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 21, 2015
June 21, 1945
Col.B.O. Davis Jr.
Col. B.O. Davis Jr. Named commander of Godman Field (Ky.) and became the first Black to head an Army Air Force base in the United States.
June 21, 1821
African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church formally organized at meeting in New York City.
June 22, 1912
Katherine Dunham, dancer/anthropologist born
Katherine Dunham ANTHROPOLOGIST, CHOREOGRAPHER & DANCER Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois June 22, 1912 – Katherine earned a doctorate in anthropology from the University of Chicago. Her research in Afro-American dance, particularly the Caribbean culture, led her to form a company of black dancers. This company performed throughout the United States and Europe. One of her best works was the Broadway musical Cabin in the Sky. In the late 1960’s, she became the director of Southern Illinois University’s Performing Arts Training Center. Later, she established her own dance school and museum in East St. Louis, Illinois.
June 22, 1965
Arthur Ashe leads UCLA to NCAA tennis championship
Arthur Ashe leads UCLA to NCAA tennis championship
June 23, 1909
Track star Wilma Rudolph born
Wilma Glodean Ruduolph Ward was born in Clarksville, Tennessee. Winner of three gold medals in the 1960 Olympics in Rome, Ward was named Athlete of the Year in 1960 and 1961.
June 24, 1936
Mary McLeod Bethune
Mary McLeod Bethune, founder-president of Bethune-Cookman College, named director of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration. She was the first Black woman to receive a major appointment from the federal government. She educator held the post until January 1, 1944.
June 25, 1773
Slaves Petition for Freedom
Massachusetts slaves petitioned the state legislature for freedom. A bill was drawn and passed by the Mass. legislature. But the governor withheld approval and the measure never became law.
June 25, 1975
Mozambique proclaimed independent
Mozambique proclaimed independent.
June 26, 1956
Physician Bernard A. Harris, Jr is born
Physician Bernard A. Harris, Jr was born in Temple, Texas. After completing his residency training in 1985 at the Mayo Clinic, Dr. Harris then completed a National Research Council Fellowship at NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, California. While at Ames he conducted research in the field of musculoskeletal physiology, and disuse osteoporosis, completing his fellowship in 1987. He then joined NASA Johnson Space Center as a clinical scientist and flight surgeon. Selected by NASA in January 1990, Dr. Harris became an astronaut in July 1991. He served as the crew representative for Shuttle Software in the Astronaut Office Operations Development Branch. A veteran of two space flights, Dr. Harris has logged more than 438 hours in space.
June 26, 1962
Sit-in demonstrations and passive resistance
Sit-in demonstrations and passive resistance movement began in Cairo, Illinois. Demonstrations against segregation in swimming pool, skating rink and other facilities continued for several months.
June 27, 1872
Paul Laurence Dunbar
Poet Paul Laurence Dunbar born in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Paul Laurence Dunbar is one of the most popular African-American poets of all time. His dialect poems and humor in his works were often under appreciated due to the English standards which were set at the time. His book was finally given attention in “The Book of American Negro Poetry” in 1921 by James Weldon Johnson. Among his numerous collections of poems are “Oak and Ivory” (1893) and “Majors and Minors” (1896). His birth in 1872 and his death in 1906 gave him enough time to give impact upon the poetic world, and an impression of the true art of poetry.
June 27, 1991
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshal
U.S. Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall announces his retirement
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.
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