Black History
He is the first African American appointed to the United States Supreme Court.
Who is Thurgood Marshall?
He served for 24 years- until 1991. He was a lawyer who was appointed as an associate justice of the Supreme Court in 1967. Marshall studied law at Howard University. As counsel to the NAACP, he utilized the judiciary to champion equality for African Americans. In 1954, he won the Brown v. Board of Education case, in which the Supreme Court ended racial segregation in public schools.
It is now the most common regional cuisine in southern cities such as Charleston (South Carolina), New Orleans (Louisiana), Houston (Texas), Charlotte (North Carolina) Birmingham (Alabama) and Atlanta (Georgia).
What is Soul Food?
Some popular soul food dishes include fried chicken/fish, candied yams, collard greens, macaroni and cheese, red beans and rice.
This inventor is best known for creating the three-position traffic light.
Who is Garrett Morgan?
On November 20, 1923, the U.S. Patent Office grants Patent No. 1,475,074 to 46-year-old inventor and newspaperman Garrett Morgan for his three-position traffic signal. Though Morgan’s was not the first traffic signal (that one had been installed in London in 1868), it was an important innovation nonetheless: By having a third position besides just “Stop” and “Go,” it regulated crossing vehicles more safely than earlier signals had.
An internationally acclaimed musician, who touched the hearts of millions across the globe with his powerful reggae, his music combined the spiritual essence of his religion with powerful lyricism and inspirational messages.
Who is Bob Marely?
Marley was a Pan-Africanist and believed in the unity of African people worldwide. His beliefs were rooted in his Rastafari religious beliefs. Marley received The United Nations Peace Medal of the Third World in 1978. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994. In 2001, Marley was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Grammys.
He died at the age of 36- he was buried on home turf along with a soccer ball, his Gibson Les Paul guitar, and a bud of marijuana. His final words to his son Ziggy were “Money can’t buy life"
On August 26, 2016 I chose to kneel during the National Anthem against the Greenbay Packers- stating that "“I am not looking for approval. I have to stand up for people that are oppressed.”
Who is Colin Kaepernick?
In spite of the backlash and the accusations of him being "anti-American"- Kaepernick continues to stand to fight against racial injustice and police brutality here in the United States. Accompanying Kaepernick was former 49ers teammate Eric Reid. Both players are free agents. Neither has been able to find a job in the NFL. Colin completed his million dollar pledge to donate to charities that help oppressed people across the nation in 2018. He was also awarded the W.E.B. Du Bois Medal and an Ambassador of Conscience award by Amnesty International in 2018.
This catastrophic event destroyed an affluent African-American community, seen as a threat to white-dominated American capitalism in 1921 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
The bombing of Black Wall Street.
Black Wall Street was seen as one of the most prosperous African-American communities in the United States but also seen as a threat to white-dominated American capitalism. This “modern, majestic, sophisticated, and unapologetically black” community boasted of “banks, hotels, cafés, shops, movie theaters, and contemporary homes.” Not to mention luxuries, such as “indoor plumbing and a remarkable school system that superiorly educated black children.” Undoubtedly, less fortunate white neighbors resented their upper-class lifestyle. As a result of a jealous desire “to put progressive, high-achieving African-Americans in their place,” a wave of domestic white terrorism caused black dispossession.
35 city blocks went up in flames, 300 people died, and 800 were injured- 9,000 people were left homeless.
These are NOT what the name suggests, they are small, coiled buns secured against the side of the head.
What are "Bantu Knots"
Note: Said to have originated centuries ago with the Zulu tribes in Southern Africa. They're styled by sectioning the hair into parts all over the head, then twisting those individual sections until they form mini knots.
She is known as being the "first Black woman millionaire in America" and created a line of hair care products for Black women as well as the first hair straightening system.
Who is Madam C.J. Walker?
Madam C.J. Walker invented a line of African American hair products after suffering from a scalp ailment that resulted in her own hair loss. She promoted her products by traveling around the country giving lecture-demonstrations and eventually established Madame C.J. Walker Laboratories to manufacture cosmetics and train sales beauticians.
She has won the most Grammys out of all Black Female artists. Also she received the Humanitarian Award at the BET Awards and was presented the honor by former first lady Michelle Obama.
