Kwanzaa (December 26 – January 1)
Posted by admin | Filed under K
Kwanzaa is holiday celebrated by African-Americans. The holiday was started in 1966 by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Ph.D in 1966. It lasts from December 26 – January 1 and the foundations of the holiday are based on ancient African festivals. This seven-day celebration was created for African-Americans to think about their African heritage and present state.
Benjamin Banneker (1761-1806)
Posted by admin | Filed under B
Benjamin Banneker was born in Maryland on November 9, 1731. He is often known as the “First African American Scientist.” He built a working wooden clock that kept accurate time and struck the hours for over 50 years. Banneker studied astronomy and he published an almanac. “Benjamin Banneker’s Almanac” was a top seller from Pennsylvania to Virginia and even into Kentucky from 1792 to 1797.
In 1791, Banneker helped survey the land which is now known as Washington, D.C.
Click the thumbnail above for a LARGER photo.
Topics: Inventors, Men, Scientists
Althea Gibson (1927-2003)
Posted by admin | Filed under A
Althea Gibson was born in Silver, North Carolina on August 25, 1927. She became the first black person to win major titles in tennis. She attended Florida A& M University on a tennis scholarship. In 1957 and 1958, she won the championship at Wimbledon, England and the U.S. Open ranking her as the number one female tennis player both years. Later she became a successful professional golfer and was the first black woman to join the Ladies Professional Golf Association.