Black History Facts You May Not Know

Take a look at some of these black history facts. Send us your own.

Maybe you just haven’t had time to learn them. February is the shortest month, after all.

1. It’s a sure bet you know about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Martin Luther King Jr March on Washington
DR. Martin Luther King Jr speaks at March on Washington

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By Minnesota Historical Society [CC-BY-SA-2.0 (creativecommons.org)], via Wikimedia Commons

He is arguably the most well-known and prominent figure of civil rights movement.

But maybe you’re not aware of

Bayard Rustin
Bayard Rustin

, a civil rights leader who was jailed repeatedly for his association with social disturbances and his open homosexuality.

Bayard Rustin March on Washington
Bayard Rustin Speaks at March on Washington

npr.org

Rustin was an activist and advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He was key in the organization of the famous March on Washington.

2. You probably know that Maya Angelou was the first African American woman to write a non-fiction best seller.

Maya Angelou
Maya Angelou

 

But perhaps you don’t know that Phillis Wheatley was the first published African American female author. She was a servant who published her first poem at the age of 12 in the mid 1700s.

Phillis Wheatley
Phillis Wheatley

 

3. Surely you know that Halle Berry was the first African American to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Monster’s Ball.

Halle Berry
Halle Berry

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BEImages / Via REX USA

But it’s possible you don’t know that Dorothy Dandridge was the first African American woman nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award for her lead role in Carmen Jones.

Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Dandridge

 

Fun Fact: Halle Berry played Dandridge in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge.

4. If you’re really smart, you already knew that George Washington Carver made several agricultural advances and used the peanut to create over 100 new products.

George Washington Carver
George Washington Carver

He once gave agricultural advise to Mahatma Gandhi!

Another African American responsible for scientific advances you may not have learned about is Henrietta Lacks.

Henrietta Lacks
Henrietta Lacks

commons.wikimedia.org

Though her cells were taken without her consent, they were responsible for what scientists know as HeLa cells, or the first immortal cell line. This was critical in medical research and the creation of vaccines for polio, advances in cloning, vitro fertilization, and much more.

5. Okay, so you know Aretha Franklin and her iconic, powerhouse voice.

Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin

What you may not know is that she was not only the first African American woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, she was the first woman. Period.

Aretha Franklin 1987 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Aretha Franklin 1987 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

 

6. Everyone knows that Oprah has built an amazing empire.

Oprah
Oprah

But not many people know about Madam C.J. Walker. She was the first self-made female millionaire.

But not many people know about Madam C.J. Walker. She was the first self-made female millionaire.

Madam C.J. Walker
Madam C.J. Walker

She built her wealth when she invented and distributed a line of hair care products in the early 1900s.

7. It’s possible you know that Benjamin Banneker was a self-taught astronomer credited as the first African American scientist.

Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker

But do you realize what a feat it was to be a free, a farm owner and scientist in the 1700s? On top of all of this, Banneker was also appointed by President George Washington to the District of Columbia Commission. His talent for creating almanacs allowed him to lay out plans and designs for the city.

8. You’re super smart, right? Right. So you know that W.E.B. Du Bois was the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from Harvard University.

W.E.B. Du Bois
W.E.B. Du Bois

He graduated in 1895 and went on to co-found the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909.

But did you know Ben Carson was the first surgeon to separate twins conjoined at the head?

Ben Carson
Ben Carson

9. There’s a good chance you know that Thurgood Marshall was the first African American appointed to the Supreme Court.

Thurgood Marshall
Thurgood Marshall

But did you know that before that he played a pivotal role in the Brown v Board of Education case?

Brown v Board of Education
Brown v Board of Education

The results of this case made it possible for all children to attend school together, regardless of their race.

10. You might know that Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie were the first African Americans to win GRAMMY Awards.

Ella Fitzgerald
Ella Fitzgerald

 

Count Basie
Count Basie

They each won in the same year, 1959.

But did you know that Hattie McDaniel, the first African American to win an Oscar, was not allowed to attend the national premier of Gone With The Wind, the film featuring her winning performance, because she was black?

Hattie McDaniel
Hattie McDaniel

11. You’re aware that these civil rights figures were assassinated because of what they stood for and the work they did.

Malcolm and King

Hulton Archive/Staff / Getty Images

Medgar Evers
Medgar Evers

Malcolm X, Medgar Evers, and many others died fighting for equality.

But did you know about the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala. that claimed the lives of four young girls?

16th Street Baptist Church bombing girls
16th Street Baptist Church bombing girls

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thegospelcoalition.org

Addie Mae Collins, Cynthia Wesley, Carole Robertson and Denise McNair were killed in this act of racial terrorism in 1963.

