WHEREAS, Black History Month was first celebrated at Kent State University in 1970, but had its roots in 1926, when it was created as Negro History Week by Carter G. Woodson, American author, journalist, and educator, who realized the need for research of American Black History was being ignored, neglected, and misrepresented; and
WHEREAS, Black History is American History; and
WHEREAS, the following list is only a tiny, partial list of Black American firsts:
George Washington Carver Agricultural scientist, Inventor 1st Black student and faculty member at Iowa State University
Shirley Chisholm Author, Educator, Politician 1st Black woman elected to the U.S. Congress 1st African American and woman candidate for a major party’s nomination for President
Bessie Coleman Aviator 1st African American (and Native American) woman to hold a pilot license
W.E.B Du Bois Historian, Sociologist, Author, Civil Rights Activist 1st African American to earn a doctorate at Harvard University
Althea Gibson Professional Tennis Player and Golfer 1st African American to win a tennis Grand Slam Championship (The French Open)
Kamala Harris Attorney, Politician 1st African American (and Asian American) and female Vice President of the United States of America
Mae Jem Engineer, Physician, Business Leader, NASA Astronaut 1st Black woman to travel into space
Barbara Jordan Attorney, Educator, Politician 1st African American elected to the Texas Senate after Reconstruction 1st Southern African American woman elected to the U.S. House of Representatives