Sun, Jun 2, 2019
After the Civil War, the Reconstruction era brought about hope and change in the form of citizenship and equality in America. Black men were given the right to vote, and in 1870, Hiram Revels became the first African American in the U.S. Congress when he was elected to represent Mississippi in the Senate. What followed included more than 2,000 Black office holders serving at every level of America's political system. Sadly, this progress was short-lived. Black men were denied access to the ballot box and the rights they were granted at the start of the Reconstruction period slowly diminished. In result, a Black presence in Congress was completely eradicated by 1901, and it would take a full generation for it to be restored. We'll discuss the African-American achievements in the political system that were systematically overturned.
Mon, Jun 3, 2019
Although the 13th Amendment passed the Senate in 1864 and the House in 1865, the loopholes that exist continue to wreak havoc on the African-American population. To ensure the cotton industry would remain unaffected once the slaves were freed, convict leasing - a system that provides prison labor to plantation owners and private corporations - was implemented. The ramifications of this system continue to this day.Those who were arrested - even on minor charges - were locked up and used as free labor while behind bars. This also signaled a shift in the racial makeup of prisoners as more African-Americans were targeted by law enforcement. In this series of Black History in Two Minutes or So, more light is shed on the capitalization of private prisons and how African-Americans are used to fuel the profits for America's criminal justice system.
Tue, Jun 4, 2019
One of the pioneers of the hair care industry is an African-American woman named Sarah Breedlove. After becoming a widow at the age of 20, the pressures in her day-to-day life as a single mother led to a bad bout of hair loss in her 30s. This prompted Breedlove to find a magical cure to promote hair growth. After testing a formula made by a woman named Annie Turnbo, Breedlove remarried, changed her name to Madame C.J. Walker, and founded her own company, which launched the iconic product, Madam C.J. Walker Wonderful Hair Grower. With her knack for being an expert marketer and a natural door-to-door saleswoman, she acquired a fortune that was valued at an estimated $1 million dollars at the time of her 1919 death. Today, Black History in Two Minutes or so honors Walker as the first black female self-made millionaire.
Wed, Sep 4, 2019
Born as Marguerite Johnson in 1928, Maya Angelou is a 20th Century renaissance woman who was catapulted into international fame with her best-selling books. However, she is much more than just an author and a poet. During her lifetime, she was able to hone in on her various talents as a singer, actor, dancer, filmmaker, professor, and political activist. Angelou aligned with respected Civil Rights Leaders Malcom X and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to bring about change in America. In the aftermath of Dr. King's death, she switched gears and penned her memoir, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, which peeled back the layers of her life and shared the turmoil of being a childhood rape victim. It was her complicated life that transformed her into a phenomenal woman with unwavering confidence, poise, and an unparalleled ability to inspire mankind.
Tue, Sep 10, 2019
In June of 1882, a 30-year-old shoemaker by the name of Homer Plessy of New Orleans led a revolution that aimed to overturn Jim Crow segregation laws. Plessy, who was said to be 1/8 black, entered the white's only car while on a train. When asked to move to the colored car, Plessy refused. Following his arrest, a group of citizens used his arrest to fight Jim Crow segregation laws. Facing defeat at every turn, the battle raged on all the way up to the Supreme Court in the 1896 case, Plessy v. Ferguson.
Wed, Sep 18, 2019
Fisk University was founded in Nashville, Tenn. in 1866. As an institution for African-American students, their first years of inception were pivotal. In 1871, while facing serious financial concerns, the school's treasurer and music teacher decided to create a tour with a choir known as the Fisk Jubilee Singers.
Wed, Sep 25, 2019
Fresh off an oil-boom, the black residents of Greenwood, Okla. built a booming community known as The Negro Wall Street. But in May of 1921, that all changed. Word spread that a lynch mob of white people were heading to a courthouse to kill a black man accused of accosting a white woman in an elevator. United, the African-Americans marched, prepared to defend his innocence. The Tulsa Race Riots would soon commence and later be known as one of the most egregious attacks against African-Americans.
Wed, Oct 2, 2019
Born into slavery as Ida B. Wells in 1862, she was a pioneer of modern investigative journalism during the Reconstruction Era. After the lynching of her close friend, Thomas Moss, in 1892, Wells amplified her efforts on calling attention to the horrific treatment of black people through her investigative report, entitled Southern Horrors: Lynch Law in All Its Phases.
Wed, Oct 9, 2019
Harriet Tubman is one of the greatest freedom fighters to exist. Enslaved and enraged, Tubman committed to not only freeing herself, but she created a system that would revolutionize slavery and the people who benefited from it most. Harriet's mission was to remove the chains that restrained black people by any means necessary, even when her husband, a free man, refused to join her.
Wed, Oct 16, 2019
Isabella Baumfree was born into slavery in the late 18th century. Despite this, she'd go on to prove that enslavement was only a state of mind. She escaped slavery and landed in New York, where she changed her name to Sojourner Truth. With such a poignant name, she was committed to A name ever so poignant, Truth committed to eradicating racial and gender injustice.
Thu, Nov 21, 2019
After joining the Nation of Islam, Malcolm X became known as a human rights activist whose teachings led the charge of black progression during the latter parts of the 1960s. Radicalized by a stint in prison, Malcolm X was a warrior who was not afraid to get on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement. His sharp contrast from the non-violent approach molded by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. meant Malcolm X had a clear agenda against anyone in opposition. He and his followers were determined to fight back against injustices by any means necessary, and his teachings laid the framework for the Black Power ideology and uplifted the black community in ways that promoted dignity and respect.
Wed, Nov 27, 2019
While Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s influence was large, perhaps his greatest legacy came when he delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech on August 28, 1963. As the highly revered activist from the Civil Rights era prepared for the March on Washington, Dr. King worked with his advisors to craft his speech. About half-way through, with the crowd's interest fading, the Baptist minister from Atlanta, Georgia's decision to improvise would lead to a exceptional moment we never saw coming. Dr. King and his speech would awaken not only the estimated quarter of a million people in attendance, but followers who also believed in an inclusive America.
Thu, Dec 12, 2019
Electrified by the rhetoric of Malcolm X, founding members Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale created an organization aimed at protecting the Black community from racism and violence. And thus, the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense was founded in Oakland, Calif., in October of 1966. While history tends to focus on the violence of this group, their influence was more in-depth. From social programs, to community outreach, there was a genuine interest in the practical advancement for African-Americans, while serving and protecting the community from police brutality.
Thu, Dec 19, 2019
In 1983, Reverend Jesse Jackson launched his bid for president of the United States. This announcement sparked excitement from people who had grown to adore the Civil Rights leader. While he wasn't the first African-American candidate, his presence and decision to run was monumental.