Inspirational Black Americans
Hello
Lovelies,
My name is Ellie and it’s so good to see you again. February is Black History
month in the United States! Gaining knowledge about as many different cultures
as possible is incredibly important for both self and societal development. I
believe current school culture has morally and ethically failed students in
this aspect. I wasn’t taught in grade school how this month started or the
importance of recognizing it. We did learn about two well-known figures, Martin
Luther King Jr and Rosa Parks. While these two were pivotal in the civil rights
movement, there are many others that were just as important.
Before there
was a month, Carter G Woodson along with the Association for the Study of
African American Life and History (ASALH) declared the second week of February
as Negro History Week in 19261. This week was chosen because the
birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass fall within the second week
and were already celebrated within black communities2. Black history
month was officially proclaimed in 1970 by president Gerald R Ford2.
This month is dedicated to black history to honor and remember the adversity
faced by the black community.
Let’s take a
look at some inspirational
black Americans who revolutionized the Civil Rights movement, and life as we
know it today.
Josephine
St. Pierre Ruffin
“…we
are women, American women, as intensely interested in all that pertains to us
as such as all other American women; we are not alienating or withdrawing, we
are only coming to the front, willing to join any others in the same work and
welcoming any others to join us.”
Josephine
St Pierre Ruffin served as a pioneer for both black and women’s rights. Coming
from a wealthy family, she received a short education before marrying at
sixteen24. She immersed herself in the woman’s suffrage movement
working closely with Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton8.
Ruffin edited the newspaper Woman’s Era, the first paper published by
and for Black women8. She was a founding member of “Woman’s Era
Club” in 1894 and assisted in the first annual convention for black women in
18958. She campaigned against white-only women’s clubs and
reinforced the importance of raising up black women9. Ruffin was one
of the founding members of the Boston NAACP in 19108 and the League
of Women for Community Serviece9. She dedicated her life to serving
others and leaving the world better than she came into it.
George
Washington Carver
“Education is the key to unlock the
golden door of freedom.”
Contrary
to popular believe the “Peanut Man”, AKA George Washington Carver, did not
invent peanut butter. According to Biography.com he did invent. “hundreds of products, including more
than 300 from peanuts (milk, plastics, paints, dyes, cosmetics, medicinal oils,
soap, ink, wood stains), 118 from sweet potatoes (molasses, postage stamp glue,
flour, vinegar and synthetic rubber) and even a type of gasoline.”
When
Carver was a few weeks old, in about 1861, the plantation he lived on with his
mother was raided19. This resulted in him being separated from his
parents and raised by his former slave owners19. He was
taught to read and write at home because schools didn’t yet accept black
students18. He left home to receive a High school diploma from
Minnesota. Carver then went on to complete a Bachelor of Science in 1894 and a
Master’s degree at Simpson College in Iowa in 189618. Both of these
were impressive feats, the civil war having ended not too many years
previously. Driven to find solutions to the declining southern economy, he
helped revive the overworked soil by suggesting the planting of soybeans, sweet
potatoes, peanuts, and pecans18. When farmers were cautious about
the idea of planting these crops, he came up with products that would increase
their demand18. He was the first black American to have a national
monument erected in his honor18. Carver is considered to be the most
influential scientists, inventors, and scholars of his time. He spent his life
pursuing knowledge to help cultivate a better America.
Mary Kenner
Mary Kenner
holds the most patents for any black women in history, with a total of five25.
She graduated Dunbar High School in 1931 and started college at Howard
University25. Unfortunately, due to money constraints she had to
drop out25. She invented sanitary napkins, portable ashtrays, toilet
paper holders, and much more11.
Kenner
revolutionized the experience of a period for women with her sanitary belt. It
took over 30 years for it to be patented, in 195725. Interested
companies rejected her invention once discovering she was black12.
Inventing was Kenner’s life-long passion but she worked a day job as a florist
and federal employee11. She pursed creativity and innovation in
everything she did and our lives have been significantly bettered by her
inventions.
Constance
Baker Motley
“As
the first black and first woman, I am proving in everything I do that blacks
and women are as capable as anyone.”
Constance
Baker Motley was impassioned as a teenager and became actively engaged in civil
rights issues. Constance Baker Motley worked civil rights cases with the
National Association for Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) 3. She was the first Black woman to present a case in front
of the US Supreme court, case Meredith Vs Fair in 19624. She won the
case which allowed Meredith to be the first black woman to attend the
University of Mississippi4. She crashed through glass ceilings when
she was elected to the New York State Senate in 19653. This landmark election made her the first black woman to
sit in the state senate3. In August of 1966 she was confirmed as
court Judge to the United States District court, making her the first black
female federal judge4. Motley spent
her life pursuing justice and equality within the United States.
