C. Barnett Hospital and Nursing School
Instructor: Karen Nance, local public historian
A case study examining the development of the Barnett Hospital and Nursing School during the separate but equal era. The course explores how the institution helped African Americans advance in the medical field despite systemic obstacles.
Charleston Slave Histories
Instructor: Dr. Eric Lassiter, Marshall University
This course explores slave histories in Charleston, West Virginia, focusing on developments from 1830 through the Civil War. It examines industrial slavery in salt mines and the transition from rural plantation economies to urban contexts.
The Origins and Development of Slavery in Central Appalachia
Instructor: Dr. Cicero Fain, Marshall University
An introduction to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade’s spread into Virginia’s regions and Central Appalachia. The course covers African American culture, resistance, and post-Emancipation community development in Huntington, West Virginia.
African American Art and Artists
Instructor: Theresa Polley Shellcroft, Victor Valley College in California
A comprehensive survey of African and African American art from traditional to contemporary times. The course examines artistic works within their historical, cultural, and political frameworks while exploring aesthetic preferences and African traditions.
Woodson Family Reckoning with Our History of Enslavement
Instructor: Dr. Craig Woodson, anthropologist
A two-video presentation course examining implications for teaching Black History at middle school through college levels. The specific content focuses on the Woodson family’s history with enslavement.
African and American African Drumming: Origins to the Present
Instructor: Dr. Craig Woodson, anthropologist
A two-lesson course introducing African drumming, its cultural context, and its journey to America during enslavement. The course covers both traditional West African drumming and its evolution in America.
The Wonderful African Influences on Modern Art
Instructor: Bridgitte Montgomery, independent artists, Phelan, California
A five-lesson course examining how African abstract art and sculpture influenced Modern Art movements from 1860-1970. The course explores how African aesthetics changed artists’ approaches to form, color, and composition in movements like Cubism, Fauvism, and Expressionism.
ROSANNA BRYANT: A First for Black Women of Southeast Ohio
Instructor: Carrie Eldridge, local geographer
Explores the groundbreaking story of Rosanna Bryant, one of the first Black women property owners in Southeast Ohio before 1900. The course examines early property laws, Bryant’s personal history, her connection to the Macedonia Church, and her lasting impact on the community through legal documents and historical records.
Manumission — A Beginning of Freedom
Instructor: Carrie Eldridge, local geographer
This course explores manumission laws and practices in Southeast Ohio and Lawrence County. It covers Virginia manumission laws, research techniques, documentation methods, and travel routes used by freed individuals.
Course available in Spring 2026
Drinking From the Well: Using Public History Methods to Access Local Black History
Instructor: Kristen Bailey, West Virginia University
A six-week asynchronous online course focused on Huntington’s Black History, providing tools for students to assess Black History in their own communities. The course uses a “stacked” format to help students work towards analyzing Black History sites using Public History methods.
Course available in Spring 2026
The History of Negro History Week/Black History Month
Instructor: Burnis Morris, Carter G. Woodson Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications
This live, one-session class provides an overview of the history and significance of the Negro History Week/Black History Month Centennial, 1926 to 2026. It explains what Americans should know about the journey Dr. Carter G. Woodson designed and led, initially out of fear about the trending of an uncertain future for Black Americans. The class will examine the conditions that led to Dr. Woodson’s intervention, when he sounded alarms about the impact of segregation and little public recognition of Black accomplishments. Negro History Week was not just an annual celebration. It became a movement to improve the education of all Americans. The class also will discuss how Dr. Woodson, a former West Virginia school principal and dean, used the press to sell history and a public education model. Students will have access to excerpts from the instructor’s published research about Dr. Woodson and Negro History Week – including an essay “Carter G. Woodson: A Century of Making Black Lives Matter”; and the book Carter G. Woodson: History, the Black Press, and Public Relations.”
