HBlack History Month is a time that is meaningful to all, but in our school it is probably the most significant to the African American Awareness club (AAA) run by Mr Joshua Johnson, teacher at West Bloomfield High School. Black History Month stemmed from “Negro History Week,” and started with President Gerald Ford in 1976. Since then, every United States president has designated the month of February as Black History month. In honor of Black History Month, AAA has had two meetings in February, both focusing on what Black history is. They also had fun kahoot competitions about black history. This whole month, AAA gave the entire school daily facts all about Black history month to let the school community know how much our society has been positively impacted by African Americans. Each fact on this list was read aloud on the announcements on its corresponding day.

2/9/2015 – John Mercer Langston was the first Black man to become a lawyer in Ohio when he passed the Bar in 1854

2/10/2015 – Thurgood Marshall was the first African American ever appointed to the United States Supreme Court.

2/12/2015 – In 1992, Dr. Mae Jemison became the first African American woman to go into space aboard the space shuttle Endeavor

2/16/2015 – The first Black senator was Hiram Rhodes Revels, who represented Mississippi from 1870 to 1871, and the first Black congresswoman was Shirley Chisholm, who represented New York during seven terms.

2/17/2015 – “The Renaissance” was the name of the first Black professional basketball team. They were nicknamed the Rens and once won an amazing 88 consecutive games.

2/23/2015 – Madam CJ Walker was America’s first self-made woman to become a millionaire

2/24/2015 – Black History Month began as “Negro History Week,” which was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson

2/26/2015 – Lincoln University in Pennsylvania is the first institution of higher education founded for African-Americans.

How has Black history month impacted you? What do you think that our school should do to promote awareness of Black history month? Let us know in the comments below!