The American Civil Rights Movement

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Black History Month from Chiff.com. Comprehensive explanation of BHM, with links to bios of famous African-Americans.

 

 

Frederick Douglass (1818 - 1895)

He was an escaped slave who taught himself to read and write.
He was the best known black abolitionist. He was the voice
of the slaves, "gaining note for his dazzling oratory and
incisive antislavery writings."
He stood as a living counter-example to slaveholders'
arguments that slaves lacked the intellectual capacity
to function as independent American citizens.
Even many Northerners at the time found it hard to believe
that such a great orator had once been a slave."
After the Civil War, he wrote and spoke in support of
women's civil rights, especially their right to vote.
Here is an autobiographical site from Rochester, N.Y.
timeline of Frederick Douglass and family It's full
of grammatical and spelling errors, but also full of facts
for student researchers.

 

 

 

Maya Angelou was an American author, poet, and civil rights activist. She published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, and several books of poetry, and was credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. (Wikipedia)
Maya Angelou/Quotes
I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.
There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.
If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude.
All my work, my life, everything I do is about survival, not just bare, awful, plodding survival, but survival with grace and faith. While one may encounter many defeats, one must not be defeated.

 

 

Harriet Tubman Conductor on the Underground Railroad, Civil War veteran,

fighter for women's rights. Read her biography, see more photos!

Click the images below to find out more.

 

 

 

Bessie Coleman She came up from a sharecropper family
in east Texas. She was of African-American and Cherokee ancestry.
She pulled herself up by her own hard work to become the first
woman of African American descent, and the first of Native
American descent, to hold a pilot license. Bessie was not
allowed to earn a pilot's license in America because she was
not white and she was a woman. She had to go to France to learn
to fly, at a famous French flying school. She was the first black
female in the world to be a licensed pilot. Read the links below to
learn more about her, her dreams, and her tragic death.

http://womenshistory.about.com/od/aviationpilots/a/bessie_coleman.htm
http://www.bessiecoleman.com/
http://www.biography.com/people/bessie-coleman-36928
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bessie_Coleman

 

Remembering ‘Red Summer,’ when white mobs massacred
Blacks from Tulsa to D.C., 1919-1923

Bonus: History.com 's article on the Tulsa Massacre.
“It was an intentional use of violence against African Americans.
The motivation was to punish African Americans for economic
success and take it away. In Tulsa, they burned it to the ground.”
"Fire and fury fueled massacres in at least 26 cities, including
Washington, D.C.; Chicago; Omaha; Elaine, Arkansas;
Charleston, South Carolina; Columbia, Tennessee; Houston;
and Tulsa, Oklahoma."
“During the massacres, they murdered and maimed people
indiscriminately, unprovoked. They went into homes, stole
personal belongings, and burned down homes. They used the
massacres as a cover to murder without sanction, maim without
sanction, and steal without sanction. No one, to this day,
has been held accountable.” WARNING: Not for younger students.
Secondary only. Graphic photos and text.

 

From WW2 Colourised Photos
United States Navy Seabees from the segregated 17th Special Naval Construction Battalion await orders to move up to the southeastern promontory of Peleliu to act as stretcher bearers for the 7th Marines.

So many bodies crowded Ngarmoked that African-American Marines of the 16th Field Depot were detailed to bury the dead and retrieve the wounded.
Corporal Edward Andrusko, I Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, tried to find reinforcements and stretcher bearers.He later wrote, "Our trio set out to find help. We visited several headquarters command posts, and various rear special units, seeking assistance, but none was available.
Our Top Sergeant tried to influence his friends to get our company help, but there just wasn't any. A young black American sergeant overheard our plight, walked up and said, 'I heard you all were looking for troop replacements or supply help. We are from the Marine Ammunition Depot Company and have had some infantry training.' Our Top Sergeant looked a little stunned and speechless. The races were so completely segregated during this era that we had no idea who these black servicemen were. The Top cleared his throat and asked, 'Who are you? Are you Army, Navy, Seabees, or what?' 'Top Sergeant, I am a U. S. Marine Sergeant. My men on this beach are all US Marines!
'Our Top Sergeant appeared very puzzled. How could he bring in an all-black unit to rescue wounded members of a Line company that was part of the famous 'All-White' First Marine Division?
By now, the volunteers had heavily armed themselves and lined up behind their Sergeant who insisted we lead the way to the front lines.I heard our seasoned Top Sergeant say, 'Well, don't say I didn't warn you!' When we reached our mauled company area, it looked like General Custer's Last Stand. The Top Sergeant came upon our company's new replacement officer in command and said, 'Sir, I have a platoon of Black ...I mean a platoon of Marine volunteers who came to help.' The young new Commanding Officer said, 'Thank God. Thank you, men. Sergeant, take over. Get our wounded and dead out.' We gave covering fire and watched in awe as our gallant volunteers did their job. Some of these new men stoically held a casualty stretcher gently in one hand as 'true angels of mercy'. Then, when necessary, they would fire an automatic weapon with the other hand, while breaking through the surrounding enemy. One badly wounded white Southerner said, 'I felt like I was saved by the Black Angels sent by God. Thank you. Thank you all!"

