Black History Month - Page 2

Voting Rights Act of 1965

Courtesy of History.com, The Voting Rights Act of 1965, signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson, aimed to overcome legal barriers at the state and local levels that prevented African Americans from exercising their right to vote as guaranteed under the 15th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The Voting Rights Act is considered one of the most far-reaching pieces of civil rights legislation in U.S. history. Selma to Montgomery March Lyndon B. Johnson assumed the presidency in November 1963 upon the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. In the presidential race of 1964, Johnson was officially elected in a landslide victory and used

Civil Rights Act of 1964

Courtesy of History.com, The Civil Rights Act of 1964, which ended segregation in public places and banned employment discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex or national origin, is considered one of the crowning legislative achievements of the civil rights movement. First proposed by President John F. Kennedy, it survived strong opposition from southern members of Congress and was then signed into law by Kennedy’s successor, Lyndon B. Johnson. In subsequent years, Congress expanded the act and passed additional civil rights legislation such as the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Lead-up to the Civil Rights Act Following the Civil War, a trio

8 Key Laws That Advanced Civil Rights

By Mehrunnisa Want Since the abolishment of slavery, the U.S. government has passed several laws to address discrimination and racism against African Americans. The “peculiar institution” of slavery was abolished nearly a hundred years after the Declaration of Independence called for freedom and equality for all in 1776. But it took another century before landmark legislation would begin to address basic civil rights for African Americans. This slow progress was the product of decades of work amongst anti-slavery constitutionalists, activists and abolitionists. They agitated in Congress, the courts and the streets. The fruits of their labor were not enacted immediately and were often

‘Black Rosies’: The Forgotten African American Heroines of the WWII Homefront

By Aaron Randle From shipyards to factories to government administrative offices, Black women worked to battle authoritarianism abroad and racism at home. Rosie the Riveter—the steely-eyed World War II heroine with her red bandanna, blue coveralls and flexed bicep—stands as one of America’s most indelible military images. Positioned under the maxim “We Can Do It,” the “Rosie” image has come to broadly represent the steadfast American working woman, and more specifically, the millions of female laborers who kept the factories and offices of the U.S. defense industries humming. What the iconic Rosie image doesn’t convey is the diversity of that work force—specifically

Six Unsung Heroines of the Civil Rights Movement

By Hadley Meares While their stories may not be widely known, countless dedicated, courageous women were key organizers and activists in the fight for civil rights. Without these women, the struggle for equality would have never been waged. “Women have been the backbone of the whole civil rights movement,” activist Coretta Scott King asserted in the magazine New Lady in 1966. Here are a few of their stories. 1. Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray (1910–1985) Brandeis University professor Dr. Pauli Murray, 1970. (Credit: AP Photo) The Draftswoman of Civil Rights Victories The writings of The Rev. Dr. Anna Pauline “Pauli” Murray were a cornerstone of Brown v. Board of

The Harlem Hellfighters, a segregated World War I unit, earned a Congressional Gold Medal

By Donna M. Owens The all-Black Army regiment nicknamed the Harlem Hellfighters battled both the German forces and racism during World War I. Now, more than a century after their service, the unit has been honored with a “long overdue” Congressional Gold Medal. President Joe Biden signed the Harlem Hellfighters Congressional Gold Medal Act into law last week. Replicas of the prestigious medal will be awarded to families of members of the 369th Infantry Regiment in recognition of the unit’s lengthy service, which included front-line combat and hundreds of lives lost or affected by injuries. “The Harlem Hellfighters risked life and limb

8 Black Inventors Who Made Daily Life Easier

By Thad Morgan Most people have heard about famous inventions like the light bulb, the cotton gin and the iPhone. But there are countless other, often overlooked inventions that make our daily lives easier. Among the creative innovators behind these devices are African American inventors. From the traffic light to the ironing board, see a list of products that have sprung from the minds of Black inventors. Improved Ironing Board, Invented by Sarah Boone in 1892 The ironing board is a product that’s used possibly just as much as it’s overlooked. In the late 19th century, it was improved upon by Sarah Boone, an African

Celebrate Black History Month With Learning, History and Joy

By Carlett Spike The contributions, achievements and sacrifices of Black Americans throughout U.S. history are something to celebrate. Our current monthlong celebration of that rich legacy has its roots in Negro History Week, which historian Carter G. Woodson and minister Jesse E. Moorland, founders of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (now known as the Association for the Study of African American Life and History, or ASALH), initiated in February of 1926. They chose the second week in February as a nod to the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Over time the celebration evolved, with

Little Known Facts About Black History

By Biography.com editors, February is Black History month, which means that every year we remember the African Americans who have made history and made America what it is today — often with little recognition. Fact #1: As a child, Muhammad Ali was refused an autograph by his boxing idol, Sugar Ray Robinson. When Ali became a prizefighter, he vowed to never to deny an autograph request, which he honored throughout his career. Fact #2: Ali, the self-proclaimed “greatest [boxer] of all time,” was originally named after his father, who was named after the 19th-century abolitionist and politician Cassius Marcellus Clay. Fact #3: Allensworth is the first all-Black Californian

In Celebration of Black History Month: 10 Influential African Americans

By Nick Irvin February is Black History Month in the United States. It’s a time for remembrance and reflection, as the country is reminded of the discrimination African Americans have endured and the continuous struggle against the remnants of slavery, segregation and racial legacy. Black History is the perfect way to begin to understand the question of race in American society today. To help clarify this topic, and in no particular order, here are ten of the most influential African Americans in history. Martin Luther King Jr. No single African American in history is perhaps as famous as Martin Luther

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