Honoring notable African-American men and women who made history Image source: www.blackhistorymonthlogo.com/ Honoring notable African-American men and women who made history

How it began Carter G. Woodson wanted to pay tribute to inspirational African Americans from the past. He founded Negro History week in 1926 as part of his vision of developing a "history of the world void of national bias, race, hate, and religious prejudice." The son of former slaves, Woodson dedicated his life to ensuring that black history was accurately documented and disseminated. He chose the 2nd week of February in honor of the birthdays of pivotal black supporters Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. Black History Month pays tribute to inspirational African Americans from the past, as well as those who will continue to make history well into the future. The historical documents that Woodson collected and donated to the Library of Congress became an important resource for later students of black history. Image source: http://www.africawithin.com/woodson/woodson.jpg

Let's meet some notable African American from history... Can you name some famous African Americans? What were their accomplishments?

Benjamin Banneker Parents: Molly Bannaky and Robert Banna Ka Born 11-09-1731 in Maryland Died 10-09-1806 in Maryland Mathematician Astronomer Clockmaker Publisher Original name Banna Ka or Bannakay His father and grandfather were former slaves, however, Benjamin was free-born. He was nicknamed the “Sable Astronomer.” Image Source: www.americanrevolution.com

Accomplishments In 1753, Banneker carved and constructed a working wooden clock that kept accurate time and struck the hours for over 50 years. At the age of 58 he began studying astronomy and for five years published an almanac that was a best seller in Pennsylvania to Virginia. In 1791, Banneker was a technical assistant in the calculating and first-ever surveying of the Federal District, which is now Washington, D.C. the young man borrowed a pocket watch from a well-to-do neighbor; he took it apart and made a drawing of each component, then reassembled the watch and returned it, fully functioning, to its owner. From his drawings Banneker then proceeded to carve, out of wood, enlarged replicas of each part. Calculating the proper number of teeth for each gear and the necessary relationships between the gears, he constructed a working wooden clock that kept accurate time and struck the hours for over 50 years. The "Sable Astronomer" was often pointed to as proof that African Americans were not intellectually inferior to European Americans. Thomas Jefferson himself noted this in a letter to Banneker. Image Source: inventors.about.com

Elijah McCoy Parents: George and Emillia McCoy Born: 05-02-1843 in Canada Died: 10-10-1929 in Detroit, MI Inventor His parents were former slaves who had escaped through the Underground Railroad. McCoy studied mechanical engineering in Scotland and when he came home he worked as a fireman and oil for the railroad. Image Source: www.allposters.com

Accomplishments Invented an automatic lubricator to oil steam engines of locomotives and boats. In 1909 he had produced at least 57 patents—more than any other black person. It’s possible that the saying the real McCoy, meaning the real thing, derives from Elijah's invention. The legend is that railroad engineers looking to avoid inferior copies would enquire if a locomotive was fitted with "the real McCoy". He had patents on a lawn sprinkler and a folding ironing board. Image Source: scholastic.com

Garrett Morgan Parents: Sydney and Elizabeth Morgan Born: 03-04-1877 in Paris, Kentucky Died: 07-27-1963 in Cleveland, Ohio Business owner Inventor Both his parents had been slaves. He was the 7th of 11 children. He owned a sewing shop and then a newspaper business. Image Source: http://www.supernaturalminds.com/Morgan10.jpg

Accomplishments In 1909 invented first hair straightener. In 1912 patented the safety hood which became known as a gas mask. In 1932 patented an automatic traffic signal which he sold to G.E. for $40,000. Find out how he accidentally invented the hair straightener. Image source: http://www.3dpublishing.com/learningcenter/images/gmlight.jpg

Dr. Charles Drew Parents: Richard and Nora Drew Born: 06-03-1904 in Washington, D.C. Died: 04-01-1950 in Burlington, NC Athlete Teacher Doctor Pioneer in medical field He graduated 2nd in his class from medical school. He died at the age of 45 from a car accident. Image source: www.hierographics.org

Accomplishments Discovered that everyone has same type of plasma Developed technique for long-term storage of blood plasma Developed blood banks Set up first blood bank in England Image source: buzzyeah.com

Bill Pickett Parents: Thomas Jefferson and Mary Virginia Elizabeth (Gilbert) Pickett Born: 12-05-1870 at Jenks-Branch community, TX Died: 04-02-1932 at Ponca City, OK Cowboy Rodeo star He was the 2nd of 13 children. Both parents were former slaves. He became a cowboy after finishing 5th grade. His nicknames were “Dusky Demon” and “The Bull-Dogger.” Image Source: www.knowsouthernhistory.net

Accomplishments Invented the rodeo event of bulldogging (steer wresting) 1905-1931 was one of the stars of the 101 Ranch Wild West Show He was the first black cowboy movie star. In 1972 was inducted into the National Rodeo Hall of Fame. The term “bulldogging” came from the cowboys biting the upper lip of the cattle to subdue them. He died as a result of being kicked in the head when working with some horses at the ranch. He was honored with a 1994 U.S. postage stamp, but the USPS accidentally used a picture of his brother Ben instead of Bill. Image source: http://fpc.dos.state.fl.us/

Matthew Henson Parents: Lemuel and Caroline Henson Born: 08-08-1866 in Maryland Died: 03-09-1955 in New York City, NY Adventurer Explorer His parents died when he was 12 so he went to sea as a cabin boy on a merchant ship and sailed around the world for the next several years. He became a skilled navigator and seaman. He had a son with an Inuit woman named Akatingwah. The son was named Anaukaq--he and his wife had five sons. The great-great grandchildren of Henson still reside in Greenland. Image source: www.lib.fit.edu

