There is a lot of black history that doesn’t get publicized or talked about in much depth on a day-to-day basis. However, with a little research you can learn a lot about the history of African-Americans and how they’ve made impressions on various aspects of life, not just in civil or political matters, but music, art, television, science and education.
1. Were you aware that Phillis Wheatley, a servant, was the first-ever African-American female author? At the age of 12, she had her first poem published in the mid 1700s.
2. Also, Henrietta Lacks is an African-American woman whose cells led to the ultimate scientific breakthrough of cancer treatment and knowledge. Did you know that?
3. Who was the first African-American male to receive at Ph.D from Harvard University? W.E.B Du Bois, in case you were wondering.
4. Have you ever wondered who was the first surgeon to separate twins who were conjoined together? Well, it was Ben Carson. He separated a set of Caucasian twins who were conjoined at the head.
5. Ever wondered about black accomplishments in acting? Well, Dorothy Dandridge was the first African-American woman nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award.
6. Nat King Cole, the first African-American to reach #1 on the Billboard charts, was also the first African-American to host his own TV show.
7. Last but certainly not least. Claudette Colvin. She was a school girl who refused to give up her seat on the bus and was taken to jail nine months prior to Rosa Parks.