African American Literature
Ibram X. Kendi, whose contributions toward the analysis of race relations and discrimination in America have lead to his emergence as one of the most notable academics of the decade, is widely associated with this social justice philosophy - itself referenced in his 2019 book “How to be an…
Anti-Racist/Anti-Racism
The Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution, ratified in this year, formally granted African Americans the right to vote. Although, in effect, this wasn’t enforced properly until the 1960s, and to this day is adhered to problematically.
1870
In the 1850’s, chef George Crum (also known as George Speck) popularized this tasty snack after burning sliced potatoes to a crisp at his restaurant and subsequently discovering they were quite delicious.
Potato chips
This major league baseball player is considered one of the greatest of all time and is especially notable for his breaking of Babe Ruth’s home run record. Also, earlier in his career, he played for an Eau Claire-based team.
Hank Aaron
This courageous enslaved African American led the deadliest slave revolt in US history in Virginia in 1831.
Nat Turner
Solomon Northup’s incredible story of his experience in enslavement after already living life in freedom is detailed in his 1853 memoir entitled this - also the name of the 2013 Best Picture winner based on the memoir.
12 Years A Slave
The Loving v Virginia case, taking place in this year, ruled that restrictions on interracial marriage violated the Fourteenth Amendment. Interracial marriage was subsequently recognized nationwide.
1967
This former neurosurgeon (and former HUD Secretary) led a medical team in accomplishing the first known successful separation of conjoined twins.
Ben Carson
In 2022, Ketanji Brown Jackson became the first African American woman to be appointed to this body.
SCOTUS
Moms Mabley, a North Carolinian who experienced brutal racism and hardships growing up, later broke ground in Vaudeville and in this type of entertainment.
Stand-Up Comedy
Pivotal works such as The Souls of Black Folk and Black Reconstruction in America were written by W.E.B Du Bois - co-founder of this historic African American civil rights organization.
Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to congress, also became the first African American woman to earn presidential delegates when she ran in this year’s democratic presidential primary.
1972
In the 19th century, Alexander Miles was awarded a patent for inventing an automatic version of these doors - If you've been to the McIntyre, you've almost certainly used them.
This movement, associated with figures like Stokely Carmichael and Marcus Garvey, emphasizes solidarity among all peoples of African ancestry.
Pan-Africanism
This heroic icon accomplished over a dozen successful missions in rescuing enslaved African Americans via the Underground Railroad.
Harriet Tubman
Gwendolyn Brooks became the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for her work Annie Allen - a collection of this kind of literature.
By executive order, President Harry Truman desegregated the US military in this year.
1948
Ronald Mallett is one of the very few theoretical physicists seriously committed to actualizing this concept long featured in science fiction.
Time Travel
The Tuskegee Airmen were a famous group of primarily African American pilots and air personnel who fought in this conflict.
World War II
Crispus Attucks, who later became an icon in the anti-slavery movement, is sometimes considered to be the first person killed in the American Revolution, as he was the first person killed in this New England-based event.
Boston Massacre
Literature, among other forms of creative art, was central to the character of this African American led cultural movement in the 1920’s and the 1930’s. Notable literary figures during this movement included Langston Hughes, Claude McKay, and Zora Neale Hurston.
Harlem Renaissance
The…project is an effort to, among other things, emphasize African American milestones as well as the long term ramifications of slavery and discrimination in the broader American narrative - the year in question here being a reference to the introduction of enslaved Africans in the American colonies.
1619
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams is often credited as being the first person to successfully perform this kind of surgery in the 1890's.
Open Heart Surgery
This alphabetical letter, used by many African Americans over the years as their own last name, (The message being that true ancestry can only be identified so far back for many African Americans) is best associated with Civil Rights activist Malcolm Little.
X
Native American Charles Curtis, who held office from 1929-1933, was the first person of color to be Vice President. This achievement would not be repeated until the incumbency of this Vice President.
Kamala Harris