Madame C.J. Walker

Entrepreneur, philanthropist, and civil rights advocate
Madam C.J. Walker -- who famously became the first
female self-made millionaire in America -- was born in
1867. Born as Sarah Breedlove in Delta, Louisiana,
Walker was the first child in her family born into freedom
following the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation;
Walker's parents and elder siblings had been slaves on
the Madison Parish plantation. Orphaned by age 7, Walker
was married and then widowed by the time she was 20.
Seeking more opportunities for herself and her young daughter,
Walker moved to St. Louis where she began experimenting
with home remedies to treat scalp diseases. Due to a widespread
lack of indoor plumbing and infrequent bathing, many people at
the time, including Walker, suffered from scalp diseases and hair
loss. Over time, she developed her own line of hair products
especially designed to meet the needs of black women and
founded the Madam C. J. Walker Manufacturing Company.

To promote her hair products, she embarked on a sales drive
throughout the South, holding demonstrations and selling her
goods door to door. In 1908, she opened a college in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania to train "hair culturists." Within two years, she moved
to Indianapolis to set up her national headquarters and began
training other African American women in setting up their own
businesses, often as licensed Walker Agents selling her line of hair
care products. At its peak, her company employed over 3,000 people.
Walker was active in the social and political issues of the day,
including joining leaders of the NAACP in their efforts to make lynching
a federal crime. She also made many financial contributions to help
support African American schools, organizations, orphanages, and
retirement homes, among them the largest contribution to preserve
the Washington, DC home of the famous abolitionist Frederick Douglass.
By the time of her death at age 51, this pioneering businesswoman
had become the first American woman to become a self-made millionaire.
Well-known for both her diligence and perseverance, Walker once stated,
"There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have
not found it - for if I have accomplished anything in life it is because I
have been willing to work hard."
For an inspiring book to introduce young readers to Walker's incredible
life story, we recommend "Vision of Beauty: The Story of Sarah Breedlove
Walker" for ages 7 to 10 at https://www.amightygirl.com/vision-of-beauty
Older teen and adult readers can learn more about Walker's life in two
biographies: "On Her Own Ground: The Life and Times of Madam C.J.
Walker" (http://amzn.to/1FpmjTu) and "The Black Rose"
(http://amzn.to/1xSCo1J).
For readers ages 12 and up, Walker and her daughter are featured in a
book of poems about famous women and their daughters, "Borrowed Names"
at https://www.amightygirl.com/borrowed-names
She is also one of 21 pioneering women featured in the fascinating book
"She Did It! 21 Women Who Changed the Way We Think" for ages 10 and
up at https://www.amightygirl.com/she-did-it
For children's books about more trailblazing African-American women, visit
our blog post "75 Books about Extraordinary Black Mighty Girls and Women"
at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=14276

BLACK HISTORY MINI DOCS – Annie Malone (Video)

Annie Turnbo Malone was C. J. Walker's boss, mentor, and a millionaire
businesswoman in her own right. "One of the first black women to reach
millionaire status did so by launching a hair care empire — and her name
wasn’t Madam C.J. Walker. Entrepreneur Annie Turnbo Malone reached this
milestone at the end of World War I, and she just so happened to give
beauty mogul Walker her start in the cosmetics industry."
From her biography at the State Historical Society of Missouri:
“Annie Turnbo Malone’s legacy as a pioneer in the African American beauty
and cosmetic business has largely been overshadowed by the success of her
former employee, Madam CJ Walker. This is beginning to change,however,
and Malone is now being recognized for her role in launching the industry.”
A well-researched and detailed Wikipedia biography is also available.

 

The True Story of "Hidden Figures," the Forgotten Women Who
Helped Win the Space Race Includes a preview of the movie. This
Smithsonian article says it all. "A new book and movie document the
accomplishments of NASA’s black “human computers” whose work was
at the heart of the country’s greatest battles" They battled race
discrimination as well as the social mores of the 1950s. Women who
got married were supposed to quit their jobs and raise kids.
Blacks could not find places to live and had separate bathrooms and
lunch tables. This is a well-written article and covers a lot of ground.
Young people need to know about this.

