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From Civil Rights leaders to athletes, musicians, and politicians, Black Americans have made great contributions to US History. These are the people who most people think about during Black History month.
But there are myriads of people that you do not learn about in school, according to Oprah Daily. And you should. Here are nine lesser-known people or events that helped to shape the country.
Creator of Black History Month
The creator of Black History Month – or Negro History Week – in 1926 was historian Carter G Woodson. He was inspired after attending a celebration in Illinois to honor the 50th anniversary of the 13th amendment that abolished slavery in the Confederate states. It would take two more years for all enslaved people to be free. Black History Month was officially recognized in 1976.
First Olympic Gold
John Taylor became the first Black American to win a gold medal in the 1908 Olympics that were held in England. He won the medal as part of the 1600-meter (one mile) relay team. It would take until 1948 for Alice Coachman, the first Black woman to win Olympic gold.
First Black Astronaut
All the first astronauts were white. That's because they were all military test pilots and there were no Black test pilots at the time. The first Black astronaut, Guion Bluford, went into space in 1983. He was a crew member on the Space Shuttle Challenger. During the course of his career, he spent 688 hours in space.
Underground Railroad Brought 100,000 Enslaved People North
The first abolitionists in the US were free Black people, Quakers who were opposed to slavery, other Northerners who also opposed slavery, and enslaved people themselves, according to History.com. Together they helped people escape from the South via a connection of safe houses called the Underground Railroad beginning around the 1780s. It is estimated that approximately 100,000 enslaved people escaped North via the railroad. Harriet Taubman was one of the most famous conductors.
Signing the Civil Rights Act of 1964
Originally proposed by President John F Kennedy, the civil rights reform bill was still being debated when he was assassinated. His successor President Lyndon Johnson pushed the act through congress in June 1964, and it was the most important legislation to support racial equality in US history. The act gave the federal government increased power to protect citizens from discrimination based on race, religion, sex, and national origin and it mandated the end of segregated public accommodations and schools. Johnson signed the act with 75 pens and gave one to Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
First Black Presidential Candidate
Before Shirley Chislom ran for president in 1973, and Barack Obama became the first Black president, there was journalist and newspaper editor George Edwin Taylor, according to The Readers Digest. He ran for president in 1904 as the candidate from the National Negro Liberty Party. He received 2,000 votes but he should be remembered for his groundbreaking presidential run.
Refusing to Give up Her Seat
When most people think about the Montgomery bus boycott, they think about Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on a bus. But she was not the first. In 1955, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin stayed seated and refused to move to the back of the bus for a white passenger. She was arrested for her brave act.
Go West Cowboy
The West was a refuge for enslaved people to escape to. Although Western Films don’t depict them, one in four cowboys were black. It is believed that the fictional character the Lone Ranger was based on Bass Reeves, who was born into slavery but fled west during the civil war. Reeves became a deputy US marshal.
Black History Month Has a Different Theme Every Year
Every year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) chooses a new theme for Black History Month. This year is the 100th anniversary and the official theme is “A Century of Black History Commemorations.” Celebrate the month by going to museums, attending a concert, reading a book about a famous – or not so famous – historical figure, watch a movie about Black History, or cook an African themed meal.
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