Black History Month
It's that time of year again when so many choose to honor and remember those men and women that have made an impact on the African American race. When you think of black history month, you automatically think of Martin L. King, Harriet Tubman, Malcolm X, and the usual round up gang. Not to take any credit away from their names as well as their achievements but there are so many more out there that are not known and should be recognize. They to have talent, leadership, determination and have made a change. It's also those who make a difference today AND will tomorrow from the biggest crowd to the smallest voice they make a change! 1stClassLadies has decided to to represent an African American person each month of the year that we feel you our viewers should know about from the past, present, and future both big and small.
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| Fannie M. Jackson January 8, 1936-1913 |
Fannie Jackson was the 1st black women to graduate collage. she is also the 1st to head a coeducation institute of learning in the U.S. called Philadelphia Institute For Colored Youth which would be later called Cheyney University. she paved the way for people like 1stclassLadies to attend school, educate themselves and become strong successful individual African American woman. So the next time you attend class or look at your diploma remember her and what she accomplished for you. All you have to do know is continue the cycle.
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| Eubie Blake February 7, 1883-1983 |
Eubie Blake was a famous pianist out of Baltimore, Maryland. He is most famously known known for his collaboration with Noble Sissle and wrote one of the 1st Broadway musicals written by an African American called "Shuffle Along" in 1921. Later the Eubie Blake National Jazz Institute & cultural Center was developed. A non profit organization formed to keep music alive and educate the youth on that of Jazz music. Everything has a start- for music, it started with Eubie Blake.
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| Jan Ernest Matzeliger March 19, 1852- August 14, 1889 |
Jan Matzeliger invented the 1st machine to manufacture an entire shoe.He thought up the idea, built working models and factory tested machines known as a shoe. He later became a stockholder in the company that manufactured the machine. Even though times have changed and we have become more advanced with the technology of making sneakers, that doesn't make how it begin less important. When you buy those next pair of kicks and someone says to you " those look good" tell them thank you... and then thank Matzeliger
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| April 16, 1862 |
One of the biggest events happened on April 16, 1862 that would forever change the lives of the African American race. That is when Congress passed the bill ending slavery. It was called District of Columbia Compensated Emancipation act or for short Compensation Emancipation Act which would pay slave owners to release their slaves. Though the bill was not written by him, president Abraham Lincoln signed the bill. The fact that you and I can walk, talk, eat, drink, laugh and cry when we feel is not only a privilege but an opportunity that not everyone at one point had. Count your blessings as if they were limited because for some... They were.
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| May Is For Military |
May is for those who do the most dangerous job and sometimes go unnoticed or unappreciated for their hard work. They are the African American men and women who fight for our country everyday. Though May is celebrated as the month were we acknowledge them, they definitely deserve more then just a month as does Black History Month. Everyone of them that fought and lost their lives to those who were safely returned home we thank you. Your a hero, a leader and above all a fighter! If your ever in need of a role model you don't have to look far.
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| 3rd Sunday of June is for Dad |
Though mothers are almost always considered to be the care taker for her children and is given a lot of praise for it, it does take two to tango. The month of June carries fathers Day in it and 1stClassLadies would like to take the time out to thank the fathers out there for a job well done. A lot of the time they are overlooked for their hard work and dedication to their offspring. Some do it all on their own as a single parent and if its not easy for a single mother there is no difference for a father. Some may be thinking "what does this have to do with black history?" The answer is simple- EVERYTHING!! If we want the cycle of positive African American male leaders to continue, it is only right that they have a male figure to turn to. Why shouldn't that male figure be the person that helped produce them? Waking up to them inn the morning, helping them with homework, picking them up from school or working long hours in order to provide for them- it all plays a role in grooming them to become successful individuals. So to those that had fathers that did it for them to the ones that hold the father torch now we honor you. Continue to be great so that the future fathers will only be greater.
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| Catherine Ndereba July 21,1972- present |
Catherine Ndereba is a famous runner and has more honorable titles under her belt then a little bit. For starters she was the 1st woman to run under 2:19. The 1st woman to win a marathon at the world champion in 2003 and again in 2005. She also won the Boston Marathon a record four times! In 2008 Catherine came to New York and won the 1/2 marathon. Outside of being excellent in talent she organizes a 1/2 marathon in her home town of Kenya. Today Catherine is a mom and STILL running at 39 years of age. Just goes to show you age is nothing but a number and there is NOTHING that one can't do. To all my athletes take note- this could be you hands down!
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| Barack Hussein Obama, Jr August 4, 1961 |
There was Mr. King's " I Have A Dream" speech that will forever be remembered and now we can add our current presidents " Change has come" speech to the list of the most remarkable speeches ever given by one of the world most amazing African American men. Barack Obama is the 1st African American president of the United States. Becoming president took hard work. He started out with books later leading him to politics. In 1996 he won The state Senate seat as a democrat for Illinois and later became the chairman of the Illinois Senate's Health and Human Services Committee. In 2004 he won with 52% of the votes for US Senate. He made headlines in February 2007 when announced he was running as a Democratic presidential nominee. It was tight but in June 2008 he became the presumptive nominee for the Democratic party against Hilary Clinton. November 4th, 2008, Barack Obama defeated Republican presidential nominee John McCain for the position of U.S. President, 52.9 percent to 45.7 percent becoming the 44th President of the US.
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| Benjamin Solomon Carson Sept. 18, 1951-present |
Benjamin "Ben" Carson is pediatric neurosurgeon from Detroit Michigan. He was the 1st surgeon in the world to successfully separate Siamese twins conjoined at the back of the head in 1987. Though he started out as an adult neurosurgeon he was more intrigued with pediatrics. He later became the director of pediatrics neurosurgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He was awarded in 2008 by then President Bush the Medal of Freedom (highest civilian award one can receive.) He has 61 honorary doctorate degrees and has dozens of awards for his achievements.
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| Lonnie George Johnson October 6, 1949-Present |
Its a hot summer day and all you want to to do is get wet. Can you go for a good water fight? We're DOWN!! Lonnie Johnson is the inventor of the water gun. In 1989 Johnson formed his own engineering firm and licensed the Super Soaker water gun to Larami Corporation. The Super Soaker produced over $200 million in retail sales becoming the best selling toy in America just two years later. Sales are now in the billions. Johnson then reinvested most of his earnings from the Super Soaker into research and development for his energy technology companies.Johnson now holds over 80 patents, with over 20 more pending, and is the author of several publications on spacecraft power systems.
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| Claudia Gordon Dec 28, 1965-Present |
Claudia Gordon was the first African American deaf lawyer. she wasn't born deaf. she lost her hearing at the age 8 years old. She graduated cum laude in 1995 and in 2000, she became the law school’s first deaf graduate. Ms. Gordon has served as Vice-President of the National Black Deaf Advocates Association (NBDA) and has provided advocacy leadership at the National Association of the Deaf Law Center. she was a senior policy advisor with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties from 2003-2009. Claudia L. Gordon is currently a political appointee with the Obama administration serving as Special Assistant to the Director of the U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs.
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| The future!! |
I know you guys are thinking we skipped Novemeber but we didn't forget. Just decided to save the best for last! The best being the kids of tomorrow- our future presidents, doctors,lawyers, etc. The ones that will defend the innocent and protect the young. Make sure to do right by them because they will some day be our history. Teach them now how important it is to always do their best... BE THE BEST.
1stClassLadies would just like to acknowledge all of those in the African American community that had,still is, and will make a difference. Thank you.
Keep up the great writing ladies! Bless!
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