53.4 F
Indianapolis
Thursday, March 28, 2024

African American History Facts for the Week of February 14

More by this author

Celebrating “Black History Month”

Black History Month, or National African American History Month, is an annual celebration of achievements by black Americans and a time for recognizing the central role of African Americans in U.S. history. The event grew out of “Negro History Week,” the brainchild of noted historian Carter G. Woodson and other prominent African Americans. Since 1976, every U.S. president has officially designated the month of February as Black History Month. Other countries around the world, including Canada and the United Kingdom, also devote a month to celebrating black history.

 

 

February 14, 1867

 

Morehouse College Organized in Augusta, Georgia

Morehouse College organized in Augusta, Georgia. The institution was later moved to Atlanta.

 

February 14, 1936

 

National Negro Congress Organized at Chicago

National Negro Congress organized at Chicago meeting attended by 817 delegates representing more than 500 organizations. Asa Phillip Randolph of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was elected president of the new organization.

 

February 15, 1968

 

Henry Lewis

On this day Henry Lewis becomes the first African American to lead a symphony orchestra in the United States. 

February 15, 1848

Sarah Roberts barred from white school in Boston

Sarah Roberts barred from white school in Boston. Her father, Benjamin Roberts, filed the first school integration suit on her behalf.

February 16, 1951

New York City Council passes bill prohibiting racial discrimination

New York City Council passed bill prohibiting racial discrimination in city-assisted housing developments.

February 17, 1942

 

Black Panther Party Founder Born

Black Panther Party Founder Huey P. Newton born. An illiterate high-school graduate, Newton taught himself how to read before attending Merritt College in Oakland and the San Francisco School of Law, where he met Seale. In Oakland in 1966 they formed the Black Panther group in response to incidents of police brutality and racism and as an illustration of the need for black self-reliance. At the height of its popularity during the late 1960s, the party had 2,000 members in chapters in several cities. In 1967 Newton was convicted of voluntary manslaughter in the death of a police officer, but his conviction was overturned 22 months later, and he was released from prison. In 1974 he was accused of another murder and fled to Cuba for three years before returning to face charges; two trials resulted in hung juries. Newton received a Ph.D in social philosophy from the University of California at Santa Cruz (1980); his dissertation, ‘War Against the Panthers’ was subtitled ‘A Study of Repression in America.’ Succumbing to factionalism and pressure from government agencies, the party disbanded in 1982. In March 1989 Newton was sentenced to a six-month jail term for misappropriating public funds intended for a Panther-founded Oakland school. In August of that year he was found shot dead on a street in Oakland.

February 18, 1896

 

H. Grenon patents razor stropping device

Grenon, H. Razor Stropping Device Feb. 18, 1896 Patent No. 554,867

 

February 19, 1942

 

Tuskegee Airmen initiated

The Army Air Corps’ all African American 100th Pursuit Squadron, later designated a fighter squadron, was activated at Tuskegee Institute. The squadron served honorably in England and in other regions of the European continent during World War II.   

February 20, 1895

 

Death of Frederick Douglass (78), Anacostia

Death of Frederick Douglass (78), Anacostia Heights, District of Columbia. Douglass was the leading Black spokesman for almost fifty years. He was a major abolitionist and a lecturer and editor.

 

Some blacks view the month as a time to reflect on slavery, the civil rights movement, the black power movement and the best ways to lift up the African-American community today.

Knowing our own history, or the history of our culture, is important because it helps us to know who we are while molding the future. Being familiar with past events gives us the ability not only to learn from past mistakes but also from the successes.

To me, the omission of any group from history teachings results in a limited understanding of history’s relationship with the present and future. Know your history.

Comments, I can be reached at:

j.annette92@yahoo.com

- Advertisement -

Upcoming Online Townhalls

- Advertisement -

Subscribe to our newsletter

To be updated with all the latest local news.

Stay connected

1FansLike
1FollowersFollow
1FollowersFollow
1SubscribersSubscribe

Related articles

Popular articles

Español + Translate »
Skip to content