144 years ago, Carter Godwin Woodon (1875-1950) was born on this date in Virginia.
Known as the “Father of Black History,” he holds an outstanding position in early 20th century American history. Woodson authored numerous scholarly books on the positive contributions of Blacks to the development of America. His message was that Blacks should be proud of their heritage and that other Americans should also understand it
Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti (1900–1978) was a pioneering nationalist who fought against British colonialism. She was a pioneer African feminist and a human rights activist who was tireless in her campaigns for women’s rights and for economic, political, and social justice. She was an educator who gave a voice to the voiceless and education to the uneducated. Kuti was the mother of the activists Fela Anikulapo Kuti, a musician, Beko Ransome-Kuti, a doctor, and Professor Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, a doctor and a former health minister of Nigeria.
The Mis-education of a Negro by Carter Godwin Woodson
Known as the “Father of Black History,” Woodson (1875-1950) was
the son of former slaves, and understood how important gaining a
proper education is when striving to secure and make the most out of one’s divine right of freedom. Although he did not begin his formal education until he was 20 years old, his dedication to study enabled him to earn a high school diploma in West Virginia and bachelor and master’s degrees from the University of Chicago in just a few years. In 1912, Woodson became the second African American to earn a PhD at Harvard University. Recognizing the dearth of information on the accomplishments of blacks in 1915, Dr. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now called the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH). Under Woodson’s pioneering leadership, the Association created research and publication outlets for black scholars with the establishment of the Journal of Negro History (1916) and the Negro History Bulletin (1937), which garners a popular public appeal. In 1926, Dr. Woodson initiated the celebration of Negro History Week, which corresponded with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In 1976, this celebration was expanded toinclude the entire month of February, and today Black History Month garners support throughout the country as people of all ethnic and social backgrounds discuss the black experience. ASALH views the promotion of Black History Month as one of the most important components of advancing Dr.
Woodson’s legacy.
Learn something new everyday
1-Michael Jackson Is The Most-Awarded Artist Of All Time: With 23 Guinness World Records, 40 Billboard Awards, 13 Grammys, and 26 American Music Awards, Michael Jackson has won more awards than any other musical artist. Jackson has also received congressional honors for his humanitarian outreach efforts.
2- Between February 11 and February 18, 1992 – and on occasion of Black History Month – the artist tours 30,000 miles of the African continent in 11 days (covering Gabon, The Ivory Coast, Tanzania, Kenya and Libreville), where he visits medical centers, schools, churches, children’s housings and educational NGO’s for disabled children.
3- Michael was treated liked royalty when he embarked on a goodwill tour of Africa in February 1992, part of the highlight came during a visit to Ivory Coast, when he was crowned King of Sani in a special ceremony organized by local tribesmen.
4-Remember the Time was released where he displays Black People of Kings and Queens in Egypt.Michael was fascinated by the Ancient Egyptians and Tutankhamen, one of his online email addresses was even KingTut777
5- He had a skin disease known as vitligo. As his condition worsened, he chose a process known as depigmentation to lighten the dark spots with a bleaching cream. He also used make up to even out the discoloration. Michael loved his race and history.
6-“It was Michael Jackson, the man, who allowed his spacious family mansion in Encino, Calif., to be used by the South African Council of Churches to hold an art auction. He eagerly supported the anti-apartheid fund raiser because he is an avowed opponent of South Africa’s White supremacy government” (Ebony June 1988)
8-Michael sponsored the education of 10,000 kids through the HEAL THE WORLD FOUNDATION. Michael Jackson started the Dangerous World Tour on June 27, 1992 and completed it on November 11, 1993, after entertaining 35 million people at 67 concerts. All of the profits from the concerts were donated to the Heal the World Foundation. From 1985 to 1990, Michael Jackson donated $500,000 to the United Negro College Fund.Michael was one of the United Negro college Fund’s most significant donors. He put many African Americans students through college.
9- He had these and other books on black history in his personal library:
– Malcolm X, by Alex Haley
– The Negro Caravan, by Sterling A. Brown
– Black Heroes of The 20th Century, by Jessie Carney Smith
– Without Sanctuary: Lynching Photography in America, by James Allen
– Black in America, by Eli Reed
– King: A Photobiography of Martin Luther King Jnr, by Charles Johnson, Bob Adelman
– In Praise of Black Women, Volume 1: Ancient African Queens, by
– Simone Schwarz-Bart
– The Face of Our Past: Images of Black Women from Colonial America to the Present, by Kathleen Thompson and Hilary MacAustin
-Before the Mayflower, by Lerone Bennet Jr
10. The Caribbean nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines was the first nation in the world to feature the king of pop in a series of postage stamps. The set, which has long been of interest to collectors and is quite rare, especially as a complete set, was printed in 1985.
Some of the black charities Michael contributed to:
Quotes by Michael Jackson about Africa
“When we came off the plane in [Dakar, Senegal] Africa,” he recalls, “we were greeted by a long line of African dancers. Their drums and sounds filled the air with rhythm. I was going crazy, I was screaming, “All right! They got the rhythm… This is it. This is where I come from. The origin.”‘
“In my heart, in my deepest of heart, I love Africa, and I love the people of Africa…I’ve spent more of my vacations in Africa than any other continent….they never show how beautiful the place is…and I want to heighten the awareness with what I’m doing…the world is jealous of Africa for many centuries ‘cause the natural resources are phenomenal, it really is and it is the dawn of civilization…” Michael Jackson
Rest forever in peace Mike
blackisreallybeautiful 