African Americans are one of the largest ethnic groups in the United States. They have made lasting contributions to American history.
The Black History Month honors the contribution of the African American to U.S. history. There are many African Americans who become famous for their work, like Madam C.J. Walker, who was the first self-made millionaire U.S. woman, Rosa Parks, who galvanized the civil rights movement. Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman who was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Go through the following to know more about Black history facts:
- Black History Month:
Carter G. Woodson created the Black History Month in 1926. He was an African American historian, educator, scholar, and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976, and it began as “Negro History Week.”
- First Lawyer:
In 1854, John Mercer Langston became the first black man lawyer when he passed the bar in Ohio. In 1855, Langston became one of the first African American who was elected to the post of Town Clerk for Bbrownhelm, Ohio.
- Heavyweight Champion:
In 1908, Jack Johnson became the first African American man who won the World Heavyweight Champion boxing title, and until 1915 he held onto the belt.
- First Woman Representative:
In 1968, the first African American woman who was elected to the House of Representatives was Shirley Chisholm. She represented the state of New York. In 1972, she became the first African American female candidate for president of the United States.
- First Senator:
The first African American who was elected to the U.S. Senate was Hiram Rhodes Revels. From February 1870 to March 1871, he represented the state of Mississippi.
- Famous Protestors:
In Montgomery, a famous protestor Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat to a white man. She is credited with helping to spark the Civil Rights Movement and inspire the Montgomery Bus- Boycott. Claudette Colvin was also arrested nine months prior for not giving up her bus seat to white people.
- Supreme Court Justice:
The first African American who was appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court was Thurgood Marshall. He served the court from 1967 to 1991 and was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson.
Bottom Line
The above mentioned are some of the first African American to achieve great things and contribute to the history of the U.S.