Know Your History!
Up to the early 20th century, most American knowledge of Black history was limited to the African American struggle through slavery and emancipation. The significance of Black history is recognition of the advancements and accomplishments of a group of people once defined by the Constitution as three-fifths of a person. 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.
African-American Facts for Week of: June 7, 2015
June 7, 1917
Gwendolyn Brooks, born
Pulitzer Prize winning poet Gwendolyn Brooks was born in Topeka, Kansas. Gwendolyn Elizabeth Brooks (June 7, 1917 – December 3, 2000) was an American poet and teacher. She was the first black person (the term she preferred to African-American]) to win a Pulitzer Prize when she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1950 for her second collection, Annie Allen. Throughout her career she received many more honors. She was appointed Poet Laureate of Illinois in 1968, a position she held until her death, and Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress in 1985
June 7, 1943
Nikki Giovanni Born
Born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni, Jr. on June 7, 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee. A leading poet of the Black Arts Movement, Giovanni’s graduated from Fisk University and published her first poetry collection, Black Feeling.
June 8, 1953
Martin Luther King Jr. Marries
In 1953, King, Sr., performs the marriage ceremony of King, Jr., and Coretta Scott at the Scott home near Marion, Alabama.
June 9, 1989
Call for Reparations by Congressman John Conyers
Congressman John Conyers D-Michigan announced a call for a reparations study. The Call was for a Study on reparations for slavery.
June 10, 1854
James Augustine Healy
James Augustine Healy, first Black American Roman Catholic bishop, ordained a priest in Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris.
June 10, 1941
Death of Marcus Garvey
Death of Marcus Garvey (52), London, England. Marcus Mosiah Garvey, Jr., (17 August 1887 – 10 June 1940), was a Jamaican political leader, publisher, journalist, entrepreneur, and orator who was a staunch proponent of the Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism movements, to which end he founded the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA-ACL). He founded the Black Star Line, which promoted the return of the African diaspora to their ancestral lands.
June 11, 1964
Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment
Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment for allegedly attempting to sabotage the white South African government.
June 11, 1963
Two Black students chanced enrollment in University of Alabama
Two Black students, escorted by federalized National Guard troops, enrolled at University of Alabama despite the opposition of Gov. George C. Wallace.
June 12, 1963
Demonstrations for housing, school and jobs
Civil rights group demonstrated at Harlem construction sites to Protest discrimination in building trades unions. Demonstrations and marches were held in metropolitan areas in June, July and August to dramatize discontent over housing, school and job discrimination.
June 13, 1967
1st Black Supreme Court Justice
Thurgood Marshall, U.S. solicitor general, named to the Supreme Court by President Johnson. He was confirmed by the Senate on August 30 and became the first Black Supreme Court justice.
About Annette
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
Twitter: @Annette92J
