Banks Library (@bankslibrary)

Back in 1987, kids were literally RUNNING to the store for the newest Trapper Keeper! And if you grew up in the '80s, you already know this wasn't just a notebook… it was a whole STATUS SYMBOL! A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON: THE TRAPPER KEEPER Introduced by Mead in 1978, the Trapper Keeper…

Hair Style Named After Child Star Before social media influencers made hairstyles go viral, a child star helped make one of the most recognizable looks in Hollywood history famous. Shirley Temple became known for her signature golden ringlet curls, a hairstyle that would become popularly known as…

The Afro-American Newspaper Founded in Baltimore in 1892 by John H. Murphy Sr., The Afro-American began with a mission to document, educate, and uplift the African American community. From its humble beginnings as a four page publication, the Afro grew into one of the most influential Black…

Behind the Scenes of Driving Miss Daisy (1989) Filming a story that spans decades takes more than great performances. It requires bringing the passage of time to life through the details. In this behind the scenes clip, director Bruce Beresford discusses filming Driving Miss Daisy in a small rural…

SADE | THE 1984 MUSIC BOX INTERVIEW “I don’t feel embarrassed about what I mean.” — Sade Adu In her 1984 Music Box TV interview, recorded just before the release of her debut album Diamond Life, Sade Adu spoke about her unexpected journey into music, her background in fashion design, and how her…

BEHIND THE SCENES: CASPER (1995) Before CGI became the standard we know today, bringing a fully computer-generated ghost to life on the big screen was a groundbreaking achievement! This fantastic making-of documentary takes us behind the scenes of the 1995 live-action adaptation of Casper…

Clyde Killens: Bringing the Stars to Overtown During segregation, Black entertainers performing in Miami Beach often had to stay in Overtown, where Black-owned clubs became vital centers of music and culture. Nightclub promoter Clyde Killens helped transform the neighborhood into a thriving…

RICK ROSS | THE HISTORY BEHIND “PARADISE LOST” Did you know? Rick Ross’s “Paradise Lost,” from his 2014 album Mastermind, features a political news clip that connects the song to a significant chapter in Black American history. The track also samples the legendary Marvin Gaye. The political…

A moment of history, beyond the speeches and the movement. Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia This 1986 video, dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., offers a glimpse into a more personal side of his life. From blowing out birthday candles to sharing…

New Direction performs “’Til We Meet Again” live with the choir, capturing the warmth, harmony, and spirit of Black gospel and contemporary Christian music. A beautiful reminder of the power of voices coming together in one room. #NewDirection #TilWeMeetAgain #Gospel #church ©️New Direction…

Candi Staton performs her 1976 disco classic “Young Hearts Run Free,” a song that became one of the defining records of the disco era. Staton’s powerful voice brought a soulful depth to the song, turning its message of emotional independence into an enduring dance floor anthem. A timeless moment…

2PAC & THE OUTLAWZ HAS THANKSGIVING WITH FAMILY ON NOVEMBER 24, 1994 A rare glimpse into Thanksgiving 1994 with 2Pac, the Outlawz, family, and friends sharing laughs, dancing, football, conversations, and real moments inside the home. Before the fame, the headlines, and the history, there were…

NEW YORK CITY • 1970s 🗽 A glimpse of Manhattan before the city became the New York we know today. Crowds of New Yorkers move along the sidewalks, each person walking at their own pace, headed to work and starting another day in the city. There’s something timeless about watching New York on an…

IT WAS THE 3RD OF SEPTEMBER September 3rd will forever be connected to one of the most unforgettable opening lines in soul music. In 1972, The Temptations released “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone,” written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and produced by Whitfield. The song’s dark, cinematic…

Black Life (1930s) — Rare, unedited archival footage documenting various aspects of Black life in America during the 1930s, including Pennsylvania Railroad porters playing cricket, children at a Harlem day camp, street scenes in Richmond, Virginia, and life in Tuskegee, Alabama. A remarkable…

