Our Most Recent Posts


The Doll Test – Exposing the Impacts of Racial Segregation

In the mid-twentieth century, researchers started examining African American children’s sense of racial identity, including how they perceived themselves relative to white children. Husband and wife psychologists, Drs. Kenneth and Mamie Phipps Clark, conducted what is now known as the landmark “doll test” on students. Their innovative research showed discouraging results, yet it played an influential role in American civil rights legislation. You’re invited to learn more about the legacy of the Clarks’ pioneering work at a special presentation at Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site on Wednesday March 22.

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Inviting African American Youth to National Parks

The two National Park Service sites in St. Louis are filled with exhibits, artifacts, and programs that tell important stories about our nation’s past – from the exploration of the American west to the lives of two U.S. presidents to the struggle for civil rights.  The resources at these parks – Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site and Gateway Arch National Park – are available free to all visitors.  But all too often, children from under-served communities aren’t able to take advantage of these experiences. Now there’s a unique opportunity for middle school students to visit these sites this summer…

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Celebrating Women’s History Month

Throughout history, women have been instrumental in every facet of human endeavor.  Whether they have been renowned trailblazers or unsung heroines working behind the scenes, women have helped guide the course of American history and they continue to shape our future. That’s why JNPA is commemorating Women’s History Month.  In the words of a White House proclamation, the month of March is an opportunity to “celebrate the countless women who have fought tirelessly and courageously for equality, justice, and opportunity in our Nation.  We also reaffirm our commitment to advancing rights and opportunities for women and girls in the United States…

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A New Life for a Historic Building

The stately Old Courthouse has stood on its site in Gateway Arch National Park for nearly 200 years. Its courtrooms have been witness to some of the most important court cases in American history, including suits by enslaved African Americans seeking their freedom, and challenges to women’s right to vote. But over the decades, the imposing building in downtown St. Louis has been in need of serious renovations, both to update its structural integrity and security, and to ensure accessibility for all visitors.

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