African American Dreams: Visual and Verbal (with Primary Source Tool)



African American Dreams


VMFA website
aadreams_JnlCarD.JPGVMFA website

VMFA website




Visit Virginia Museum of Fine Art's African American Dreams Art in Depth page to find eight American artworks from the Colonial period through Interwar period.   Each artwork is shown alongside contextual information and is paired with a text from the same historical period as the artwork.  


Ideas for classroom use:

Students may use in conjunction with the Library of Congress Primary Source Analysis Tool (see below)

Primary Resource Tool (LoC)
Screen_Shot_2019-11-19_at_2.45.03_PM_wB50l7H.pngPrimary Resource Tool (LoC)

Primary Resource Tool (LoC)


The resource may also be useful as a conversation starter or tool for personal reflection. 

Challenge older students to find other examples of art in VMFA's extensive collection of African American Art to explore the African American experience throughout history.  Can they find primary source texts that could effectively be paired with these works? 



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