Black History Month

Implemented in 1976 as a month long celebration for Americans to recognize the diversity and richness of African American history and achievement. It first began in 1926 as Negro History week in honor of the great black leader, Frederick Douglas, and Abraham Lincoln. Carter G. Woodson, upset that schools did not teach black education, is responsible for the founding of the historical month. A suggestion to celebrate Black History Month is to create a bulletin board which honors those who have contributed to Black History.

Here are just of few of those people:

Sojourner Truth - A famous black emancipator, she advocated the freedom and equality of blacks and women. 

Harriet Tubman - A conductor in the "underground railroad," which led blacks to freedom from slavery. It is estimated that she led over 300 slaves to freedom.

Frederick Douglas - A former slave who gave speeches on the horrors of slavery. He also recruited blacks for the army during the civil war.

George Washington Carver - A famous black scientist who developed over 300 different products that could be made from peanuts.

Althea Gibson - She became the first black female tennis player to compete and win both Wimbleton and Forest Hills. She was also named Woman Athlete of the Year.

Thurgood Marshall - The first African American to be named to the Supreme Court. He is most famous for winning the 'Brown vs the Board of Education' case.

Wilma Rudolph - A black woman born with polio, she overcame her challenges and became a track star. She was the first American woman to win three gold medals.

W.E.B. Dubois - Known as one of the most profound scholars of his time, he was one of the founders of the NAACP and one of the first editors of the NAACP magazine, which was the main voice of discrimination in the early twentieth century.

Marion Anderson - One of history's most famous opera singers, she received a lifetime achievement award and performed in front ofof 7 audiences 5,000 or more.