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Happy Black History Month!
From the initial construction of the Executive Mansion to the present day, African Americans have been a key part of White House history. Whether workers and activists or performers and athletes, swipe through today's carousel honoring the many Black Americans who contributed to the White House and its vibrant history.
Image 1: Enslaved laborers contributed to all stages of construction, from quarrying and transporting stone to building the Executive Mansion. They worked alongside craftsmen and free White and African-American workers. This oil painting titled “A Vision Takes Form” depicts this process. Peter Waddell for the White House Historical Association
Image 2: African Americans have served at the White House in various roles. The photograph shows African-American workers during Rutherford B. Hayes's presidency. Rutherford B. Hayes Presidential Library and Museums
Image 3: This photograph shows President Dwight D. Eisenhower meeting with civil rights leaders in the Oval Office in 1958. Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
Image 4: In this photograph, legendary jazz musician Duke Ellington performs on a stage on the South Lawn during the White House Festival of the Arts in 1965. White House Historical Association
Image 5: Presidents and first ladies often host top American athletes, including Olympians. In a 1976 ceremony, President Gerald R. Ford awarded Jesse Owens the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library and Museum/NARA
Image 6: The White House Collection features iconic Black artist masterworks, including Alma Thomas's "Resurrection," shown here in the Vermeil Room in December 2020. White House Historical Association