Daisy Bates
“Opinions
differ most when there is least scientific warrant for having any.”
Daisy
Bates overcame great tragedy in her early life. Her mother was raped and
murdered and her father abandoned her6. Raised by family
friends, she persisted, pursuing a life of social activism6. Most
notably, in 1952, Bates was elected the president of the Arkansas NAACP5.
She was a driving force in helping the Little Rock Nine become the first Black
students to attend Central High School in Little Rock5. In 1962, she
published a book on it called The Long Shadow of Little Rock5. Daisy and her husband Christopher Bates ran a
weekly black newspaper, The Arkansas State Press, centering around the
civil right movement5. They covered the turbulence surrounding the
victory and enforcement realities of Brown Vs the Board of Education5.
“I
want to be remembered as a woman … who dared to be a catalyst of change.”
Shirley
Chisholm was the daughter of working-class immigrant parents14. She
received her Master’s degree from Columbia University in 195114.
Chisholm was elected the first black women in congress for New York State in
196813, and also served seven terms on the US House of
Representatives. She was one of the founding members of the Congressional Black
Caucus. While in congress she introduced over 50 pieces of legislation and was
known as “fighting Shirley”13. In 1972 she became the first woman
and black American to run for president of the United States14. Her
slogan was “Unbossed and Unbought13”. Her candidacy had split
reviews, her black male colleagues in congress felt she should have spoken with
them first15. They also disagreed with her creating a group for
women, Hispanics, white liberals, and welfare recipients15. She wrote
two books Unbought and Unbossed in 1970 and The Good Fight in
197314. Shirley Chisholm was an iconic civil rights activist that
paved the way for many to follow after her.
John Lewis
“You
are the light. Never let anyone—any person or any force—dampen, dim or diminish
your light. Study the path of others to make your way easier and more abundant.
Lean toward the whispers of your own heart, discover the universal truth, and
follow its dictates. “
John
Lewis’ tremendous career started in 1961 when he was involved in the Freedom
Rides. In 1963 he attended Fisk University and was named Chairman of
the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee16. Here is was deeply
involved in non-violent protests and organized sit ins20. That same
year he was a keynote speaker at the March on Washington in August of 196316.
After graduating he worked as Associate Director of the field foundation and
participated in voter registration programs16. Lewis was arrested
over 40 times and brutally beaten for his activism20. Lewis was elected to congress in 1986 and is
currently serving his 17th term16. In 2011, Obama awarded
him with the presidential medal of freedom20. He also helped to create a comic book about his
work in the Civil Rights Movement20. Lewis third comic March: Book Three won the
National Book Award in 201616. Lewis continues to be an
inspirational civil rights leader today. Most recently introducing the HELP Act
National Black HIV/AIDS day on February 7, 2020.
Thurgood
Marshall
“In recognizing the humanity of our fellow
beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”
Thurgood Marshall fought for the civil rights movement as a practicing attorney
with NAACP17. He brought most cases before the supreme court than
anyone in history and won 29 of the 32 argued17. In 1954 he argued
and won Brown V Board of Education, which desegregated public schools21.
John F Kennedy appointed Marshall to the US court of Appeals in 196117.
By 1967 Lyndon B Johnson appointed him the first black solicitor general17.
If you’re like me you might have no idea what the job is of the solicitor general.
According to justice.gov the solicitor argues cases for the United States
government22. While serving as solicitor general he won 14 out of
the 19 cases he argued22. In 1967 he was elected the first black
American to be a supreme court justice17. He served 24 prolific
years in the supreme court until he retired in 199121.
Reference
1.
History.com
Editors. “Black History Month.” History.com, A&E Television
Networks, 14 Jan. 2010, www.history.com/topics/black-history/black-history-month.
2.
Congress,
et al. “African American History Month.” African American History Month,
www.africanamericanhistorymonth.gov/.
6.
https://www.nps.gov/people/dbates.htm
7.
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Daisy-Bates-civil-rights-leader
10.
https://web.ics.purdue.edu/~wov/rufin.gif
13.
MLA -
Michals, Debra. "Shirley Chisholm." National Women's
History Museum. National Women's History Museum, 2015. 9 February
2020.
15.
https://history.house.gov/People/Listing/C/CHISHOLM,-Shirley-Anita-(C000371)/https://www.biography.com/us-president/barack-obama
24.
https://urbanintellectuals.com/mary-kenner-money/
Comments
Post a Comment