Who is Beyonce?
Bey has taken home 20 Grammys, including two with Destiny's Child. In 2013 she made iTunes (and music) history by selling close to a million copies in less than a week after releasing her suprise self-titled album. That album and its songs would go on to earn six Grammy nominations in 2014, making her the most Grammy Award-nominated female artist of all time.
She received the Humanitarian award through her BeyGood organization and Global Citizens. The work includes building low income housing, youth centers, school scholarships, and relief in times of crisis.
He broke the color barrier when he became the first Black athlete to play Major League Baseball after joining the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947.
Who is Jackie Robinson?
After his discharge from the Army in 1944, Robinson began to play baseball professionally. At the time, the sport was segregated, and African Americans and white people played in separate leagues. Robinson began playing in the Negro Leagues, but he was soon chosen by Branch Rickey, president of the Brooklyn Dodgers, to help integrate Major League Baseball. Playing on this team- Robinson was taunted, harassed and received death threats even from his own teammates. He was a vocal champion for African American athletes, civil rights and other social and political causes, serving on the board of the NAACP until 1967.
He was the first African American to receive a PhD from Harvard University and also co-founded the NAACP in 1909?
Who is W.E.B Du Bois?
He received his PhD at Harvard in 1895. Du Bois published his landmark study — the first case study of an African American community — The Philadelphia Negro: A Social Study (1899), marking the beginning of his expansive writing career.
This platform is is where "cancel culture" originated from and is a network of culturally connected communicators that use the platform to draw attention to issues of concern to Black communities, share conversations around specific cultural moments, share Black humor, etc.
What is Black twitter?
Fun fact: The Popeyes craze originated from Black twitter and helped the non-Black owned business generate over 23 million dollars in profit.
Much of the content on Black Twitter surfaces during a crisis that impacts black people such as race-related incidents that had less than favorable outcomes for the black community. As the saying goes, if society doesn’t handle it, then Black Twitter will step in to handle it. On a lighter note, Black Twitter users also collectively discuss media content such as TV shows, movies and award ceremonies from the black perspective.
This inventor is best known for his contributions to the patenting of the light bulb and the telephone. He worked alongside Thomas Edison to improve the light bulb.
Who is Lewis Howard Latimer?
Latimer improved the newly-invented light bulb by inventing a carbon filament (which he patented in 1881). In 1882, Latimer developed and patented a method of manufacturing his carbon filaments. His invention helped make electric lighting practical and affordable for the average household.
This musical artist was the first female rapper to release a solo album and the first to be nominated for a Grammy.
Who is MC Lyte?
Born in Brooklyn, NY- she opened the door for future female Hip Hop artists by daring to do what had never been done while doing something she loved. MC Lyte is the FIRST rap artist ever to perform at New York's historic Carnegie Hall, the FIRST female rapper to ever receive a gold single, the FIRST female solo rapper ever nominated for a Grammy and in 2006, MC Lyte became the FIRST solo female rapper to be honored/inducted on VH-1's HIP HOP HONORS.
1993, her single “Ruffneck” was nominated for Best Rap Single. In 2006, she founded the Hip Hop Sisters Network, a non-profit organization that provides mentorship for young people and “promotes positive images of women of ethnic diversity.”
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Affectionately nicknamed the "Michael Jordan of the WNBA," she was the first player to be signed into the league when it was founded in 1996.
Who is Sheryl Swoopes?
She played for the Houston Comets and received 3 MVP awards from the WNBA, and won the WNBA championship 4 times. She also took home three gold medals at the Olympics in 1996, 2000, and 2004. She is also the first woman player to have a shoe named after her (Nike's Air Swoopes).
In the late ’90s, Swoopes and Nike also lead the charge in women’s sports advocacy. Through TV spots and print ads, Swoopes encouraged young girls to be proud of their strength and athleticism.
"I look at where the game is today, and how far we as female athletes, as women, have come — I feel like now is such an important time for women and female athletes everywhere."
Who was the first African American licensed to practice law and to hold a judicial position in the United States?
Who is Macon Bolling Allen?