Course available in Spring 2026
Shining a Light on Local Black History
Instructor: Jeanette Rowsey, former Barboursville author, now resident of Austin, Texas
The course explores Black history in Barboursville, West Virginia, through five 45-minute sessions. It combines live videoconference discussions, prerecorded presentations, self-guided tours of Black history landmarks, and suggested readings from a bicentennial history book.
Course available in Spring 2026
Robert Johnson and the Mississippi Delta Blues
Instructor: Professor Edward Komara, State University of New York at Potsdam
An eight-lesson course examining Robert Johnson’s life, music, and legacy in the context of Mississippi Delta blues. The course covers Johnson’s development as a musician, his recordings, and his influence on blues and rock music.
Course available in Spring 2026
Otis Scott: Brown Plaintiff
Instructor: Lacy Ward, local public historian
A two-lesson course examining the Brown vs. Board of Education decision and its aftermath. The course covers the student strike, Massive Resistance, and the Griffin vs. Prince Edward case.
Course available in Spring 2026
Frederick Douglass, Journalist
Instructor: Professor Dan Hollis, Marshall University
A one-hour recorded lecture focusing on Frederick Douglass’s role as a journalist and publisher. The course examines how Douglass used journalism to advance the cause of freedom through publications like The North Star, Frederick Douglass’ Paper, and The National Era.
Course available in Spring 2026
Exploring Black Family History and Genealogy
Instructor: Kelli Johnson, Marshall University
An asynchronous online course series exploring the importance of researching Black family genealogy. Students learn through short videos, literature reviews, and group discussions.
Course available in Spring 2026
Black Health Care in Appalachia
Instructor: Georgiana Logan
The course introduces students to systemic and structural practices that have led to health disparities and inequities experienced by Blacks in Appalachia.
Course available in Spring 2026
Black Talk
Instructor: Dr. Dolores Johnson, professor emeritus, Marshall University
A five-week Zoom course examining the development of African American language from the 17th to 21st centuries. The course explores how language evolved to meet biological, historical, psychological, spiritual, and political needs of Africans who entered America from oral cultures.
Course available in Spring 2026
Liberation in Verse: Black Poetics and Social Change
Instructor: Sahara Scott, Clemson University
This course examines how Black poetry has been used as a tool for social change, cultural pride, and personal liberation. Through works of poets like Audre Lorde and Nikki Giovanni, students analyze how poetry has been used to resist oppression and advocate for justice.
Course available in Spring 2026
Judging Justice: The Life, Legacy, and Law of African American Judges in Appalachia
Instructor: Paris Johnson, Marshall University
An in-depth exploration of African American judges’ contributions to the judicial landscape in Appalachia. The course examines how these judges navigated systemic racism while shaping jurisprudence in civil rights, healthcare, and prison reform.
Course available in Spring 2026
Resilient Voices: Women’s Health and Healthcare Leadership in Appalachia
Instructor: Paris Johnson, Marshall University
The course explores women’s health issues and healthcare leadership in Appalachia, examining how cultural, economic, and geographic factors affect healthcare access and outcomes. It highlights women’s roles in addressing healthcare disparities in underserved communities.
Course available in Spring 2026
Railroads in Black History and Culture
Instructor: Matthew Calloway, Mercer Law & Policy Group, Charlotte, North Carolina
This five-week asynchronous course provides a broad overview of the railroad’s place in Black history and culture from the late 1820s to the present. Participants will explore the importance of Black workers to railroad construction and operations, Black travelers’ resistance to legal restrictions on their mobility, and representations of railroads in Black folklore, art, and literature.
Course available in Spring 2026
Emerging and Retracting Civil Rights in the Twentieth and Twenty-first Centuries
Instructor: Dr. Marybeth Beller, Marshall University
The course traces civil rights legislation from the 13th Amendment through modern times. It examines institutional barriers, social movements, landmark court decisions, and recent changes in voting rights following Shelby County v. Holder.
