With the first month into the new year coming to an end. It is time to embrace the beautiful month of February, also the perfect time to deeply indulge and support Black history and culture. As most people know Black History Month is a way of remembrance for events and people in the African-American community, this month honors the struggles, triumphs, and power within a community that constantly rises up in a neverending struggle that they did not ask to be a part of. Being a part of the black community, I feel it is important to know details and information about figures that have impacted our community even in the smallest ways because they are just as important as the Dr. Kings, Rosa Parks, and Malcolm Xs. The hidden figures of black history are part of the reason the black community now has the privileges it has.
Black history is rooted in the black community and affects each of us. Their history is our history and continues on. They left their mark and it resonates. The community has created stepping stones in many aspects like political positions, modeling, athletics etcetera. To start this year Black History Month on a good note here are 8 hidden, black historical figures, that may be new to you.
- George Washington Carver: was a highly renound scientist, and a leader in enviornmentalism. He promoted the idea that quality of life of poor farmers could improve with the usage of alternative crops like peanuts and sweet potatoes. In a 1941 issue of Time magazine he deamed the “Black Leonardo”. *Fun Fact: The antagonists in the Proud Family Movie Dr. Marcus Garvey Carver II is based off of George Washington Carver because a lot of his inventions were used with peanuts.
- Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler: She was the first female African- American physician and her work led to the publication of Book of Medical Discourses in Two Parts in 1883. This book was one of the first medical texts written by an African- American. She later spent the end of her career caring for the freed slaves after the Civil War.
- Cluadette Colvin: Before there was Rosa Parks, exactly 9 months before there was Claudette Colvin, she was 15 years old taking a bus home from her high school. On March 2, 1955 the bus driver ordered her to give her seat up which she refused and was arrested. She later was the main witness for the Browder v. Gayle case which ended segregation in Alabmama on public transportation.
- Wilma Rudolph: biggest accompliment- she was the first African American Woman to win three gold medals in a single track and field olympics. This was and is such a huge deal because as a child she was very sickly and had double pneumonia, scarlett fever, and polio (causes paralysis is curable now but at the time was severe). A quote by Rudolph states “my doctors told me I would never walk again. My mother told me I would. I believed my mother”.
- Jeremiah G. Hamilton: known as the only black millionaire in New York. He was said the be the richest black man in the United States after his death in May of 1875.
- Elizabeth Freeman: she was the first enslaved African- American to sue and successfully win her freedom.
- Eugene Jacques Bullard: he was the first African- American military pilot. He served in the French Foregin Legion as a member of the infantry. In his lifetime he was rewarded fifteen french combat medals.
- Peggy Ann Freeman: also known Donyale Luna, she was the first African- American model to appear on Vogue british edition in March of 1966. In many articles she is described as “the first black model to change things”. Her photos are iconic and continue to capture the eyes on the 21st century, and are being recreated for example Zendaya did a photoshoot inspired by her for the cover of Essence in 2020.
Take the time to learn something new about the culture and history, and educate others. February was legally granted as the month dedicated to African- Americans. Happy Black History Month. Remember you are beautiful, strong, and powerful.