Black History Month!
By the Student Awareness Club
Harriet Tubman
Harriet Tubman was an abolitionist and an anti slavery activist. She was born March 10th, 1822 in Dorchester County, Maryland, United States of America.
Born into slavery, Harriet Tubman escaped and then became a Conductor of the Underground Railroad. She helped save many people from slavery. In the Civil War she served as a Scout, Spy,guerilla soldier, and Nurse for the Union army.
Martin Luther King Jr.
A trailblazer in human rights and race equality, Martin Luther King Jr. has become one of the most influential people of all times. Coming from small beginnings in Atlanta, Georgia Dr. King’s speeches were regarded as some of the most passionate of all time including his iconic ‘I Have A Dream’ speech where he spoke at the 1963 March in Washington. He was assassinated by James Earl Ray on April 4th, 1968 when he was only 39 years of age
Rosa Parks was an African American Civil Rights Activist. She was born on February 4th, 1913, in Tuskegee Alabama. She refused to give up her seat on the bus to a white man. This lead to the 1955-56 Montgomery bus boycott in Alabama which is now recognized as the spark for the United States Civil rights movement.
Rosa Parks
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was an escaped slave who became a prominent activist, author and public speaker. He helped abolish slavery, becoming the leader of the abolitionist movement. He was born in Talbot County, Maryland, United States, and he passed away on February 20, 1895 in Washington, D.C.
John Robert Lewis was a civil rights activist, American politician, statesman, and a leader who served in the United States House of Representatives for Georgia’s 5th Congressional District from 1987 until 2020, when he passed from pancreatic cancer. He made a powerful impact to not only the black community, but to many groups of people of colour, striving to meet his goal of racial equality.
John Lewis (1940-2020)
Ruby Bridges is known for what she did at the young age of 6 years old. She was the first African American student to attend an all-white elementary school. Everyday she would walk to school, past protesters that would racially tease her, but she never missed a day of school. She is now a n activist, which reflects her amazing behavior as a child.
Ruby Bridges
(1954- Present)
Mae C. Jemison is a physician, engineer, professor, and former astronaut, born October 17th, 1956 in Decatur, Alabama. She worked with N.A.S.A. and is the first Black woman to travel into space. She was in space, orbiting Earth for 7 days, 22 hours, and 30 minutes.
Mae C. Jemison
Ella Fitzgerald was the first African American woman to perform at a Jazz club. She carved a path for other African Americans and she helped change segregation against the black community through the arts. She was born on April 25, 1917, Newport News, Virginia, United States and passed on June 15, 1996, Beverly Hills, California, United States
Ella Fitzgerald
Mary Jackson
In 1958 Mary Jackson became the first black woman to work for N.A.S.A (as an engineer). She was a mathematician and aerospace engineer. She was born April 9th, 1921 and passed away on February 11th 2005.
Barack Obama was the first African American president of the United States of America. He was born on August 4th, 1961 in Honolulu Hawaii, U.S.A. He is also the author of many books, his popular ones are ‘A Promised Land’ and ‘A Change We Can Believe in’
Barack Obama
Thurgood Marshall
On September 11th, 1962, Thurgood Marshall became the first African American to be part of the Justice Supreme Court. He was born on July 2, 1908, and passed on January 24, 1993,
Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris has been elected as the Vice President of the United States, shattering the people of colour glass ceiling. She is the first Indian African American Woman to be elected into this position. Her policies on Criminal Justice reform other human rights issues make her an extraordinary vice president within her first month in office!
Amanda Gorman is an African American poet who was born on March 7th, 1998 in Los Angeles California, U.S.A. Her pieces focus on oppression, race and marginalization. Amanda is also a National Youth Poet; she spoke at Joe Biden's president inauguration, making her the youngest inaugural poet in American history! She is truly an inspiration to all!
Amanda Gorman
Ira Aldridge
Ira Aldridge was the first African American to perform on the international stage. He pushed many boundaries when playing the opposite white actresses in England. He also became a Shakespearean actor. He was born on July 24, 1807 and passed away on August 7, 1867.
James Baldwin was an American novelist, playwright, essayist, poet, and activist. He was born on August 2, 1924, in Harlem New York, U.S.A.
His passion was race in America, and many of his works fictionalized dilemmas in complex social and psychological pressures.
James Baldwin
Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou was an American poet memoirist,actress, and Civil rights activist. Her poems and stories such as ‘I know why the Caged Bird Sings’ have been known as some of the most intense and important writing in her field She lived to the age of 86 years old, having accomplished so much in her life.
Ma Rainey,otherwise known as Gertrude Pridgett, was born April 16th, 1886, passing away on December 22, 1939.
She was recognized as the first great American female blues vocalist.
Ma Rainey
Katherine Johnson
Katherine Johnson was born on August 26, 1918. She was a phenomenal mathematician who changed the history of NASA forever, and played a critical role in the orbital mission of John Glenn. She is also the first woman to receive credit as an author of a research report. Till this day, she remains an amazing role model.
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali was a professional boxer. He was given the nickname “The Greatest” and is recognized to this day as one of the most substantial boxers of all time. He was born January 17th, 1942, and passed away June 3rd, 2016.