Course available in Spring 2026
Macedonia Church, Ministers, and the Underground Railroad
Instructor: Carrie Eldridge, local geographer
Chronicles the history of Macedonia Church, the first Black church in Lawrence County, Ohio, and its crucial role in the Underground Railroad network. The course details the succession of ministers through generations of the Bryant family and other leaders, while examining the church’s connection to the anti-slavery movement in the Tri-State area.
Course available in Spring 2026
The Media, The Vote and Your Voice
Instructor: Dr. George Daniels, University of Alabama
A course that combines civic engagement, news coverage, and Black history to emphasize the importance of voting rights and democratic participation. The curriculum connects historical events to present-day conditions to deepen understanding of constitutional responsibilities.
Course available in Spring 2026
Considering the Black Press Then and Now
Instructor: Dr. George Daniels, University of Alabama
A comprehensive examination of Black-owned media from historical newspapers like The Philadelphia Tribune to modern digital platforms. The course covers the evolution of Black press through newspapers, magazines, radio, and digital media, with special attention to their role as advocacy platforms and their sustainability in the modern era.
Course available in Spring 2026
9 courses
Woodson Family Reckoning with Our History of Enslavement
Instructor: Dr. Craig Woodson, anthropologist
A two-video presentation course examining implications for teaching Black History at middle school through college levels. The specific content focuses on the Woodson family’s history with enslavement.
African American Art and Artists
Instructor: Theresa Polley Shellcroft, Victor Valley College in California
A comprehensive survey of African and African American art from traditional to contemporary times. The course examines artistic works within their historical, cultural, and political frameworks while exploring aesthetic preferences and African traditions.
The Wonderful African Influences on Modern Art
Instructor: Bridgitte Montgomery, independent artists, Phelan, California
A five-lesson course examining how African abstract art and sculpture influenced Modern Art movements from 1860-1970. The course explores how African aesthetics changed artists’ approaches to form, color, and composition in movements like Cubism, Fauvism, and Expressionism.
The History of Negro History Week/Black History Month
Instructor: Burnis Morris, Carter G. Woodson Professor of Journalism and Mass Communications
This live, one-session class provides an overview of the history and significance of the Negro History Week/Black History Month Centennial, 1926 to 2026. It explains what Americans should know about the journey Dr. Carter G. Woodson designed and led, initially out of fear about the trending of an uncertain future for Black Americans. The class will examine the conditions that led to Dr. Woodson’s intervention, when he sounded alarms about the impact of segregation and little public recognition of Black accomplishments. Negro History Week was not just an annual celebration. It became a movement to improve the education of all Americans. The class also will discuss how Dr. Woodson, a former West Virginia school principal and dean, used the press to sell history and a public education model. Students will have access to excerpts from the instructor’s published research about Dr. Woodson and Negro History Week – including an essay “Carter G. Woodson: A Century of Making Black Lives Matter”; and the book Carter G. Woodson: History, the Black Press, and Public Relations.”
Course available in Spring 2026
Otis Scott: Brown Plaintiff
Instructor: Lacy Ward, local public historian
A two-lesson course examining the Brown vs. Board of Education decision and its aftermath. The course covers the student strike, Massive Resistance, and the Griffin vs. Prince Edward case.
Course available in Spring 2026
Exploring Black Family History and Genealogy
Instructor: Kelli Johnson, Marshall University
An asynchronous online course series exploring the importance of researching Black family genealogy. Students learn through short videos, literature reviews, and group discussions.
Course available in Spring 2026
Railroads in Black History and Culture
Instructor: Matthew Calloway, Mercer Law & Policy Group, Charlotte, North Carolina
This five-week asynchronous course provides a broad overview of the railroad’s place in Black history and culture from the late 1820s to the present. Participants will explore the importance of Black workers to railroad construction and operations, Black travelers’ resistance to legal restrictions on their mobility, and representations of railroads in Black folklore, art, and literature.
