Booker T. Washington: The great accommodator and educator
Booker T. Washington, born into slavery in 1856, rose to prominence as an influential African American intellectual and educator of the 19th century. Washington’s life and work continue to …
Black in America
The Montgomery Bus Boycott: A turning point in the American Civil Rights Movement
The Montgomery Bus Boycott, which lasted from 5 December 1955 to 20 December 1956, was a pivotal event in the American Civil Rights Movement. It was a mass protest against the racially segregated bus …
W.E.B. Du Bois: Scholar, activist, and pioneer in the fight for African American rights
W.E.B. Du Bois, a prominent African American intellectual, writer, and activist, played a significant role in shaping the discourse around race and civil rights in the United States during the late …
Pan-Africanism: A movement of unity and empowerment
Pan-Africanism is a global movement that focuses on strengthening the bonds of solidarity among all people of African origin, including those in the diaspora living in the Americas and Europe. The …
Kwanzaa – an alternative to Christmas
Kwanzaa begins on 26 December and lasts for seven days. It is a celebration of community, family and culture, established to help African Americans reconnect with their African roots and …
The assassination of Medgar Evers: A turning point in the civil rights movement
The assassination of Medgar Evers, a prominent African American civil rights leader, marked a significant turning point in the fight against racism and sparked renewed efforts towards achieving racial …
The American Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s: Leaders and progress made
The American Civil Rights movement of the 1960s remains a monumental period in American history, as it brought about significant changes in legislation and social attitudes towards racial inequality. …
Norbert Rillieux – Inventor
1806-1894 – Nobert Rillieux is famous for revolutionising the sugar industry.
Norbert Rillieux was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on 17 March 1806. His parents were Vincent Rillieux, a white …
Thomas Jennings – Inventor
Thomas Jennings (1791-1859)
Thomas Jennings was born free in New York City in 1791. In his early 20s, he became a tailor but then opened a dry-cleaning business in New York. Thomas went on to …
George Crum
The potato chip (aka crisps) was invented in 1853 by George Crum. The son of an African-American father and a Native American mother, Crum was a chef at the Moon Lake Lodge resort in …
Granville T Woods “The Black Edison”
Many professionals in the electrical industry knew Granville T Woods as the “Black Edison”. Woods was considered by many to be the greatest electrician in the world. The most well-known of …
How did Black History Month start?
What we now call Black History Month was originated in the US in 1926 by Carter Godwin Woodson as Negro History Week. The month of February was selected in deference to Frederick Douglass and Abraham …