“OUR HISTORY CANNOT BE CONFINED TO ONE MONTH WHEN WE PROUDLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE UNKNOWN, THE PROFOUND ACHIEVEMENTS OF…”
February, ‘Black Month”, is designated for the 28/29 days; but guess what?__ the title of this article indicates we can, will, and must go on and on to spread, inform, with gratitude so much and with this revelation, expect more and more as history is re-discovered even when the history books try to ignore …oh well, as someone said, “it is what it is”!!!
Our past is so rich, centuries-long in fact___so, it’s impossible to know every single thing about our and your history. With that being said, I’ve collected a list of a few facts for now and this will be continued in months to come!!!
DID YOU KNOW:
1. STEVIE WONDER helped make Dr. M. L. King, Jr., birthday a national holiday with the lyrics of his “Happy Birthday (to you…)!
2. In 2008, USAIN BOLT, was the first man to win three world records at a single Olympic event!
3. The BLACK PANTHER character first appeared in comics in 1966!
4. The BLACK PANTHERS launched programs such as free dental care, free breakfast, and free drama classes in underserved black communities!
5. LISA GELOBTER invented the GiF. Thank her for making your ‘tweets so funny.
6. LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, in Pennsylvania, became the first degree-granting institution of higher education for America. It paved the way for Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)!
7. CATHAY WILLIAMS became the first and only female BUFFALO soldier in 1866. She would pose as a male for (2) years until a doctor discovered she was a female, which led to her immediate discharge!
8. JOHN MERCER LANGSTON became the first African American lawyer in the U.S.A. when he passed the bar in 1854; he also is the great-uncle of Harlem Renaissance poet, LANGSTON HUGHES!
9. HIRAM RHODES REVELS became the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate; she served from Feb. 1870 to March 1871!
10. ELIJAH McCOY is regarded as one of the most prominent black inventors ever! He is credited for inventing over 50 devices in his career, including a “lubricating cup”, which automatically dripped oil when needed!
11. BENJAMIN BANNEKER, a mathematician/scientist is credited for designing the layout of Washington, D.C.!
12. MARY McLEOD BETHUNE, educator/political leader founded the largest women’s organization (NATIONAL COUNCIL of NEGRO WOMEN)!
13. XAVIER UNIVERSITY, a historically black college in Louisiana, has one of the highest success rates in the country for getting their graduates into medical school!
14. THOMAS L. JENNINGS ( 1791-1859), the first African American person to receive a patent in the U.S.A.!
15. ARETHA FRANKLIN was not only the first African American woman inductee into the ROCK & ROLL HALL of FAME but the first woman, period!
16. NAT KING COLE was the first black to reach #1 on the Billboard Chart and the first black to host his own television show!
17. In 1921, an entire city in Oklahoma was burned to the ground due to a racial disturbance and retaliation; this was the TULSA RACE RIOT!
18. HATTIE McDANIEL, the first black to win an Oscar: portraying a loyal slave governess in ‘GONE WITH THE WIND‘, she was not allowed to attend the national premier because she was black!
19. Supreme Court Justice, THURGOOD MARSHALL was the first black ever appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court; appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, Marshall served on the Court from 1967 to 1991!
20. SHIRLEY CHISHOLM, was the first black woman elected to the House of Representatives (1968) representing the state of New York and also the first female candidate for ‘President of the United States!
21. ROBERT JOHNSON, the first black billionaire when he soles the cable station which he founded, (BLACK ENTERTAINMENT TELEVISION, {BET} in 2001!
Well, readers, I can’t take up any more space in THE MONTHLY REPORTER; stay tuned for more ‘BLACK/BROWN HEROES’ you ‘might’ not know_ next month….until then, Thanks be to GOD for creating us ___black, brown, yellow, and white…” we are ALL precious in HIS sight”!!
Brenda M. Jelks~Hutchinson
(In memory of all the ‘FOOTSOLDIERS’)