Celebrating Black History Month February 1—February 28

[Pages:20]Live. Love. Learn.

Celebrating Black History Month February 1--February 28

Today, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 34 million people in the United States are African American. That's about 12 percent of us!

Learning about the contributions of African Americans, and about the cultures from which they come, will be the focal point of many classroom activities and discussions in the weeks ahead as students across the United States recognize Black History Month--the whole month of February.

But why teach or study African American History? Or, for that matter, why teach about history?

Clearly, teaching about the contributions of African Americans can only help to build the self-esteem and the pride of those who identify themselves as African American.

But, even more importantly, it is essential that we all learn to understand the ethnic diversity of our country, according to Multicultural Education: Issues and Perspectives (Banks and Banks, 1992), integrating the cultures in classroom helps develop "ethnic literacy" in all students. Developing ethnic literacy fosters pride in one's own culture and a respect and

appreciation for the uniqueness of others.

Since 1926 Americans have been celebrating Black history, first as "Negro History Week" and later as we know it today, Black History Month. When the tradition first began black history had not begun to be studied or documented. However blacks have been in America at least as far back as colonial times, but it was not until the 20th century that blacks began to gain a respectable presence in history books.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson is credited for the celebration of Black History Month, and more importantly for the study of black history. Dr Woodson's parents were former slaves. Woodson's childhood was spent working in the Kentucky coal mines. At the age of twenty he enrolled in high school and completed in two years. He later received his Ph.D. from Harvard.

In these pages, you will find quick facts, activities, and projects that teachers and students can use to explore Black History. Feel free to pick and choose, and (by all means!) to adapt these ideas in any way. Use these activities as a jumping-off point for an adventurous journey through history honoring the contributions of African Americans!

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This Cultural Horizons "Live. Love. Learn." is brought to you by the Ohio Civil Rights Commission. 2007. Please contact the PACE Department at 614-466-2785 for copies or information.

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Ted Strickland Governor

Commissioners Eddie Harrell, Jr. Leonard J. Hubert

Grace Ramos Rashmi Yajnik

G. Michael Payton Executive Director

Central Office 30 E. Broad St., 5th Floor

Columbus, Ohio 43215 614-466-2785

614-466-9353 (TTY) (Toll-free) 1-888-278-7101

Akron Akron Government Building

Suite 205 161 South High Street

Akron, Ohio 44308 (330) 643-3100 (Voice/TTY)

Regional Offices

Columbus 30 E. Broad Street 4th Floor

Columbus, Ohio 43215 (614) 466-5928 (Voice/TTY)

Cincinnati Corporate Tower 7162 Reading Road, Ste 1001 Cincinnati, Ohio 45237 (513) 852-3344 (Voice/TTY)

Dayton 1900 Miami Valley Tower 40 West 4th Street, Ste. 800

Dayton, Ohio 45402 (937) 285-6500 (Voice/TTY)

Cleveland 885 Lausche State Office Bldg. 615 West Superior Avenue,

8th Floor Cleveland, Ohio 44113

(216) 787-3150

Toledo One Government Center

Suite 936 Jackson and Erie Streets

Toledo, Ohio 43604 (419) 245-2900 (Voice/TTY)

Ohio Civil Rights Commission 1-888-278-7101 crc.

Black 1H0isItmorpyortant Supreme

Dred Scott v. Sandford (1857) Court Decisions

Decreed a slave was his master's property and African Americans were not citizens; struck down the Missouri Compromise as unconstitutional.

Civil Rights Cases (1883)

A number of cases are addressed under this Supreme court decision. Decided that the Civil

Rights Act of 1875 (the last federal civil rights legislation until the Civil Rights Act of 1957) was unconstitutional. Allowed private sector segregation.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)

The Court stated that segregation was legal and constitutional as long as "facilities were equal"--the famous "separate but equal" segregation policy.

Heart of Atlanta Motel, Inc. v. United States (1964)

This case challenged the constitutionality of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The court ruled that the motel had no right "to select its guests as it sees fit, free from governmental regulation."

Loving v. Virginia (1967)

Powell v. Alabama (1932)

"Scottsboro Boys'" convictions and guaranteed counsel in state and federal courts.

Shelley v. Kraemer (1948)

The justices ruled that a court may not constitutionally enforce a "restrictive covenant" which prevents people of certain race from owning or occupying property.

This decision ruled that the prohibition on interracial marriage was unconstitutional. Sixteen states that still banned interracial marriage at the time were forced to revise their laws.

Regents of the University of California v. Bakke (1978)

The decision stated that affirmative action was unfair if it lead to reverse discrimination.

Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (1954)

Reversed Plessy v. Ferguson "separate but equal" ruling. "[S]egregation [in public education] is a denial of the equal protection of the laws."

Grutter v. Bollinger (2003)

The decision upheld affirmative action's constitutionality in education, as long it employed a "highly individualized, holistic review of each applicant's file" and did not consider race as a factor in a "mechanical way." ? 2000?2006 Pearson Education, publishing as

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Ohio Civil Rights Commission

Black Inventors

and Inventions

Air Conditioning Unit Almanac

Auto Cut-Off Switch Auto Fishing Devise Automatic Gear Shift

Baby Buggy Bicycle Frame Biscuit Cutter Blood Plasma Bag Cellular Phone Chamber Commode Clothes Dryer Curtain Rod Curtain Rod Support

Door Stop Dust Pan Egg Beater Electric Lightbulb Elevator Eye Protector Fire Escape Ladder Folding Bed Fire Extinguisher Folding Chair Fountain Pen Furniture Caster Gas Mask Golf Tee

Guitar Hair Brush Hand Stamp Horse Shoe

Frederick M. Jones Benjamin Banneker Granville T. Woods

G. Cook Richard Spikes W. H. Richardson L.R. Johnson A.P. Ashbourne Charles Drew Henry T. Sampson

T. Elkins G.T. Sampson S.R. Scratton William S. Grant

O. Dorsey Lawrence P. Ray

Willie Johnson Lewis Latimer Alexander Miles

P. Johnson J.W. Winters L.C. Bailey T.J. Marshall Brody & Surgwar W.B. Purvis O.A. Fisher Garrett Morgan

T. Grant Robert F. Flemming, Jr.

Lydia O. Newman Walter B. Purvis

J. Ricks

July 12, 1949 Approx. 1791 January 1, 1839 May 30, 1899 February 28, 1932 June 18, 1899 October 10, 1899 November 30, 1875 Approx. 1945 July 6, 1971 January 3, 1897 June 6, 1862 November 30, 1889 August 4, 1896 December 10, 1878 August 3, 1897 February 5, 1884 March 21, 1882 October 11, 1867 November 2, 1880 May 7, 1878 July 18, 1899 Oct. 26, 1872 June 11, 1889 January 7, 1890

1878 October 13, 1914 December 12, 1899

March 3, 1886 November 15, 18-February 27, 1883

March 30, 1885

Ohio Civil Rights Commission

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Ice Cream Scoop Improved Sugar Making

Insect-Destroyer Gun Ironing Board Key Chain Lantern Lawn Mower

Lemon Squeezer Lawn Sprinkler Lock Lubricating Cup Lunch Pail Mail Box Mop Motor Peanut Butter

Pencil Sharpener Record Player Arm

Refrigerator Riding Saddles

Rolling Pin Shampoo Headrest

Spark Plug Stethoscope

Stove Straightening Comb

Street Sweeper Phone Transmitter Thermostat Control

Traffic Light Tricycle

Typewriter

A.L. Cralle

February 2, 1897

Norbet Rillieux

December 10, 1846

A.C. Richard

February 28, 1899

Sarah Boone

December 30, 1887

F.J. Loudin

January 9, 1894

Michael c. Harvey

August 19, 1884

L.A. Burr

May 19, 1889

J. Thomas White

December 8, 1893

J.W. Smith

May 4, 1897

W.A. Martin

July 23, 18--

Ellijah McCoy

November 15, 1895

James Robinson

1887

Paul L. Downing

October 27, 1891

Thomas W. Stewart

June 11, 1893

Federick M. Jones

June 27, 1939

George Washington Carver

1896

J.L. Love

November 23, 1897

Joseph Hunger Dickenson

January 8, 1819

J. Standard

June 14, 1891

W.D., Davis

Ocotber 6, 1895

John W. Reed

1864

C.O. Bailiff

October 11, 1898

Edmond Berger

February 2, 1839

Imhotep

Ancient Egypt

T.A. Carrington

July 25, 1876

Madam C.J. Walker

Approx. 1905

Charles B. Brooks

March 17, 1890

Granville T. Woods

December 2, 1884

Frederick M. Jones

February 23, 1960

Garrett Morgan

November 20, 1923

M.A. Cherry

May 6, 1886

Burridge & Marshman

April 7, 1885

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ACTIVITY. Reflection. Divide the class into groups and have each group create a short story about how life would be without inventions by African Americans. The purpose of this activity is to promote teamwork and creativity.

African Americans

By the Numbers

POPULATION

39.2 million

The estimated African American population of the United States as of July 1,

2004. African Americans constituted 13.4% of the nation's total population.

3.5 million

The estimated African American population of New

York on July 1, 2004.

