Gallery of Black American Achievers

February is Black History Month.  It has been celebrated every year in the United States since 1976.  We remember and recognize the achievements of African Americans and important events in African American History during this month.  There are many Black Americans who have made great accomplishments.  We will take a closer look at just a few of them who have earned respect for their great character traits and acheivements.

Mary McLeod Bethune was born in 1875.  She was a teacher and civil rights activist who started a school in Florida for black children.  In the beginning, Mary had no money to run the school, so she baked and sold pies, used wooden boxes as desks, and made ink from wild berry juice.  Mary displayed resourcefulness.  Other African American achievers in the field of education include Booker T. Washington, Benjamin E. Mays, and E. Franklin Frazier.

Born in 1889, John Lee Love was an inventor.  He invented the portable pencil sharpener that many artists use today.  The pencil is rotated by hand in the sharpener, with the shavings staying inside.  We still enjoy the benefits of his bright idea today.  John was inventive.  Some other Black American inventors you may be interested in learning about are Benjamin Banneker, George W. Carver, Garrett Morgan, Jan Ernst Matzeliger, and Lewis Howard Latimer.

Most of you are familiar with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Born in 1929, he was a Baptist minister and a leader of the civil rights movement in the United States.  King won the Nobel Peace Prize for his nonviolent approach to solving conflict.  Martin was peaceful.  Other African American leaders in the civil rights movement include Rosa Lee Parks, Fannie Lou Hamer, and Coretta Scott King.

Wilma Rudolph, born in 1940, is known as "a golden track star."  She worked tirelessly to overcome a handicap in her leg caused by polio.  Wilma became the first American woman to win three medals in track in a single year at the Olympic Games.  Wilma displayed determination.  You may like to investigate other great Black American athletes such as Jesse Owens, Jackie Robinson, Arthur Ashe, Althea Gibson, and Jackie Joyner-Kersee.

These are just a few of the African Americans who have achieved great things.  Perhaps you will be inspired to find out about many of the others in this Gallery of Black American Achievers.  You can use the "Biography Report Form" to organize the facts you learn and write about one of your favorites.  Celebrate Black History Month!