Little Known Black History Facts
In 1781, Elizabeth “Mum Bett” Freeman became the first African American woman to win her freedom from slavery through a court of law. The case was held in Massachusetts, which coincidentally, became the first state in the Union to abolish slavery. Mum Bett’s case was instrumental in forcing the Commonwealth to carry out its own […]
This past June, a group of young black adventurers known as the Expedition Denali Team, became the first all black expedition team to summit the Denali Mountain. Denali, also known as Mount McKinley, is the highest peak in North America. At 20,320 feet above sea level, the black expedition team attempted the 5-mile climb up […]
Lonnie Johnson, also known as “the Professor” of Johnson Research and Development Co., created the Super Soaker water gun in 1989, grossing over $200 million dollars in sales. The Super Soaker has been in the top 20 on the list of the world’s top selling toys since its creation. In a recent lawsuit with the […]
The Reverend Lisa Jenkins has made history in East Harlem. The 48-year-old single mom has just been selected as the first black woman pastor of the historic St. Matthews Baptist Church. She won against four male contenders under vote. St. Matthews was the first black church of Harlem that was built from the ground up. […]
Matthew and Althea Raiford, siblings in Brunswick, Georgia, are black farmers who care for the Gilliard Farm, a farm that’s been in their family for over 100 years. Spreading across 25 acres, the Raifords’ land has survived six generations and been free from pesticides and chemicals since 1876. The Gilliard Farm is the only organic […]
Juan Garrido of West Africa was a free black man who was known as a conquistador. In the early 1500’s, Garrido led a life that was uncharacteristic of a black man in that time period. In 1503, Garrido went on his first expedition to Hispaniola and was present for the 1508 expedition with Ponce de […]
On June 22, 1996, a group of 17 Ku Klux Klan members met in the city hall of Ann Arbor, Michigan –fully clothed in hate robes. With intention to hold a rally, they were met with an angry group of 300 protestors who wanted them to know they weren’t welcome. In the midst of the […]
The Gullah-Geechee people of Sapelo Island are in a battle for the land of their ancestors. The local government for the area near Savannah, Georgia is requesting nearly a 600% increase in property taxes. Sapelo Island is the final community left of the Gullah-Geechee people in the United States. With the new land values placed […]
Today marks the anniversary that basketball great Earl Lloyd, Sr. became the first African-American in the NBA. Lloyd, who was a student at West Virginia State College, was chosen as a 9th round draft pick by the Washington Capitols. He was unaware that he was chosen until a fellow student on campus mentioned a rumor […]
Reporter LaVelle Neal III has become the first African American to be named President of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America. The BBAWAA is a 108-year old organization. 48-year-old Neal currently serves as sports reporter of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Neal, who was serving as vice president, was elected into the head position at the […]
Quintin Berry, reserve outfielder of the Boston Red Sox, is the only black player in the 2013 World Series. Adron Chambers of the St. Louis Cardinals would’ve been an addtional black player, but was left off the roster to create a spot for the team’s RBI leader. Since 1984, the percentage of black baseball players […]
African American NASCAR driver Darrell Wallace Jr. became the second black driver to win a national NASCAR competition when he took the cup at the Truck Series race this past Saturday. Wallace is the next winning black driver behind Wendell Scott, who made history as the first in 1963 – nearly fifty years ago. The […]