Accomplishments Colleague of Commander Robert H. Peary In 1909, was first to reach the North Pole In 1912 wrote “A Negro Explorer at the North Pole” He met Commander Robert Peary in 1888. Henson traded with the Eskimos and mastered their language, built sleds, and trained dog teams. Before the goal of the North Pole was reached, Peary could no longer continue on foot and rode in a dog sled. Although Admiral Peary received many honors, Henson was largely ignored and spent most of the next thirty years working as a clerk in a federal customs house in New York. But in 1944 Congress awarded him a duplicate of the silver medal given to Peary. Image source: www.britannica.com

Jim Beckwourth Parents: Sir Jennings Beckwith and slave mother Born: a slave 04-06- 1798 in Virginia Died: 10-29-1866 in Denver, CO Blacksmith Scout Fur trapper Gold miner Pioneer of the West Indian Chief Served as a scout for Rocky Mountain Fur Company and also for U.S. Army during Seminole War. He was adopted by a tribe of Crow Indians, lived with them for about 8 years, and eventually became one of the chiefs of that tribe. Image source: www.medarus.org

Accomplishments In 1850 found passageway through the Sierra Nevada mountains near Reno. In 1856 dictated and published his autobiography “The Life and Adventures of James P. Beckwourth” His adventures took him from the everglades of Florida to the Pacific Ocean and from southern Canada to northern Mexico Image source: www.californiahistory.net/6gold/beckwourth.htm

Phillis Wheatley Parents: bought by John and Susanna Wheatley in 1761 Born: about 1753 in Gambia, Africa Died: 12-05-1784 in Boston, MA Servant Poet Her owners and their daughter, taught Phillis to read and write and encouraged her education. She was named after the ship she had traveled on from Africa. mage source: www.pbs.org

Accomplishments In 1744 became the first African American to publish a book First African American woman to earn a living from writing First woman writer financed by a group of women At the age of 12 she had a poem published. The Countess of Huntingdon financed the publication of Phillis Wheatley’s poems. Wheatley was also well versed in Latin and Greek. Image source: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/images/tlc0395.jpg

Dr. Rebecca Davis Lee Crumpler Parents: Absolum Davis and Matilda Webber Born: 02-08-1831 in Delaware Died: 08-09-1895 in Fairview, MA Doctor No known photo or image exists of Dr. Crumpler. She worked as a nurse for 8 years before starting college. It was highly unusual at the time for her to be accepted into college because most at the time did not allow African Americans to attend. Image source: www.time.com

Accomplishments Completed her M.D. in 1864 at the New England Female Medical College. In 1883 she published a medical book that gave advice to women on the health care of their families. Practiced medicine for over 30 years. Image of building above: The School of Medicine (The New England Female Medical College) as it appeared in 1860, the year Rebecca Lee Crumpler began her studies.*] Image source: www.bumc.bu.edu

Hallie Quinn Brown Parents: Born: 03-10-1849 in Pittsburgh, PA Died: 09-16-1949 in Wilberforce, OH Educator Lecturer Writer Activist Her parents were former slaves. She had several books published. Image source: en.wikipedia.org

Accomplishments 1893-1903 professor at Wilberforce University Promoted the Colored Women’s League In 1899 she represented the U.S. at the International Congress of Women in London. Initiated the drive to preserve Frederick Douglass’ home She taught in public schools, became dean of Allen University in S.C., and was dean of women (a/k/a lady principal) at Tuskegee Institute working with Booker T. Washington. She made several appearances before Queen Victoria—even having tea with her at least once. She took up the cause of woman suffrage and spoke on the topic of full citizenship for women as well as civil rights for black Americans. Image source: www.duboislc.org

Madame C. J. Walker Parents: Owen and Minerva Breedlove Born: 12-23-1867 in Louisiana Died: 05-25-1919 at Irving-on-Hudson, New York Entrepreneur Business owner Philanthropist Social activist Originally named Sarah Breedlove—her parents were former slaves. She was orphaned at the age of seven. She survived by working in the cotton fields and as a laundrywoman. Image source: www.africawithin.com

Accomplishments Around 1905 she developed a scalp conditioner and healing formula called Madam Walker’s Wonderful Hair Grower. She eventually had over 3,000 people working as sales agents. In 1910 she built a factory, hair and nail salon, and training school in Indianapolis. During the 1890s she suffered a scalp ailment that caused her to lose most of her hair, so she began experiment with homemade remedies and products made by another black woman by the name of Annie Malone. One of Madam Walker’s employees, Marjorie Joyner, invented and improved the permanent wave machine in 1928. Image source: www.jerryjazzmusician.com; www.freemaninstitute.com

Find out more about these accomplished African Americans Sarah E. Goode Alexander Lucius Twilight Joseph Rainey Robert Rillieux Hiram Revels William Henry Hastie Patricia Harris Philip B. Downing Eugene Jacques Bullard Sgt. William H. Carney Thomas L. Jennings Daniel Hale Williams Guion Bluford Alain L. Locke Daniel A. Payne Nat Love Hattie McDaniel Marian Anderson Gordon Parks Althea Gibson

Sources http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/bhistory/inventors/mccoy.htm http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhmfirsts.html http://www.blackhistorymonthlogo.com http://www.progress.org/banneker/bb.html http://en.wikipedia.org/ http://womenshistory.about.com/