Black History Facts: Society
For decades, various Black historical individuals have left their imprints on American history, through trailblazers to innovators, Olympians, and politicians. Unfortunately, many of their achievements go unnoticed and unappreciated. Under the burden of slavery & Jim Crow discriminatory laws, their successes were muted. Despite the dark side of history & its racial divide, African American have continued to pave the path for historical milestones. Black history in America is extensive, from providing the groundwork for everyday safety features like elevators and traffic lights to the variety that we can today see on television. So, in honor with Black History Month, here’s some well-known and lesser-known facts about African-Americans that you may not be aware of.
Facts About Black History
black history facts1. In 1926, Doctor Carter G. Woodson, dubbed the “Father of Black History,” established the inaugural Negro History Week to ensure that pupils learned about African-American history. Beginning in 1976, it evolved into Black History Month.
Black History Facts: William Tucker was first African-American to be born in the thirteen colonies. In 1624, he has been born near Jamestown, Virginia. His parents had indentured laborer’s who were among the first Africans brought to British colonial soil. His parents were involved in the founding of Elizabeth Town County, Virginia, which is today the city of Hampton, in 1634.
Black History Facts: The town of Garcia Actual De Santa Teresa De Mose, Florida, was founded in 1738 by a group of newly emancipated men and women. The town’s population was believed to be around 100 people. This is the first free Black community in the United States, and it’s only two miles from St. Augustine. Following the Seven Years’ War in 1763, it was abandoned. It was declared a National Historical Marker in 1994.
Black History Facts: Between 1810 and 1850, an estimated 100,000 slave escaped to the Northern via the Railroad.
Black History Facts: Vermont was the first province to abolish slavery on July 2, 1777. Vermont’s legislature agreed to end slavery completely and to grant African American males full voting rights.
Black History Facts: Lucy Stanton, an educator and abolitionist, was first Black woman to finish college. In 1850, she matriculated from Oberlin College after completing a ladies literary program me. Her commencement address was an anti-slavery rallying cry.
African-American Historical Figures To Honor Around Black History Month
Black History Facts: Allensworth is first all-African-American township in California, founded and funded entirely by African-Americans. The community was founded in 1908 under Lt . colonel Allen Allensworth with the goal of creating a self-sufficient metropolis where African American could live free of racism.
Cathay Williams was also the first female Buffalo Soldier ever identified. During the Civil War, Williams was born a slave and served in the Union army. She pretended to be a male and enlisted in the 38th army as William Cathay around 1866, receiving a medical release in 1868.
Black History Facts: Inventors
Black History Facts: During in the summer of 1853, George “Crum” Speck, a chef & restaurant proprietor, is supposed to have accidentally invented the potato chip. His sister, Kate, claimed, however, that she was the one who invented the chip after one potato piece fell into a heat frying pan, resulting in the renowned Saratoga chips. Crum’s chips remained a New York local favorite until the 1920s, when a salesman called Herman Lay (yes, of Lays chip) began touring the south, bringing potato chips to various localities.
Black History Facts: Garrett Morgan’s ideas are still saving lives today. His stoplight, which he copyrighted in 1922, was first to incorporate a third “caution” indicator, known today as yellow light. Take, for example, his 1922 patent for a traffic light. Morgan got a patent for his “Breathing Device” in 1912, that was one of the first gas masks. He was first African American person in Cleveland, Ohio, to possess a car.
Black History Facts: Elevator design by Alexander Miles made elevator rides safer. Previously, elevators had to be operated manually, with users having to intentionally open and close the elevator and shaft doors each time. Miles received a patent for his innovation in 1887, which included an elastic belt connected to the lift cage that allowed the doors to operate automatically. In 2007, he was elected to the National Innovators Hall of Fame.
Mary Beatrice Davidson Kenner, who invented the sanitary belt in the 1920s, patented it in 1957. The belt was flexible and included a water napkin pocket to keep pads in place and prevent leaks.
Black History Facts: George Carver, an agricultural scientist, was responsible for the development of 300 new peanut-based goods, including milk, bread, soap, ink, medicinal oils, & cosmetics. He used sweet potatoes to make 118 different items, vinegar, including flour, ink, & postage stamp glue.
Engineer and computer scientist Mark Dean is credited with co-inventing IBM’s first personal computer and the PC color monitor, both of which revolutionized technology. He was also a co-inventor of the technology that allows printers, keyboards, disc drives, & monitors to be directly hooked into computers.
Black History Facts: Sports
- The Bill Pickett Memorial Rodeo, founded in 1984, is the world’s only traveling African American rodeo.
- Gabby Douglas becomes first Black gymnasts to achieve the Single All-Around title at the 2012 London Olympics.
- Wilma Rudolph created Olympic history on Sept 7, 1960, when she became the first woman and first African American female to win 3 gold medals. She became regarded as the world’s quickest lady.
- Sheryl Swoops’ signed with the WNBA for the first time in 1996, a year after the league debuted.
Black History Facts:75 James Baldwin Quotes That Explain The African-American Story
Black History Facts: Politics:
On April 4, 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. has been slain on Maya Angelou’s birthday. For years following, Angelou started boycotting her birthday and instead sent flowers to King’s widow, Coretta Scot King, until Coretta’s death in 2006.
Black History Facts: Just after Martin Luther King Jr. has been slain, the Godfather of Soul, James Brown, appeared in front of a television audience in Boston. Brown’s performance is credited with avoiding additional disturbances.
Black History Facts: Hiram Rhodes Delights was first African American to be elected to the Senate in the United States. From February 1870 until March 1871, he was the state representative for Mississippi.
Black History Facts: George Edwin Taylor set the path for previous President Barack Obama when he stood for president in 1904 as a part of national Negro Liberty Party.