Black Historical past Month has been acknowledged yearly since 1976. Whereas it’s necessary to take this chance to look again and replicate in addition to rejoice unbelievable milestones and victories, we don’t have to attend till February! Listed below are some Black Historical past Month info to share with youngsters all 12 months spherical.
Plus, click on the button beneath to seize a free copy of our Black Historical past Month Details Google Slideshow to share together with your class.
Black Historical past Month Details for Youngsters
1. Carter G. Woodson is the “Father of Black Historical past.”
The historian was the second Black pupil to graduate from Harvard College with a doctorate diploma. His unbelievable analysis led to the institution of Black Historical past Month in 1926. It later turned a nationally acknowledged annual occasion in 1976.
2. Black Historical past Month is in February in recognition of the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass.
The month was chosen in recognition of the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. Through the Civil Battle, Lincoln labored tirelessly to increase the rights of Black Individuals. Douglass, a previously enslaved man, turned a frontrunner who fought to finish slavery throughout the abolitionist motion.
3. William Tucker was the primary Black particular person born within the 13 colonies.
William Tucker was born in 1624 to indentured servants in Jamestown, Virginia. They had been among the many first group of Africans dropped at the colonies by Nice Britain.
4. The primary novel printed by a Black creator was printed in 1853.
William Wells Brown wrote “Clotel: or, The President’s Daughter“. He was a lecturer and abolitionist.
5. Claudette Colvin was the primary Black girl recognized to refuse to surrender her seat on a bus.
In case you’re on the lookout for Black Historical past Month info to shock your college students, do that one. Whereas Rosa Parks is usually given credit score for being the primary Black girl to refuse to surrender her seat on a bus, Claudette Colvin was really arrested 9 months earlier for refusing to surrender her seat for white passengers.
6. Lucy Stanton was the primary Black girl to earn a four-year faculty diploma.
Stanton earned a literary diploma from Oberlin Faculty in 1850.
7. Lucy Terry wrote the primary recognized poem by a Black American.
From a younger age, Lucy Terry lived in enslavement in Rhode Island. She was freed at age 26 when she married a free Black man. She penned “Bars Battle” in 1746.
8. Phillis Wheatley printed the primary ebook of poetry by a Black creator in 1773.
A household in Boston bought Wheatley, who was born in Gambia, when she was simply 7 years outdated. She was emancipated shortly after releasing Poems on Varied Topics, Non secular and Ethical.
9. Nat King Cole was the primary Black American to host a tv present.
The beloved jazz pianist and singer hosted The Nat King Cole Present on NBC in 1956.
10. Hattie McDaniel was the primary Black particular person to win an Oscar.
In 1940, Hattie McDaniel took residence the Academy Award for her supporting position in Gone With the Wind. It took 24 extra years for Sidney Poitier to grow to be the primary Black man to win the Greatest Actor award (for Lilies of the Subject), and 62 years for Halle Berry to win the Greatest Actress prize (for Monster’s Ball).
11. Within the early 1770s, Quakers created the primary public faculty for Black youngsters.
Anthony Benezet based the college. He was a white Quaker, educator, and abolitionist.
12. Thurgood Marshall was the primary Black justice to serve within the U.S. Supreme Courtroom.
The longtime lawyer was formally nominated in 1967 by President Lyndon B. Johnson. Marshall served till 1991.
13. Barack Obama was the primary Black president of the USA.
The lawyer and former senator was first elected in 2008.
14. Kamala Harris is the primary Black vp of the USA.
When she took workplace in 2021, Harris turned the primary girl and first particular person of African or Asian descent to step into the position of vp. Her father immigrated from Jamaica and her mom immigrated from India.
15. “Rapper’s Delight” by Sugar Hill Gang was the primary commercially profitable rap file.
The bottom-breaking track was produced by “Hip Hop’s First Godmother,” Sylvia Robinson. Alongside along with her husband, Robinson co-owned Sugar Hill Information. It was the primary hip-hop music label.
16. Stevie Surprise was the primary Black artist to win a Grammy Award for Album of the 12 months.
Not solely did he win for his 1973 masterpiece Innervisions, however he went on to grow to be the primary and solely musician to take residence the prize three years in a row!