Madame C.J Walker (1867-1919)
Madame C.J Walker was a African-American rights activist, as well as a philanthropist and owner of Walker Enterprises - originally a hair product company. She was declared the first self-made woman millionaire in history and has been remembered as one of the first black women to take charge of her own company.
Jane Bolin was born on April 11th 1908, and passed away on January 8th, 2007. She was the first black woman who graduated from Yale Law school and became the first black female judge in 1939.
Jane Bolin
Malcolm X was an African American leader, a vocal spokesman for Islam, and a prominent leader in the Civil rights movement. He encouraged the idea of race pride. He was born on May 19th, 1925
Malcolm X
Aretha Franklin
(1942-2018)
Aretha Franklin (Born 1842) was a Black Soul singer, one of the best if not the best of her time. With hits like
‘R-E-S-P-E-C-T’
And ‘Natural Woman,’ Aretha reached the peak of fame. But it was not easy, being a black artist trying to capture other audiences as well. Although the journey was not easy, this is how the queen of soul became the person that we remember her as today.
George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver, born January 5, 1943, was an American agricultural scientist and inventor who elevated elective harvests to cotton and invented methods to prevent soil depletion. He was the most noticeable black researcher of the mid-twentieth century. Additionally, Carver became the first African American to earn a Bachelor of Science degree.
in 1894,
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson, born January 13th, 1919, was an American professional baseball player who became the first African American to play in the Major League Baseball (MLB).Robinson was enlisted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
August Wilson
August Wilson was most famously known as an American playwright, also nicknamed as the “theater's poet of Black America." He worked into a variety of African American themes such as the systemic and historical exploitation of African Americans, relations, identity, migration, etc.
Kobe Bryant
Kobe Bryant was a NBA superstar. Also he was a Social activist. Through his short film “Dear Basketball,” he talked about his life struggles; he won an Oscar for this film. He was born on August 23, 1978, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States and died on January 26, 2020, in Calabasas, California, United States
Why Do We Have Black History Month?
We have Black History Month to remember all the people and events that had a positive effect on the world. In this presentation, we showcased many important Black figures that earned a place in history. Whether it be by being the first Black woman in space or a world renowned tennis player, they all affected the world in a great way. Even though some have passed away, all of them have changed our lives and society, even if we haven’t realized it yet. Thank you to everyone who has taught us that by remembering our past, we can shape a better future.
A Brief History Of Black Oppression in North America
Black people have been through so many trials and tribulations in North America starting from when they were first sent here in 1540. When explorers had gone to Africa they brought back the African people on slave ships to serve as slaves for white people living in America. This is by far the worst civil rights case in history. No one should have to serve another against their will.
Finally on January 1st, 1863 the Emancipation Proclamation was signed by Abraham Lincoln, it freed slaves from their white ‘owners’. African American people were finally able to live free. Life after that was not easy either though. Facing segregation, and racial bias in America, in 1964 the Civil Rights Act was passed and racial discrimination was thereby outlawed in America. Although it seemed then that the horrible chapter of their history was coming to a close, we still see bias on account of race today even in 2021. It is important that we acknowledge their presence and the struggle to be able to live a normal life.
Famous Art pieces by Black artists
Romare Bearden, Christ Healing the Sick, oil on panel, 1945.
Norman Lewis, Untitled, oil on canvas, circa 1957.
Created by contemporary masters in the early generations, these unique pieces showcase an iota of the art that carved a path to the way of today’s contemporary art.
Radcliffe Bailey, Untitled, model ship and black glitter, 2010
This video talks about why Black History Month is so important explained by kids. Thanks to Beatrice for finding this video.
Facts About Black History Month:
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1. Black History Month was introduced to Canada in December 1995 by Jean Augustine. She was the first Black woman elected as a member of Parliament.
2. The first Black History Month in Canada took place in February of 1996, Just over a year after the idea was brought to the attention of the Parliament.
3. The very first Black History month was in 1926. It was created by Carter G. Woodson. He was a African American publisher, historian, scholar, and educator.
4. On February 12, 2019 the international NAACP movement marked its 110th anniversary. This movement ensures the rights of African Americans and helps them find working jobs.
5. Black History is celebrated all over the world. In Canada and the U.s it is celebrated in February. The United States started this tradition because the month coincided with Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. It was a message of global unity in America and Canada followed.
How you can support Black History Month
Thank you for reading and learning with us!
Ma Rainey - Ma Rainey - Songs, Movie & Facts
Kamala Harris - https://www.usnews.com/elections/kamala-harris
Martin Luther King- -https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2021/01/18/king-holiday-martin-luther-king-jr-words-unity/4153503001/
Hank Aaron -
Mary Jackson - https://www.britannica.com/biography/Mary-Jackson-mathematician-and-engineer
Katherine Johnson - https://www.nasa.gov/content/katherine-johnson-biography
Muhammad Ali- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_Ali
Ruby Bridges- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Bridges https://redtri.com/black-history-figures/slide/8
Jane Bolin - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Bolin
https://redtri.com/black-history-figures/slide/8
George Washington Carver - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Washington_Carver
Serena Williams - https://www.britannica.com/biography/Serena-Williams
Mae C. Jemison - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mae_Jemison
Maya Angelou - https://www.britannica.com/biography/Maya-Angelou
Art pieces - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/african-american-postwar-art_n_4031104
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