59%

Percentage of the District of Columbia's population

identified as black as of July 1, 2004.

61.4 million

The projected black population of the United States as of July 1, 2050. According to this projection, Blacks will constitute 15% of the nation's total population.

1.4 million

The number of blacks in Cook County, Ill as of July 1,

2004.

32%

Percentage of the black population in 2004 under the

age of 18.

Ohio Civil Rights Commission

BUSINESSES

1.2 MILLION

The number of black-owned businesses in 2002.

45%

The percentage of growth of black-owned businesses between 1997 and 2002.

$92.7 billion

Revenue generated by blackowned businesses in 2002, up 30% from 1997.

38%

. . . of all black-owned firms were in health care and other service industries.

25%

Portion of businesses in Washington, D.C. that are

black owned.

FAMILIES AND CHILDREN

9.1 million

The number of black families who reside in the United States.

47%

The percentage of black families consisting of a

married couple.

6

11%

The percentage of black children who live in a

household maintained by a grandparent.

HOMEOWNERSHIP

48%

The percentage of blacks who own their own home.

HEALTH INSURANCE

EC8

The percentage of blacks who lack health insurance in

2004.

INCOME AND POVERTY

$30,134

The annual median income of black households in 2004.

24.7%

Represents the poverty rate in 2004 for those reporting black as their only race. This rate was unchanged from

2003.

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EDUCATION

81%

The percentage of blacks age 25 and older who had at least a high school education

in 2004.

18%

The percentage of the black population age 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or

higher in 2004.

1.1 million

The number of blacks age 25 and older with advanced degrees in 2004 (e.g., master's, professional, doctorate).

2.3 million

Number of black college students in fall of 2004.

JOBS

27%

Percentage of blacks age 16 and older who work in

management, professional and related occupations.

50,600

The number of black physicians and surgeons.

69,400

The number of postsecondary teachers.

44,800

The number of black lawyers.

53,800

The number of black chief executives.

VOTING

14 million

The number of Black citizens who reported voting in the 2004 presidential election.

The percentage of black citizens voting--up 3%-- from four years earlier to 63%. Blacks had the highest turnout rate of any minority

group in 2004.

SERVING OUR COUNTRY

2.4 million

The number of black veterans the United States in

2004.

African Americans in Ohio: Ohio, the total African American population was 1,301,307 or 11.5% of the state's 11,353,140 people in the year 2000.

Counties with Lowest African American Populations

Counties with Highest African American Populations

Wyandot County Mercer County Monroe County

32

Cuyahoga County

382,634

39

Hamilton County

198,061

40

Franklin County

191,196

Vinton County Adams County Putnam County Perry County Morrow County

45

Montgomery County

111,030

48

Lucas County

77,268

58

Summit County

71,608

74

Mahoning County

40,884

85

Stark County

27,219

Fulton County

103

Lorain County

24,203

Auglaize County

110

Trumbull County

17,778

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Statistics obtained from U.S. Census Bureau, 2000

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Ohio Civil Rights Commission

Celebrating Kwanzaa

The Continental African Roots

Kwanzaa is an African American and Pan-African holiday which celebrates family, community and culture. Celebrated from 26 December thru 1 January, its origins are in the first harvest celebrations of Africa from which it takes its name. The name Kwanzaa is derived from the phrase "matunda ya kwanza" which means "first fruits" in Swahili, a Pan-African language which is the most widely spoken African language.

The Seven Principles A principle is a rule or law that governs conduct in a given situation. The Nguzo Saba are the set of principles/values by which Black Americans must order their relations and live their lives, if they are to make decisions about their lives and begin to build a new world and a new people to develop it. As a product of tradition and reason of history, the Nguzo Saba responds to current Kinara (The Candle Holder) and the Seven needs which can be the method used by Blacks Principles of Kwanzaa. to solve the problems on every level which confronts us as a people. Thus, the Nguzo Saba are social and spiritual principles, dealing with ways for us to relate to each other.

Nguzo Saba (social and spiritual principles)

Principles

UMOJA KUJICHAGULIA

UJIMA

UJAMAA NIA

KUUMBA IMANI

Ohio Civil Rights Commission

Pronunciation

oo-MOE-jah koo-jee-cha-goo-LEE-ah

oo-JEE-mah

oo-JAH-mah nee-AH

koo-OOM-bah ee-MAH-nee

Meaning

UNITY SELF DETERMINATION COLLECTIVE WORK AND RE-

SPONSIBILITY COOPERATIVE ECONOMICS

PURPOSE CREATIVITY

FAITH

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