Dorothy Porter in 1939, at her desk in the Carnegie Library at Howard University. Moorland-Spingarn Research Center, Manuscript Division, Howard University

Dorothy B. Porter changed libraries 💜

The Dewey Decimal System used to only have two classifications for Black people: 325 (colonization) & 326 (slavery). Each book by a Black person was put into one of these classifications. A book of poetry? Classified as colonization.

Enter Dorothy B. Porter 🧵

Today in US History: On Feb. 3, 1870, the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granted black men the right to vote. It was passed by Congress on February 26, 1869. Black Americans were set free by the 13th amendment. The 14th Amendment guaranteed citizenship.

#BlackHistoryMonth

Hello Bluesky. Migrated from x marks the spot where reason, decency and democracy died. Hopefully we can continue the journey here with mutual respect and decorum. And yes, hope and joy!