Know Your History!
While slavery in America hosts the background of Black history, the African American impact on history reaches beyond the country’s early history, as African Americans have made significant contributions to every field of endeavor, including politics, science, culture, social causes, arts, literature, athletics and the economy.
African-American History for Week of: August 14th
August 14, 1922
Rebecca J. Cole–2nd Black Female Physician
Born: March 16, 1846 Died: August 14, 1922 Birthplace: Philadelphia, PA Rebecca J. Cole was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on March 16, 1846. She was the second United States African American woman physician and was the first Black woman to graduate from the Woman’s Medical College in Pennsylvania. Rebecca Cole received her secondary education from the Institute for Colored Youth (ICY — now Cheyney University). She graduated from ICY in 1863. Rebecca Cole received her medical degree from Woman’s Medical College in 1867. She was appointed as a resident physician at the New York Infirmary for Women and Children.
August 15, 1931
Roy Wilkins
Roy Wilkins joined NAACP as Assistant Secretary.
August 15, 1962
Shady Grove Baptist Church was burned
Shady Grove Baptist Church was burned in Leesburg, Georgia.
August 16, 1963
First Black Artist to Design a U.S. Postage Stamp
On sale this day was a stamp designed to commemorate the one-hundreth anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. It was designed by George Olden which made him the first Black to design a U.S. postage stamp.
August 17, 1981
Father of Black Nationalism Born
Marcus Garvey, the father of the Black Nationalist and pan African movements was born on this day in St. Ann’s Bay, Jamaica.
August 18, 1963
The first Black person admitted to the University of Mississippi, James Meredith
The first Black person admitted to the University of Mississippi, James Meredith, graduates from University of Mississippi, 1963.
August 18, 1964
South Africa banned from Olympic Games
South Africa was banned from the Olympic Games because of its apartheid policies.
August 19, 1954
Ralph J. Bunche
Diplomat and first Black winner of Nobel Peace Prize, Ralph J Bunche, named undersecretary of the United Nations, 1954.
August 19, 1958
Sit-ins at Oklahoma City Lunch counters
Members of NAACP Youth Council began series of sit-ins at Oklahoma City Lunch counters.
August 20, 1954
Spingarn Medal: Charles R. Drew
Spingarn Medal presented to Charles R. Drew “who set up and ran the blood plasma bank in the Presbyterian Hospital in New York City which served as one of the models for the widespread system of blood banks now in operation for the American Red Cross.”
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.
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