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: July 24,
July 24, 1802
Alexandre Dumas is born
Alexandre Dumas is born in Villiers-Cotterets to a Haitian mulatto, Thomas Alexandre Dumas, and Marie Labouret Dumas, a French woman. He will become an acclaimed author of the French classics The Three Musketeers, The Count of Monte Cristo, The Man in the Iron Mask, and The Corsican Brothers. Dumas wrote hundreds of plays, novels and travel diaries. He wrote several children’s stories, and a culinary dictionary. He started several magazines and wrote in them weekly. He was one of the most prolific writers ever, and did not shy away from collaborating with others or rewriting older stories.
July 24, 1919
Race Riot, Washington, D.C
Race Riot, Washington, D.C. Triggered by raids on Black residential areas by white soldiers. Six persons killed and more than one hundred wounded.
July 25, 1921
Liberty Life Insurance Company
Liberty Life Insurance Company, a forerunner to Supreme Life Insurance Company, at one time one of the largest African American owned insurance companies in the nation, is founded by Frank L. Gillespie.
July 25, 1972
The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment
The Tuskegee Syphilis Experiment, where Blacks were used in experiments with syphilis, admitted to by US government officials, 1972.
July 26, 1865
Patrick Francis Healy, first Black awarded Ph.D.
Patrick Francis Healy, first Black awarded Ph.D. degree, passed final examination at Louvain in Belgium.
July 26, 1997
Independence Day for the Republic of Liberia
On July 26, 1997, Independence Day for the Republic of Liberia began.
July 27, 1812
Fort Negro
Garcia And Fort Negro: After the War of 1812, over three hundred African Americans occupied an abandoned British fort on the banks of the Apalachicola River in what is now Florida. Known as Fort Negro, it was headed by an African American man named Garcia. The heavily armed fort became a symbol of Black independence and a threat to the southern slave system. The United States Government made destruction of the fort one of its highest priorities after the war of 1812. In the summer of 1816, the U.S. Navy and Army under Colonel Clinch surrounded Fort Negro and called on the community to surrender, Garcia refused. On July 27, 1816, an attack was launched, but the heavily fortified garrison repelled it. But a second attack succeeded in hitting the ammunition supply, and the fort exploded. Only sixty four of the three hundred African Americans survived the blast, and only three of the sixty four were uninjured. Garcia, unhurt was executed by firing squad. The remaining survivors were returned to slavery.
July 27, 1816
Fort Blount on Apalachicola Bay, Fla. was attacked
Fort Blount on Apalachicola Bay, Fla., attacked by U.S. troops. The Fort, which was held by fugitive slaves and Indians, was taken after siege of several days.
July 28, 1868
14th Amendment for Black Citizens
The 14th Amendment, making Blacks citizens was passed.
July 29, 1885
First National Convention of Black Women
On this date, The First National Convention of Black Women held in Boston, MA
July 29, 1919
First Convention of the National Association
First convention of the National Association of Negro Musicians; held in Chicago. It awarded its first scholarship to the young Marian Anderson.
July 30, 1945
Activist Adam Clayton Powell Jr., Elected
Activist and politician Adam Clayton Powell Jr., elected congressman from Harlem.
Too often America revels in its greatness but often fails to confront or come to grips with the darker moments of American history. Exploring African American history could allow America to lance the boil of the past and move towards healing.
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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