As European countries battled to claim territories in America, the Spanish state — which is now known as Florida — became a haven for slaves who ran away from the British colonies. In 1738, a group of these escaped slaves created the first black town, called Fort Mose.
Read MoreBorn Henry Louis Aaron, baseball legend Hank Aaron swung his way into the history books in 1974. While the Atlanta Braves enjoyed the benefits of having the talented athlete on their team, actions off the field forced the conversation to transition from celebratory to cautionary. As Aaron’s star rose, so did racial tension, but on April 8, 1974, he hit his 715th home run and found himself as the all-time home run record holder for more than thirty years.
Read MoreMarcus Garvey was born in Jamaica and experienced the impacts of colonization at the hands of the British. As a result, he developed a passion for improving race relations and launched a Black Nationalism movement that would seek to elevate black people throughout the world.
Read MoreThe Obama vision was contagious and aspirational, although some considered him a long shot because of his minimal experience and because of his race. However, whenever he was met with opposition, he was able to exhibit a tone that spoke to people in a way that ushered in a change they could believe in. On November 4th, 2008, the United States elected him to become first black president. Obama would go on to serve two terms.
Read MoreThe landmark case Brown v. Board of Education declared that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional. However, for most black and white families, the decision was met with resistance and a court mandate didn’t mean things were going to change. Even as the NAACP intervened and busing orders were implemented, integrating schools seemed more like a wish than a sure thing.
Read MoreIn the early 1500s, a West African man named Juan Garrido joined the ranks of Spanish explorers who ventured out in hopes of discovering new parts of the world. With their sights set on locating the fountain of youth, Garrido and other travelers landed in what we now call Florida in 1513. He is now etched in the nation’s history as the first black man to step foot on American soil
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