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: October 26th
October 26, 1872
Fire Extinguisher
Inventor T. Marshall patented the fire extinguisher. U.S. Patent 125,063.
October 27, 1954
B.O. Davis Jr. became the first Black general in the U.S. Air Force.
Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. (December 18, 1912 – July 4, 2002) was an American United States Air Force general and commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen.
He was the first African-American general officer in the United States Air Force. On December 9, 1998, he was advanced to four-star general by President Bill Clinton. During World War II, Davis was commander of the 99th and the 332nd Fighter Group, which escorted bombers on air combat missions over Europe. Davis himself flew sixty missions in P-39, Curtiss P-40, P-47 and P-51 Mustang fighters. Davis followed in his father’s footsteps in breaking racial barriers, as Benjamin O. Davis, Sr. was the first African-American general in the United States Army.
October 28, 2001
Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen, USMC (Ret)
Born in Topeka, Kansas in 1932. On June 6, 1950, Frank Petersen enlisted in the Navy. At the age of 20, he was the first Afro-American to be named a naval aviator in the Marine Corp. He was also the first African American to command a fighter squadon, a fighter air group, an air wing, and a major base.
October 29, 1969
U.S. Supreme Court said school systems must end
U.S. Supreme Court said school systems must end segregation “at once” and “operate now and hereafter only unitary schools.” In Mississippi case, Alexander V. Holmes, the Court abandoned the principle of “all deliberate speed.
October 30, 1979
Richard Arrington was elected the first Black mayor of Birmingham
Richard Arrington was elected the first Black mayor of Birmingham, Alabama, 1979.
October 31, 1945
Educator, Booker T Washington
Educator, Booker T Washington, inducted into the Hall of Fame for Great Americans, 1945.
November 1, 1945
First issue of Ebony magazine published
First issue of Ebony magazine published by John H. Johnson. The first issue sold 25,000 copies.
November 1, 1951
Jet magazine founded
Jet magazine founded by John H. Johnson, publisher of Ebony magazine.
I think that many black people don’t celebrate their heritage or history in this country enough and conform and assimilate to the euro centric standard. How many black people know what tribe they descended from? How many black people celebrate Kwanzaa? How many black people know of Huey P. Newton, Alex Haley and others? How many black people know in detail of the Trans Atlantic Slave trade? Not many and not enough.
About Annette
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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Twitter: @Annette92J
