Discover the Top 12 Astonishing Fun Facts About Black History Month You Never Knew!

1. From Negro History Week to Black History Month

When Carter G. Woodson wasn't busy making historians green with envy, he was all about giving the unsung heroes of Black America a much-needed moment in the spotlight: In 1926, he established "Negro History Week" during February to coincide with the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, which later expanded to become Black History Month in 1976, celebrating the contributions and achievements of Black Americans throughout history.
Source => naacp.org

2. Harlem Renaissance: Jazzing it Up

Just picture Flappers doing the Charleston while Louis Armstrong jazzes up the scene; that's the spirit of the Harlem Renaissance for you: An influential creative movement in the 1920s, it marked a significant cultural shift for African American artists, writers, and musicians who shattered stereotypes and ignited a sense of self-determination, becoming a trailblazer for the Civil Rights Movement in the later decades.
Source => nmaahc.si.edu

Did you know the first Black Representative from the North, Oscar De Priest, fought for civil rights, introduced an antilynching bill, and even tried to desegregate the House restaurant? Discover more about this trailblazer!

=> Fun Facts about The-Harlem-Renaissance

3. Guion Bluford: Spacebound Trailblazer

Houston, we have a trail-blazer: Guion Bluford became the first African American astronaut in 1983, rocketing into space aboard the Challenger and racking up an impressive 688 hours orbiting Earth over four epic missions while inspiring black scientists and engineers to shoot for the stars!
Source => airandspace.si.edu

4. Garrett A. Morgan: Inventor Turned Newspaper Magnate

Who knew that spreading the news could be so inventive? Rolling out red carpets in black history: Garrett A. Morgan, a renowned inventor and entrepreneur, also established a weekly newspaper called the Cleveland Call in 1920, using it as a megaphone for the Cleveland Association of Colored Men in advocating for the rights and successes of black Americans.
Source => case.edu

5. George Washington Carver's Nutty Innovations

Before you go nuts for his nutty accomplishments: Dr. George Washington Carver crafted over 300 products from peanuts ranging from breakfast foods, meat substitutes, household items, drinks, medicines, and cosmetics to dyes, paints, and even peanut shell fuel. This leguminous legend significantly improved the economy of the rural South, securing his spot in black history.
Source => tuskegee.edu

6. Sidney Poitier: Shattering the Silver Screen Glass Ceiling

Lend me your ears, for I have a tale of ground-breaking proportions – one of defiance and blossoming lilies, with a dashing protagonist who shattered the silver screen's glass ceiling: Sidney Poitier became the first Black actor to receive an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 1958 for The Defiant Ones, eventually making history by nabbing the golden statue for his role in Lilies of the Field in 1964.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

7. Jackie Joyner-Kersee: Olympic Avenger

If Jackie Joyner-Kersee were a superhero, she’d probably be called "The Olympic Avenger" – crushing world records, swooping in for gold medals and saving sports fans from ordinary performances: Seriously though, Jackie is considered one of the greatest female athletes in history, with six Olympic medals, including three gold, one silver, and two bronze in heptathlon and long jump events, and a world record of 7,291 points set in the 1988 Olympics that still stands today!
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Hattie McDaniel's Segregated Oscar Victory

If you think winning an Oscar is a walk on the red carpet, Hattie McDaniel would respectfully disagree with a "Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn": Despite being the first African American to win an Oscar in 1940 for her role as "Mammy" in "Gone with the Wind", Ms. McDaniel experienced segregation firsthand at the awards ceremony, sitting separately from her fellow cast members in a whites-only event. To add to the mystery, her Oscar vanished into thin air in 1972 after being donated to Howard University, making "The Case of the Missing Oscar" a true Hollywood whodunit.
Source => abc7.com

9. A Presidential Dinner Kicks Off WGPR-TV

When good food and television collide: After an appetizing dinner at the White House, two gentlemen named William Banks and his cohort pitched for a broadcast license to President Nixon, leading to the founding of WGPR-TV, the first African American-owned and operated television station in the United States, back in Detroit in 1975. The station went on to serve generous portions of original programming and daily newscasts, featuring the irresistibly popular show, "The Scene." Thanks to WGPR's legacy, countless broadcasters got a taste for the industry and went on to cook up success at many major stations.
Source => wxyz.com

10. George Washington's Real Dental Hero

Hey, tooth be told, George Washington had a secret weapon when it came to his choppers, and it wasn't made of wood: Dr. John Greenwood, an African American dentist and Revolutionary War veteran, crafted four sets of dentures for Washington using real human teeth, ivory, and metal, invented the first dental drill, and championed preventative dental care.
Source => mountvernon.org

11. John H. Johnson: Beauty and Publishing Pioneer

Ready to blush? Well, John H. Johnson was the ultimate makeup guru way before YouTube came along: As the founder of Ebony and Jet magazines, Johnson also owned the largest black-owned cosmetics company in the world, Fashion Fair Cosmetics, since 1973 – empowering women of color to slay in the beauty world and prove that he wasn't just a one-trick publishing pony.
Source => thehistorymakers.org

12. Thurgood "Mr. Civil Rights" Marshall

From the man who "thoroughly" simplified his name to dodge playground ridicule, to lifelong fighter against racial injustice: Thurgood Marshall, or "Mr. Civil Rights," was the first African American Supreme Court justice, a Howard University valedictorian, and a key player in desegregating schools through the landmark case, Brown v. Board of Education.
Source => uscourts.gov