Course available in Spring 2026
Emerging and Retracting Civil Rights in the Twentieth and Twenty-first Centuries
Instructor: Dr. Marybeth Beller, Marshall University
The course traces civil rights legislation from the 13th Amendment through modern times. It examines institutional barriers, social movements, landmark court decisions, and recent changes in voting rights following Shelby County v. Holder.
Course available in Spring 2026
Black Health Care in Appalachia
Instructor: Georgiana Logan
The course introduces students to systemic and structural practices that have led to health disparities and inequities experienced by Blacks in Appalachia.
Course available in Spring 2026
5 courses
Jazz and Blues Records as Historical (Re)Sources: The Basics of Discography
Instructor: Professor Edward Komara, State University of New York at Potsdam
The course explores the history and development of jazz and blues records, covering recording processes, major record labels, and discography reading. It examines both 78-rpm and tape-recording eras, focusing on significant record companies and their contributions to the genres.
The Parents of the Blues
Instructor: Professor Edward Komara, State University of New York at Potsdam
An exploration of early blues history focusing on key figures like W.C. Handy and Ma Rainey. The course examines different interpretations of “original blues” and discusses the development of blues in various contexts.
The Creation of Jazz Then and Now
Professor Edward Komara, State University of New York at Potsdama
The course centers on Jelly Roll Morton’s 1938 Library of Congress interviews, exploring early jazz history in New Orleans. It examines the historical creation of jazz and its ongoing recreation in performance.
African and American African Drumming: Origins to the Present
Instructor: Dr. Craig Woodson, anthropologist
A two-lesson course introducing African drumming, its cultural context, and its journey to America during enslavement. The course covers both traditional West African drumming and its evolution in America.
Robert Johnson and the Mississippi Delta Blues
Instructor: Professor Edward Komara, State University of New York at Potsdam
An eight-lesson course examining Robert Johnson’s life, music, and legacy in the context of Mississippi Delta blues. The course covers Johnson’s development as a musician, his recordings, and his influence on blues and rock music.
Course available in Spring 2026
4 courses
Reading the Fantastic: The Short Stories of N.K Jemisin
Instructor: Dr. Kim Wickham, Fairmont State University
This course analyzes selected short stories from N.K. Jemisin’s collection “How Long ‘Til Black Future Month?” It explores how Jemisin uses fantastic elements to examine social issues while introducing students to literary analysis techniques.
Liberation in Verse: Black Poetics and Social Change
Instructor: Sahara Scott, Clemson University
This course examines how Black poetry has been used as a tool for social change, cultural pride, and personal liberation. Through works of poets like Audre Lorde and Nikki Giovanni, students analyze how poetry has been used to resist oppression and advocate for justice.
Course available in Spring 2026
Black Talk
Instructor: Dr. Dolores Johnson, professor emeritus, Marshall University
A five-week Zoom course examining the development of African American language from the 17th to 21st centuries. The course explores how language evolved to meet biological, historical, psychological, spiritual, and political needs of Africans who entered America from oral cultures.
Course available in Spring 2026
3 courses
Frederick Douglass, Journalist
Instructor: Professor Dan Hollis, Marshall University
A one-hour recorded lecture focusing on Frederick Douglass’s role as a journalist and publisher. The course examines how Douglass used journalism to advance the cause of freedom through publications like The North Star, Frederick Douglass’ Paper, and The National Era.
Course available in Spring 2026
The Media, The Vote and Your Voice
Instructor: Dr. George Daniels, University of Alabama
A course that combines civic engagement, news coverage, and Black history to emphasize the importance of voting rights and democratic participation. The curriculum connects historical events to present-day conditions to deepen understanding of constitutional responsibilities.
