Connect with us

Black History

Five Black History Sites Managed By The U.S. Government

Published

on

With the global pandemic nearing its one-year anniversary, the National Park Service has temporarily closed its historical sites. But, here are five of our favorites that celebrate Black History. 

The Harriet Tubman House is located in Auburn and Fleming, New York, and includes three properties. One of those is dedicated to indigent and elderly African Americans and represents the lifelong dream of Tubman to build a home for the aged. The former conductor of the Underground Railroad moved into the home in 1911 and remained there until she died in 1913.

Monroe Elementary School in Topeka, Kansas is a symbol of the hard fought battle to end segregated schools. Monroe was one of the schools attended by African American students in Topeka when the Rev. Oliver Brown took his seven-year-old daughter, Linda, to one of the all-white schools for enrollment. They were turned away, but Brown and a group of courageous parents challenged the school district’s all-white policy to the Supreme Court where in 1954, the Justices declared in Brown v. Board of Education  that “separate but equal” facilities are inherently unconstitutional ending racial segregation in public schools.

The George Washington Carver National Monument was the first memorial dedicated to an African American and non-president. The historical site covers the boyhood home of Carver who, along with his older brother, was raised by Moses and Susan Carver after slavery was abolished. Carver enjoyed learning and attended a school for Black students 10 miles from his home. He later moved to Fort Scott, Kansas, to attend school and completed his education at universities throughout the Midwest. In 1896 Booker T. Washington invited Carver to Tuskegee to head the Agriculture Department which he did for 47 years. During that time, Carver established a research laboratory and is credited with creating new techniques to replenish soil and developing his many uses for the peanut.

National Museum of African American History and Cuture is considered by many as  the crown jewel of the Smithsonian’s collection of museums and research centers Located on the National Mall, NMAAHC opened in 2016 while President Barack Obama was still in office.The museum houses an astonishing array of photographs, documents, and memorabilia curated to tell the story of Black Americans.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial covers four acres in West Potomac Park next to the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The Stone of Hope, a granite statue of King carved by sculptor Lei Yixin, is the centerpiece of the memorial. The memorial honoring the Civil Rights icon’s legacy was dedicated on August 28, 2011 which was the 48th anniversary of the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. However, the ceremony was postponed until October due to Hurricane Irene.

Black History

Trump Signs Executive Orders That Will Impact HBCUs and Black Schoolchildren

Published

on

President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will provide support for Historically Black Colleges and Universities and establish a White House Initiative on HBCUs to “deliver high-quality education to a growing number of students.”

According to the White House, the Initiative will help develop private-sector partnerships, institutional development and workforce preparation in technology, health care, manufacturing and finance. 

The president and CEO of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, Dr. Harry L. Williams said, “Today’s executive order serves as strong reaffirmation of President Trump’s support of investment of historically Black colleges and universities. This executive order should serve as a call-to-action for corporations, foundations, members of Congress and state lawmakers to redouble their efforts to support HBCUs and their students. TMCF looks forward to continued engagement with the administration and Congress to deliver results for HBCUs and the students they serve via appropriations and other legislative actions.”

On the same day, Trump signed another executive order that removes safeguards for African American schoolchildren by eliminating an Obama-era initiative to protect Black schoolchildren from excessive disciplinary action.

During the Obama administration, the first Black president’s administration created guidelines that sought to prevent school discipline from having a disproportionate effect on minority students. Trump revoked the civil rights initiative during his first term and Biden did not formally restore it. 

At his signing today, Trump said his decision was especially important to the current Education Secretary Linda McMahon, who held the signed order.

“Under the Biden-Harris Administration, schools were forced to consider equity and inclusion when imposing discipline,” McMahon said in a statement. “Their policies placed racial equity quotas over student safety – encouraging schools to turn a blind eye to poor or violent behavior in the name of inclusion.”

She added, “Disciplinary decisions should be based solely on students’ behavior and actions.

Studies show that Black students are punished more often than their white counterparts.

Continue Reading

Black History

President Jimmy Carter Appointed the First Black Woman to Lead a Federal Agency

Published

on

President Jimmy Carter advanced opportunities for African Americans throughout his life,
advocating for justice and peace consistent with the Christian values he embraced. Since his
death on December 29 at age 100, Mr. Carter’s praises have been sung from his home state of
Georgia to points around the globe. And while the former president’s one-term in the White
House is dismissed by some political pundits for a lack of policies or accomplishments that
changed the course of history, his character and integrity set him apart.


Carter became the first president to appoint a Black woman head of a federal agency. He chose
Patricia Roberts Harris to lead the Housing and Urban Development when he took office in
1977.


Harris said, “I feel deeply proud and grateful this President chose me to knock down this barrier, but also a little sad about being the ‘first Negro woman,’ because it implies we were not
considered before.”


Senator William Proxmire questioned Carter’s choice, saying Harris came from too much wealth and influence to be an effective leader. But Carter stood by his decision, and Harris stayed in the position for two years.


The 39th president’s name is also included on the International Civil Rights Walk of Fame.


Civil rights activist, Rev. Al Sharpton recalled a conversation he shared with Carter.


“It was very significant, I was talking there at the foot of the Lincoln Memorial, and I was talking to President Clinton and President Carter,” Sharpton recalled. “And when Clinton and I finished talking, President Carter touched me on my arm and said, ‘How are you doing with your ministry, Al? I see you out there with your activism. Don’t leave your ministry … keep your prayer life going.’ And you could tell he sincerely meant it. He was not one who talked about his religion as a political kind of something you could say to voters.”


President Joe Biden declared January 9, 2025, a national day of mourning. Millions watched the former president’s funeral on television as he was remembered as a man of honesty,
compassion and faith – which included championing the rights of Americans who knew firsthand the struggle of injustice

Continue Reading

Black History

The Congressional Black Caucus Prepares for “Important” Work

Published

on

The Congressional Black Caucus started the 119th Congress with its largest membership. There were 62 members sworn in today.

“On behalf of the entire Congressional Black Caucus, congratulations to the members of the Executive Committee of the 119th Congress. 53 years after our Caucus’ founding, our work to improve the lives and conditions of Black people in America is more important than ever before,” said CBC President Steven Horsford.

Photo Credit: Ron Busby, U.S. Black Chambers Inc.

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2024 Love Black History, powered by WordPress.