Freedom Riders - #BlackHistoryFact

Freedom Riders wait to board a bus in Montgomery, AL in 1961

"On May 4, 1961, a group of 13 African-American and white civil rights activists launched the Freedom Rides, a series of bus trips through the American South to protest segregation in interstate bus terminals. The Freedom Riders, who were recruited by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), a U.S. civil rights group, departed from Washington, D.C., and attempted to integrate facilities at bus terminals along the way into the Deep South. African-American Freedom Riders tried to use “whites-only” restrooms and lunch counters, and vice versa. The group encountered tremendous violence from white protestors along the route, but also drew international attention to their cause. Over the next few months, several hundred Freedom Riders engaged in similar actions. In September 1961, the Interstate Commerce Commission issued regulations prohibiting segregation in bus and train stations nationwide."

Violent Response. The first Freedom Riders manage to escape their burning bus outside Anniston, Ala., a Ku Klux Klan stronghold, after a mob shot out its tires, smashed its windows, and threw an incendiary device into it on 14 May 1961.

"Freedom Rides" History.com, 2010. January 28, 2015. http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/freedom-rides

Did You Know? #BlackHistoryFact

Barack Obama was America's 1st African-American President to be elected to the White House in 2008! That's was a historical event we will never forget! BUT did you also know... (Our current President) Barack Obama is also a Grammy Award WINNER!! YES!! President Obama won a Grammy for not 1 but 2 of his audio books. 

Best Spoken Work Album was received in 2006 for Dreams from My Father and the second Grammy award was received for Best Spoken Word Album, The Audacity of Hope: Thought of Reclaiming the American Dream.  You can find his works on Amazon, iTunes or any of your favorite online stores. 

1st African-American President of the United States + Nobel Peace Prize Winner + Grammy Award Winner! 

WOW! Isn't that awesome!

Who is Cathay Williams? - #BlackHistoryFact

Cathay Williams was the one and only female Buffalo Soldier, WHO POSED AS A MAN! Yes...she posed as a man named William Cathay to enlist in the 38th infantry in 1866.

Cathay served for 2 years before a doctor discovered that she was a woman.  This finding led to her discharge. 

Buffalo Soldiers - #BlackHistoryFact

"Buffalo Soldier" is the collective nickname given to the first African-American members of the United States Armed Forces.  There are many theories as to its origin, but the nickname probably started on the Western Frontier with the Cheyenne, who thought the hair of the Black soldiers resembled the fur of the buffalo. Buffalo were revered by tribal leaders so any comparison between men and buffalo was considered high praise.  Some sources assert that the nickname was given out of respect for the fierce fighting ability of the 10th Cavalry.  Third, it may have been because they wore thick coats made from buffalo hide during winter.  Whatever the reason, the term was used respectfully and with honor.
 
The soldiers seldom used the name amongst themselves, but they did accept the name as complimentary. The symbol of the buffalo was eventually incorporated into the crest of the 10th Cavalry Regiment.
  

Bessie Coleman - #BlackHistoryFact

Elizabeth "Bessie" Coleman (January 26, 1892 - April 30, 1926) was the first person of African American descent to become a licensed airplane pilot.  She was also the first American of any race or gender to hold an international pilot license.  Popularly known as "Brave Bessie" or "Queen Bess", her pioneering achievements served as an inspiration for a generation of African American men and women.

Coleman died at the young age of 34 while riding in a plane with her mechanic and publicity agent. Coleman's mechanic, William Wills, was flying the plane while she was in the other seat.  She was not wearing her seatbelt as she was planning a parachute jump the next day and wanted to look over the cockpit to examine the terrain. Ten minutes into the flight, the plain did not pull out of a planned nosedive.  The plane accelerated into a tailspin and Coleman was thrown 500 feet from the plane and died instantly when she hit the ground.  Wills was unable to regain control and also died upon impact as the plane burst into flames.

Numerous books have been written about Coleman, including books which encourage children to believe in themselves and their dreams.

Black Wall Street - #BlackHistoryFact

During the early 20th Century, there was a community in Tulsa, Oklahoma known as Greenwood.  Greenwood became affectionately known as "the Negro Wall Street", now more commonly referred to as "the Black Wall Street", due to number of successful businesses in this predominately black populated community.  This community held 600 businesses, 21 churches, 21 restaurants, 30 grocery stores, 2 movie theatres, 6 private airplanes plus a hospital, bank, post office, schools, libraries, law offices and even a bus system.  The dollar would circulate more than 36 times, sometimes taking more than a year before leaving the community.  This community flourished until the 1921 attack on the community that became known as the "Tulsa Race Riots".  Numerous witness accounts described airplanes carrying white assailants, who fired rifles and dropped firebombs on buildings, homes, and fleeing families.

The below photograph is of a few of the proud businessmen of "Black Wall Street". 

Knowledge is power!



U.S. Civil War Colored Troops Medal - #BlackHistoryFact

The image posted here is that of one of the medals that were awarded to African American soldiers that fought in the Civil War.  The medals were awarded by Gen. Benjamin F. Butler to African American soldiers under his command during the 1864 battles at Fort Harrison and Fort Gilmer to show appreciation for their heroics.  The medals held no official status and, after the General was relieved of his duties the following year, the soldiers were not permitted to wear the medals on their uniforms.  

 

Receiving any type of medal for your service in the military is a great honor and to be a soldier of African American heritage fighting for your freedom, the medals probably held more meaning to those soldiers and their families than anyone could imagine.  Being of African American descent and knowing the significance that war held for this country, it's nice to know that a few African American soldiers were acknowledge for their bravery even if there were not allowed to display the medals on their uniforms.

 

Somewhere around 300 African American soldiers received these medals.