He was a self-taught lawyer who gained his knowledge and legal skills by serving as an apprentice and law clerk for anti-slavery leader, General Samuel Fessenden, who established a law firm himself.
This tradition occurs at weddings to signify the union between two families and the sweeping away of the old and welcoming of the new.
What is Jumping the Broom?
Today "Broom Jumping" is a ritual, handed down from generation to generation to remind us of a time when our vows were not legally sanctioned. During slavery, our ancestors sought the legitimacy of marriage by jumping over the broom. For our ancestors, this small ritual was a legal and a bonding act connecting them with the heritage of the home land and giving legitimacy, dignity and strength to their unions. In their eyes this union was now sanctioned by "the almighty".
She created the first home security system in 1966.
Who is Marie Van Brittan Brown?
Brown was a nurse who also patented the modern home security system. She had worked long, late hours before returning home to Jamaica, Queens in New York City. Her husband, Albert Brown, an electronics technician, was away many nights. Crime in their neighborhood was high, and police were often slow to respond to emergency calls so in 1966, Brown designed a closed-circuit security system that monitored visitors via camera and projected their images onto a television monitor. Not only that, a panic button contacted the police immediately.
His original name was Lesane Parish Crooks and he was one of the most influential rappers of all time- as he was one of the leading names in 1990s gangsta rap revolution.
Who is Tupac Shakur?
His name was changed before he turned one. "Tupac Amaru" means "shining serpent." "Shakur" means "thankful to God" in Arabic.
He began his music career as a rebel with a cause after having grown up in an environment that brought light to many of the injustices Black people endure. Tupac is considered to be one of the most influential rap artists of all time and Rolling Stone ranked Tupac in The 100 Greatest Artists of All Time as #86. In 2017 Tupac was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Despite being diagnosed with polio as a child, she grew up to become the fastest woman in the world of her generation and was the first American woman to win 3 Gold medals at the Olympics.
Who is Wilma Rudolph?
Rudolph is remembered as one of the fastest women in track and as a source of great inspiration for generations of athletes. She once stated, "Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday." Her track victories helped her to pick up the civil rights struggle against Jim Crow when she got the chance to run track in college. She became an important vehicle for the Civil Rights Movement.
The first Black congresswoman (1968), representing New York State in the U.S. House of Representatives for seven terms. Throughout her career she dealt with racism, misogyny, and death threats. She also was the first black woman to run for Presidency.
Who is Shirley Chisholm?
Three years after she arrived in Washington, D.C., Chisholm became the first woman to run for president for the Democratic party. When announcing her intention to seek the nomination on January 25, 1972, Chisholm stated, “I’m a revolutionary at heart now and I’ve got to run, even though it might be the downfall of my career.”
This term refers to the adoption of an element or elements of one culture by members of another culture.
What is cultural appropriation?
This can be controversial when members of a dominant culture appropriate from disadvantaged minority cultures.
Bonus: Give us an example of cultural appropriation that you see.
In 1940, he created the first refrigerated food truck to preserve goods and supplies during long distance travel.
Who is Frederick McKinley Jones?
Jones took out more than 60 patents throughout his life, including a patent for the roof-mounted cooling system that’s used to refrigerate goods on trucks during extended transportation in the mid-1930s. He received a patent for his invention in 1940, and co-founded the U.S. Thermo Control Company, later known as Thermo King. The company was critical during World War II, helping to preserve blood, food and supplies during the war.
The first recording Black artist who released music in 1890?
Who is George Washinghton Johnson?
Possibly the first African-American to record, and certainly the first to become widely successful as a recording artist (in the 1890s). Johnson worked hard to be heard- despite creating content during the extreme racially oppressive times and showed that it was possible for a black man to sell a lot of records to white America, opening doors for those who would come later.
I was the first Black Athlete to compete in international tennis in 1956.
Who is Athena Gibson?
She also was the first Black woman to win a Grand Slam title (French Championships). The following year, she would win Wimbledon and the U.S Nationals and repeat her wins in 1958. Her career would total 11 Grand Slam wins, which included 6 singles titles. Gibson's athletic accomplishments were considered revolutionary, making a huge social and psychological impact on the black community. 43 years would pass until another black female tennis player, Serena Williams, would win her first U.S. Open.