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African Americans Achievement
Posted by N.S. on 5/22/2020
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Black History Month Quick Facts & Trivia
Black History Month Magic Quick Facts • Black History Month originated in 1926 by Carter Godwin Woodson. February was picked in honor of Frederick Douglass & Abraham Lincoln, who were both born in that month.
• The banjo originated in Africa and up until the 1800’s was considered an instrument only played by black people.
• Buffalo Soldiers was the name given to the all-black regiments of the U.S. Army started in 1866. The oldest Buffalo Soldier, Mark Matthews, died at the age of 111 in 2005.
• Harriet Tubman was a spy for the Union Army.
• The first Africans arrived in America, between 1526 and 1539 in the company of Spanish and Portuguese explorers.
• Vermont was the first state to abolish slavery in 1777.
• The 13th Amendment to the Constitution abolished slavery in 1865.
• Kwanzaa means “first fruits” in Swahili.
• Violet Palmer was the first African American female to referee in a regular season NBA game in 1997.
• Wilt Chamberlin was the first basketball player to score 100 points in a single game and also the first to score 30,000 points in the NBA.
• Sheryl Swoopes was the first woman to have an athletic shoe named after them.