February is celebrated as Black History Month, when we honor the African American people who have made their mark on American culture, and the world as a whole. There are several names that are always celebrated during the month, such as those who fought for their rights, but there are many other Black people who also should be celebrated during this time. Here are just some of the people that you should learn about during Black History Month.
Black Civil Rights Activists
When you think of Black History Month, you most likely think of the Black activists who fought for their rights in America. There are so many notable Black names that made this happen. One of the most prominent names is that of Martin Luther King Jr, who was a Baptist minister and saw racism as an affront to God’s will. He used his platform to advocate for civil rights, and was influential in the passing of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965. Thanks to his work, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964.
As well as Martin Luther King Jr, there are many other figures we remember when it comes to the fight for Black rights. Rosa Parks is a name all Americans are familiar with, thanks to her act of refusing to give up her bus seat to a white passenger on a segregated bus. This act lead to the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and this was part of the effort that ended nationwide segregation.
Another key Black figure for civil rights is Harriet Tubman. Born in 1820, she was a woman who escaped slavery and went on to become an abolitionist before the Civil War. She worked with the Union Army during the war, working mainly as a spy. One of her acts in the army was to guide the Combahee River Raid, which freed more than 700 slaves. In 2016, she was chosen to replace Andrew Jackson on the 20 dollar bill.
Black Writers
There have been a wealth of Black writers who have contributed to American literature over the years. One of the most prominent is Maya Angelou, who wrote I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings, her most famous work, after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The book is now required reading in schools and colleges all over the world.
Toni Morrison is another acclaimed writer, being the first Black woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1993. Her novel Beloved is her most famous, which depicted an escaped enslaved woman making the choice to kill her daughter, to prevent her being re-enslaved. Morrison is also notable for being the first Black woman to be an editor at Random House.
James Baldwin was an openly gay Black activist, which was very unique in his time. He is best known for his essays on race, class and sexuality, although he was also known to write novels and plays. In fact, his first novel was written when he was just 11 years old, and his teacher directed it at his school. Some of his best known works include Notes Of A Native Son and I Am Not Your Negro.
That’s just a small selection of some of the most celebrated Black writers, as there are so many more have made their unique mark on history.
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Black Athletes
There are many Black people who have furthered sports in America, and made their names through their feats. The first name that likely comes to mind is Muhammed Ali, who was best known as a heavyweight boxing champion with a 56 win record. He also bravely took a stance against the Vietnam War, which lead to his suspension from boxing after refusing military service.
Jesse Owens is also another person who is remembered for using their athleticism to make a point against political practices. He entered the Olympics in 1936, the year the competition was held in Germany. Adolf Hitler was hopeful the event would prove his idea that the Aryan race was superior in sports. Owens proved him wrong by winning four gold medals in the 100m sprint, the long jump, the 200m sprint, and the 4x100m relay.
When you think of Black achievements on the tennis court, you’ll think of powerhouse sisters Venus and Serena Williams. Before them though, there was Althea Gibson. She was the first Black woman to compete on the world tennis tour and was the first to win a Grand Slam in 1956, too.
Black History Makers
There are many Black people who have made their mark by being the first to do what they do. For example, Mar C. Jemison was the first African American female astronaut, after she was admitted into the astronaut training program in 1987. In 1992, she was the first African American woman in space when she traveled aboard the Endeavour.
Daniel Hale Williams was one of the first physicians to perform open heart surgery in the US. He was also notable for opening the first hospital with an interracial staff in 1891, as he believed that Black doctors should not be barred from working in mainly white hospitals.
Madam C. J. Walker is a name that many Black people will be familiar with, as she made her name creating hair products specially designed for African American hair. She did this after having dealt with a scalp issue that resulted in her losing her own hair. Thanks to her business savvy, she became one of the first American women to become a self made millionaire. She was also known for her philanthropical and civil rights work, such as marching on the White House in 1917 to petition making lynching a federal crime.
These are just a few examples of the figures in Black History that are celebrated during Black History Month. All these people made strides in their own fields to achieve excellence and equality in what they did. Their hard work is the base of the current work towards racial equality today.
These are just a few examples of the figures in Black History that are celebrated during Black History Month. All these people made strides in their own fields to achieve excellence and equality in what they did. Their hard work is the base of the current work towards racial equality today.