Course available in Spring 2026
Considering the Black Press Then and Now
Instructor: Dr. George Daniels, University of Alabama
A comprehensive examination of Black-owned media from historical newspapers like The Philadelphia Tribune to modern digital platforms. The course covers the evolution of Black press through newspapers, magazines, radio, and digital media, with special attention to their role as advocacy platforms and their sustainability in the modern era.
Course available in Spring 2026
11 courses
African Diaspora in Appalachia: West Virginia Roots
Instructor: Laurie Goux, director, Center for Cultural & International Affairs, West Virginia Wesleyan College
The course examines the rich arts culture created by generations of Appalachians of African descent in Cabell and Wayne Counties. Through craft, dance, music, and literature, it discusses the historical, social, and political expression of the African diaspora in Appalachia.
Rosanna Bryant: A First for Black Women of Southeast Ohio
Instructor: Carrie Eldridge, local geographer
Explores the groundbreaking story of Rosanna Bryant, one of the first Black women property owners in Southeast Ohio before 1900. The course examines early property laws, Bryant’s personal history, her connection to the Macedonia Church, and her lasting impact on the community through legal documents and historical records.
The Dr. C.C. Barnett Hospital and Nursing School
Instructor: Karen Nance, local public historian
A case study examining the development of the Barnett Hospital and Nursing School during the separate but equal era. The course explores how the institution helped African Americans advance in the medical field despite systemic obstacles.
Charleston Slave Histories
Instructor: Dr. Eric Lassiter, Marshall University
This course explores slave histories in Charleston, West Virginia, focusing on developments from 1830 through the Civil War. It examines industrial slavery in salt mines and the transition from rural plantation economies to urban contexts.
The Origins and Development of Slavery in Central Appalachia
Instructor: Dr. Cicero Fain, Marshall University
An introduction to the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade’s spread into Virginia’s regions and Central Appalachia. The course covers African American culture, resistance, and post-Emancipation community development in Huntington, West Virginia.
Macedonia Church, Ministers, and the Underground Railroad
Instructor: Carrie Eldridge, local geographer
Chronicles the history of Macedonia Church, the first Black church in Lawrence County, Ohio, and its crucial role in the Underground Railroad network. The course details the succession of ministers through generations of the Bryant family and other leaders, while examining the church’s connection to the anti-slavery movement in the Tri-State area.
Course available in Spring 2026
Shining a Light on Local Black History
Instructor: Jeanette Rowsey, former Barboursville author, now resident of Austin, Texas
The course explores Black history in Barboursville, West Virginia, through five 45-minute sessions. It combines live videoconference discussions, prerecorded presentations, self-guided tours of Black history landmarks, and suggested readings from a bicentennial history book.
Course available in Spring 2026
Drinking From the Well: Using Public History Methods to Access Local Black History
Instructor: Kristen Bailey, West Virginia University
A six-week asynchronous online course focused on Huntington’s Black History, providing tools for students to assess Black History in their own communities. The course uses a “stacked” format to help students work towards analyzing Black History sites using Public History methods.
Course available in Spring 2026
Manumission — A Beginning of Freedom
Instructor: Carrie Eldridge, local geographer
This course explores manumission laws and practices in Southeast Ohio and Lawrence County. It covers Virginia manumission laws, research techniques, documentation methods, and travel routes used by freed individuals.
Course available in Spring 2026
Judging Justice: The Life, Legacy, and Law of African American Judges in Appalachia
Instructor: Paris Johnson, Marshall University
An in-depth exploration of African American judges’ contributions to the judicial landscape in Appalachia. The course examines how these judges navigated systemic racism while shaping jurisprudence in civil rights, healthcare, and prison reform.
Course available in Spring 2026
Resilient Voices: Women’s Health and Healthcare Leadership in Appalachia
Instructor: Paris Johnson, Marshall University
The course explores women’s health issues and healthcare leadership in Appalachia, examining how cultural, economic, and geographic factors affect healthcare access and outcomes. It highlights women’s roles in addressing healthcare disparities in underserved communities.
Course available in Spring 2026