Black Colleges During World War II — 1945 From Educational Film Guide, 1945: During World War II, Black colleges across America mobilized their students, faculty, and resources to support the war effort. The film highlights Tuskegee Institute, Prairie View College, Howard University, and Hampton…

No Parking on the Dance Floor by Midnight Star Solar Records • 1983 Turn the record over and let the groove take you back. Released in 1983, No Parking on the Dance Floor became one of Midnight Star’s signature songs and a defining dance-funk record of the era. With its futuristic production…

Mary J. Blige puts her own soulful stamp on The Gap Band’s 1979 classic “I’m in Love.” Originally recorded by The Gap Band, the song became a timeless funk and R&B favorite. Mary revisited it for her 1999 album Mary, bringing that signature raw, emotional delivery that made her one of the…

🎙️ ON THE TURNTABLE: Sarah Vaughan — “My Funny Valentine” A little jazz elegance spinning on the turntable. Sarah Vaughan’s rendition of “My Funny Valentine” was recorded in New York on February 10, 1954, with Richard Hayman and His Orchestra. The recording appeared on Vaughan’s The Divine Sarah…

Keenen Ivory Wayans sat down with David Letterman on Late Night with David Letterman on January 12, 1989, to talk about his upcoming film I’m Gonna Git You Sucka. In the interview, Wayans also talks about his time at Tuskegee University, where he studied engineering before pursuing comedy and…

Quincy Jones feat. Leon Ware — “Body Heat” Producers: Quincy Jones, Ray Brown This classic Quincy Jones track was sampled by 2Pac for “How Do U Want It” featuring K-Ci & JoJo, released in 1996. ©️Body Heat • A&M Records • 1974 #QuincyJones #2Pac #tupac #samples #bankslibrary Copyright Disclaimer…

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In this rare interview, The Notorious B.I.G. speaks candidly about the way the media portrayed rappers, the importance of having your own identity, and how people in the rap game were beginning to copy one another. Biggie also talks about the impact Puff Daddy had on his career, his family, and…

A rare 1996 interview with The Notorious B.I.G. during his visit to the Netherlands, just months before his tragic passing. In this clip, Biggie name drops his upcoming album Life After Death, a title that would become hauntingly significant after his death in March 1997. The interview was…

Heavy D & The Notorious B.I.G. bringing that classic ’90s energy to the NBA Jam Session. A perfect snapshot of the era when hip-hop and basketball culture were inseparable. Heavy D & The Notorious B.I.G. — “Jam Session” ©️ NBA Jam Session — CBS/Fox Video #HeavyD #BiggieSmalls #hiphop #90s…

April 8, 1997 Just months after the deaths of Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls, Charlie Rose brought together writer Stanley Crouch, film critic Armond White, and VIBE Magazine’s Keith Clinkscales for a conversation about the history of hip-hop and the shocking murders that had shaken the culture…

“Some people make things happen, some watch things happen, while others wonder what has happened." 1995 CNN interview with Tupac Shakur. At a time when the media often reduced him to the “gangster rapper” label, Tupac challenged critics to look deeper into his work. He pointed to songs like “Dear…

In this 1995 CNN interview, Tupac Shakur spoke about the books he read while incarcerated and how those experiences shaped his mindset after his release. At a time when the media often reduced him to the “gangster rapper” label, Tupac challenged critics to look deeper into his work. He pointed to…

Before the iPhone changed everything. Step inside an Apple Store in New York and watch customers browse the iPods that were taking over the world at the time. A little time capsule from the early days of Apple retail. #Apple #iPod #2000s #bankslibrary #Nostalgia Citations…

In this 1996 segment, Dr. Jacalyn Blackwell-White joins WJZ-TV to discuss chickenpox, including prevention, treatment, and what parents should know about the illness. This is a fascinating look at how chickenpox was discussed from a medical and public-health perspective in the 1990s. Medical…