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Encyclopaedia Britannica Launches Black History Internet Site
Multimedia site designed like a museum exhibit
CHICAGO, February 3, 1997 - Encyclopædia Britannica today introduced "The Britannica Guide to Black History," a special World Wide Web site that commemorates the national observance of African-American history. Containing articles from Britannica Online®, the company's Internet information service, as well as material developed specially for the site, it includes 565 articles, 300 photographs, and 15 audio-visual images highlighting pivotal moments in African-American history.
"The Britannica Guide to Black History" is available at http://blackhistory.eb.com.
The site is structured like an exhibit in a museum of American history. Starting from the central image of a timeline, users can enter one of five rooms, or time periods. In each room they will find articles and photographs on notable people and events extending from the slave revolts in early America to the Civil Rights Movement and affirmative action.
Together with articles on major subjects and biographies of historical figures, the guide also features video clips from African-American history, such as civil-rights demonstrations, jazz singer Billie Holiday, and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. In addition, the guide contains action photographs of sports legends such as Roy Campanella and Michael Jordan, and important sound clips, such as a reading by the poet Gwendolyn Brooks, a speech by the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and an interview with Malcolm X.
"As the nation celebrates Black History Month, Britannica is proud to offer a comprehensive, engaging source of information on the history of African Americans," said James E. Goulka, chief operating officer of Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. "We have designed the site to be useful to everyone - from students preparing assignments to organizations planning events to people who want to learn more about this important area of history.
"The site highlights Britannica's ability to put events, people, and issues in context. It goes beyond the basic facts to provide the kind of rich, full historical perspective for which Britannica is known. We created 140 additional articles expressly for the site, and they will be incorporated into Britannica Online, providing even more comprehensive coverage of this key area."
This is the latest in a series of special features on Encyclopædia Britannica's Web site. Others cover the Olympic Games and the American presidency.
Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. publishes the most authoritative and comprehensive encyclopedia in the English language in three forms: Britannica CD™(on CD-ROM); Britannica Online®(on the Internet); and the famous 32-volume Encyclopædia Britannica®; and the 12-volume Ready Reference. The company also offers eBLAST, a free Web navigation service featuring sites selected and described by Britannica editors. To purchase or get information about Britannica products, customers may call 1-800-747-8503.
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