12. Most likely you’re aware of Nat King Cole and his unparalleled voice. But did you also know that he was the first African American to reach #1 on the Billboard charts?

Nat King Cole
Nat King Cole

Cole was also the first African American to host his own television show.

Nat King Cole Show
Nat King Cole Show

13. You know all about how Rosa Parks was arrested when she refused to give up her seat on a bus in Montgomery, Ala. in 1955.

Rosa Parks
Rosa Parks

Someone you may not have heard of is Claudette Colvin. As a school girl she refused to give up her seat on the bus and was taken to jail nine months before Rosa Parks.

Claudette Colvin
Claudette Colvin

Sadly, due mostly to the fact that she was an unwed mother, Colvin did not receive the massive public support that Parks did.

14. Surely you learned about Sojourner Truth. She escaped from slavery in 1826 and became an abolitionist and women’s rights activist.

Claudette Colvin
Claudette Colvin
Sojourner Truth
Sojourner Truth

You might not know Professor Angela Davis.

Angela Davis
Angela Davis

In the early 1970s, she was once placed on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list and then incarcerated due to her social activism and political affiliations. Supporters rallied for Davis, launching the “Free Angela Davis” campaign, and the charges were acquitted.

15. Lena Horne was a pretty popular star, so there is a chance you know her pretty well.

Lena Horne
Lena Horne

Horne was a beautiful and talented actress. She became very involved with the civil rights movement and refused to take roles that negatively stereotyped or belittled African American women.

But Josephine Baker is a gorgeous African American performer you may not have heard.

Josephine Baker
Josephine Baker

Aside from her comedic and sensual stage shows, Baker is known for her brave actions during World War II when she smuggled secret information for the French Resistance on her sheet music.

16. Maybe you know about the African American rebellion in Watts, Calif. in 1965.

Watts Rebellion
Watts Rebellion
Watts Burning
Watts Burning

Rioters ransacked and burned the city over a span of several days, making the Watts Riot the most costly disturbance of its day.

One you may not have heard of is the Tulsa Race Riot. In 1921, an entire city was burned to the ground due to a racial disturbance and retaliation.

Tulsa Race Riot
Tulsa Race Riot Destruction of Black Wall St

It is estimated that more than 300 people were killed overnight during the riot. The thriving city that was once called “Black Wall Street” has never regained its status.

17. You’ve heard of Jackie Robinson, the first African American major league baseball player.

Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson

You probably also know that he was the first African American player inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

But before the Williams sisters, Arthur Ashe was the first African American male to win both the U.S. Open and Wimbledon.

Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe

 

He is still the only African American male to do so. On top of his abilities on the tennis court, Ashe was a civil rights activist and a prominent figure in the fight against AIDS.

18. If you’ve been doing your homework, you know that Guion Stewart “Guy” Bluford, Jr. was the first African American NASA astronaut to launch into space.

Guion Stewart “Guy” Bluford
Guion Stewart “Guy” Bluford

You should also know that in 1992 Mae C. Jemison became the first African American woman in space.

Mae C. Jemison
Mae C. Jemison

 

These figures and events — along with so many others — shaped not just African American history, but everyone’s history. Take the time to learn a few more facts this year. Happy Black History Month!

Read more: http://buzzfeed.com/dorieanstevenson/black-history-facts-theres-not-enough-time-to-learn

These videos explore more Black History you may not know. Send us some more.

References:

Black History – National Archives and Records Administration

Resources for black history research, provided by the Archives Library and Information Center in the National Archives.

African-American history – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

African-American history is the portion of American history that specifically discusses the African-American or Black American ethnic groups in the United States.

Asian and Black History in Britain, 1500-1850 – The National …

People of African and Asian origin have lived in Britain for at least two thousand years. But this aspect of our heritage has been largely forgotten. By presenting a  …

Culture & Change: Black History in America | Scholastic.com

A collection of African American history teaching resources from Scholastic. Includes sites on Rosa Parks, Melba Beals Pattillo, and famous African American  …

The African-American Mosaic Exhibition | Exhibitions (Library of …

This exhibit marks the publication of The African-American Mosaic: A Library of Congress Resource Guide for the Study of Black History and Culture.

Little Known Black History Facts | Black America Web

Little Known Black History Fact: Darnell Martin. Darnell Martin is the first African- American woman to direct a film backed by a major studio. While Ms. Martin has …

Be inspired by the men and women of the African American Civil Rights Movement through this special collection from PBS.

List of civil rights leaders – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Civil rights leaders are influential figures in the promotion and implementation of political freedom and the expansion of personal civil liberties and rights.