What is Black History Month? In February, America celebrates the achievements of African-Americans and their role in U.S. history.

Why is Black History Month important? Because African-Americans played a huge role in American history and built the nation, but were not recognized for their achievements for a long time.

Black history didn’t begin with Slavery! Black history began with African history, which is where human history also began.

What is slavery? Slavery is having people work for free.

Slave trade Map Europeans stole Africans from Africa and sold them into slavery in the Americas and the Caribbean.

More about slavery Slavery lasted for 400 years in America and severely damaged the African-Americans that were created from it.

But still some succeeded! Before and during slavery there were some great African-Americans heroes

Let’s look at some African-American heroes from the 1700s-early 1900s

Benjamin Banneker (1731-1806): astronomer/ clockmaker/ publisher

Madame C.J. Walker (1867-1919): first female millionaire

Booker T Washington (1856-1915): Political leader/ educator/ author

Harriet Tubman (1820-1913): abolitionist/ writer

Nat Turner (1800-1831): Rebellion Leader

And many more!!!!!

What is racism? Treating someone differently because of their race and/or culture.

What is discrimination? Treating someone differently because of their race, age, or sex.

What is segregation? Separation by race.

What are civil rights? The right to be treated as a human, free from unequal treatment.

Let’s look at some African-American heroes from the 1900s-2018

Martin Luther King Jr.(1929-1968): Minister/ civil rights activist

Rosa Parks (1913-2005): Civil rights activist

Thurgood Marshall(1908-1993): Civil rights lawyer/First African-American Supreme Court Justice

Mae Jemison(1956-present): first African-American female astronaut

Muhammad Ali(1942-2016): Champion heavyweight boxer/ activist

Michael Jackson (1958-2009): King of Pop

Oprah Winfrey (1954-present): talk show host/ actress/ producer, TV network owner/ philanthropist

Barack Obama(1961-present): First African-American president

And many more!!!!!