17. Bryant Gumbel was the primary Black particular person to host a morning present.
The published journalist joined NBC’s Right now present in 1981.
18. John Taylor was the primary Black athlete to win a gold medal on the Olympics.
Taylor received the 4 x 400-meter relay in 1908. It took 40 years, however Alice Coachman turned the first Black girl to win gold after dominating the excessive soar.
19. Madam C.J. Walker was the primary Black feminine self-made millionaire.
Walker created a line of hair-care merchandise for Black girls. The Netflix collection Self Made tells her wonderful story.
20. Robert Johnson was the primary Black billionaire.
He based Black Leisure Tv (BET) and amassed a fortune when he bought it in 2001.
21. Althea Gibson was the primary Black tennis participant to win a Grand Slam.
Gibson received her first in 1956 and went on to win one other 11 Grand Slam tournaments all through her profession.
22. George Washington Carver’s work led to greater than 500 merchandise created from peanuts and candy potatoes.
The agricultural scientist promoted crops various to cotton and his analysis tremendously contributed to the financial development of the agricultural South. He additionally invented strategies to keep away from soil depletion.
23. Fritz Pollard and Bobby Marshall had been the primary Black athletes to play within the NFL.
The soccer gamers joined in 1920. Later, Pollard would go on to grow to be the NFL’s first Black coach.
24. Sheryl Swoopes was the primary participant to signal with the WNBA.
The star athlete joined in 1996, and the league debuted the next 12 months.
25. Gabby Douglas made historical past on the 2012 London Olympics.
The gymnast turned the primary Black girl to win the Particular person All-Round title.
26. Septima Poinsette Clark helped discovered practically 1,000 citizenship faculties.
The efforts by the civil rights activist and campaigner helped Blacks register to vote.
27. The primary Black-owned newspaper was printed in 1827.
Freedom’s Journal, printed in New York Metropolis, was the primary Black-owned and -operated newspaper in the USA. It offered a platform to counter racist narratives and advocate for abolition and civil rights.
28. Mae Jemison was the primary Black girl to journey to area.
In 1992, Dr. Mae Jemison made historical past aboard the Area Shuttle Endeavour. She can also be a doctor, engineer, and advocate for STEM schooling.
29. Bass Reeves, the primary Black deputy U.S. marshal, could have been the inspiration for the Lone Ranger.
Whereas it can’t be confirmed conclusively, many imagine Reeves to be the inspiration for the well-known character. Born into slavery, he turned a legendary lawman within the Previous West, capturing greater than 3,000 fugitives throughout his profession.
30. The primary Black-owned hospital opened in 1891.
Provident Hospital in Chicago was based by Dr. Daniel Hale Williams, who additionally carried out one of many first profitable open-heart surgical procedures.
31. Oscar Micheaux was the primary Black filmmaker to provide a feature-length movie.
Micheaux launched The Homesteader in 1919, paving the way in which for Black voices in cinema.
32. Henrietta Lacks’ cells revolutionized drugs.
In 1951, cells taken from Henrietta Lacks with out her information turned the first immortal human cells. Often known as HeLa cells, they’ve been instrumental in medical analysis, together with the event of vaccines and most cancers therapies.
33. Marian Anderson was the primary Black singer to carry out a number one position on the Metropolitan Opera.
In 1955, Anderson broke limitations in classical music by showing on the Met stage, changing into a logo of progress throughout the Civil Rights Motion.
34. Early Black inventors held greater than 50,000 patents in the USA.
Within the interval from 1870 to 1940, “Black individuals accounted for extra innovations throughout this era than immigrants from each nation besides England and Germany.” Improvements just like the site visitors gentle (Garrett Morgan), trendy refrigeration (Frederick McKinley Jones), and computerized elevator doorways (Alexander Miles) had been created by Black inventors.
35. Shirley Chisholm was the primary Black girl to run for president.
In 1972, Chisholm campaigned for the Democratic nomination, making historical past as a trailblazer for girls and folks of colour in politics.
36. The Black Lives Matter motion was based by three girls.
Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi began the worldwide motion in 2013 to fight systemic racism and violence in opposition to Black communities.
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