February is Black History Month and many people spend the month reflecting on the most famous figures,people, and moments in African-American culture. While this effort is okay there other known facts that may come as a surprise as well . The following are some facts are not as commonly known, but are astounding nonetheless. Did you know that…*Lawrence Douglas Wilder was the first elected black governor, winning the governorship of Virginia in 1990.
*The NAACP started off as the Niagara Movement in 1905, led by W.E.B. Dubois.
*Manulana Karenga established Kwanza in 1966
*Long before Randall Cunningham and Michael Vick ran down NFL fields, Willie Thower became the first black quarterback in 1953, playing for the Chicago Bears.
*After reconstruction, a number of Black towns were founded in the South, including Nicodemis, Kansas; Langston City, Oklahoma; and Kendleton, Texas; among others.
*Madame C.J. Walker (aka Sarah Breedlove Walker) became the first millionaire having invented a series of black hair care products.
*Though he is well known for helping establish Washington D.C., Benjamin Banneker created a watch out of wood that kept accurate time for 40 years.
*Just 3 months after Jackie Robinson broke baseball’s color barrier in the Major Leagues, Larry Doby broke the American League color barrier in July of 1947.
The list continues for the number of African Americans who contributed to the pursuit of black history. While the plight for essence of African Americans is never ending , we must not forget the past. For more information, log onto http://www.infoplease.com/spot/bhm1.html.