 

Benjamin O. Davis, Sr.

Brigadier General Benjamin Oliver Davis, Sr.
(1877 or 1880 – November 26, 1970) was
the first African-American general officer
in the United States Army. This old-time
cavalryman served in the Spanish-American
War and in both World Wars. He was the
father of Air Force General Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.

 

Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr.
(December 18, 1912 – July 4, 2002)
was an American United States Army,
and (after 1947) Air Force general. He
wrote history as the commander of the
World War II Tuskegee Airmen, the
formidable Red Tails. Fighter pilot and
leader of fighter pilots in WW II and Korea.

See more photos here ("Original Tuskegee Airmen"),
and more art here.

 

The Tuskegee Airmen were not the only ones
making history at Tuskegee Army Air Field (TAAF)
in Tuskegee, Alabama, during the 1940s.
The nurses who served on the base had to fight
gender as well as racial discrimination.

Thank you!! We salute and honor your contributions
to the profession today and every day.

#BlackHistoryMonth #NursingHistory #TBT

Photo Credit: Historical African-American Images

 

 

Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr. General, USAF

One of the Tuskegee Airmen who went on to become the first
African-American four-star general in the USAF. Bomber pilot in WW II.
Fighter pilot, Korea and Vietnam. He once faced down Libyan dictator
Quadaffi and almost had a gunfight!
“One day Khadafy ran a column of half tracks through my base—right
through the housing area at full speed. I shut the barrier down at the
gate and met Khadafy a few yards outside it. He had a fancy gun and
a holster and kept his hand on it. I had my .45 in my belt. I told him
to move his hand away. If he had pulled that gun, he never would have
cleared his holster. They never sent any more half tracks.”

 

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“Black Death” – Henry Johnson – American’s First World War Hero

The 369th Infantry Regiment, the “Harlem Hellfighters”, was an all-black segregated outfit
that went to France in WW I. The fanatically racist US Army deliberately and systematically
abused and humiliated the men of the 369th because black.
The French Army took them in and equipped them. They were given French rifles and helmets,
and stationed in the trenches. One night, Johnson and a friend were attacked at 2AM
by German raiders. The two Americans chased away the German survivors after
a spectacular fight. Both of them were badly hurt. Johnson was shot or stabbed 21 times!

"The whole French force in the region gathered to see Johnson and Roberts awarded
the Croix du Guerre, the county’s highest military honor. They were the first U.S. soldiers
ever to earn this distinction. Johnson’s medal was further adorned with the Gold Palm."
Back in America, the 369th had their own victory parade. They were not allowed to march
with the white soldiers, because black. Almost 100 years later, President Obama awarded
Johnson the well-deserved Medal of Honor. The US Army never game him any medals
or veterans' benefits, because black. You should read the whole article.

A 1946 biographical cartoon of Henry Johnson created by Charles Alston

 

 

 

"For distinguished devotion to duty, extraordinary courage and disregard for his own personal safety during the attack on the Fleet in Pearl Harbor, Territory of Hawaii, by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941. While at the side of his Captain on the bridge, Miller, despite enemy strafing and bombing and in the face of a serious fire, assisted in moving his Captain, who had been mortally wounded, to a place of greater safety, and later manned and operated a machine gun directed at enemy Japanese attacking aircraft until ordered to leave the bridge."

 

The legacy of Doris Miller. Fighting off kamikaze attacks:

Below: "Crew members: Jonell Copeland, AtM2/c; Que Gant, StM;
Harold Clark, Jr., StM; James Eddie Dockery, StM;
Alonzo Alexander Swann, StM; and Eli Benjamin, StM were given
the Navy Cross for standing by their gun when their ship was
damaged by enemy attack in the Philippine area, ca. 1945"
Translation: This gun crew defended their ship against kamikazes.
When their ship was hit, they did not abandon ship, but stayed at
their post, and kept shooting back.
Every one of these sailors got the Navy Cross.

 

Major General Charles Calvin Rogers, USA
(Wearing his Lt Col rank) Medal of Honor, VietNam, 1968

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, March 3, 1863, has awarded in the name of The Congress the Medal of Honor to Lieutenant Colonel Charles C. Rogers, United States Army, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty.

"Lieutenant Colonel Charles C. Rogers, Field Artillery, distinguished himself by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action on 1 November 1968, while serving as Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 5th Artillery, 1st Infantry Division during the defense of a forward fire support base in the Republic of Vietnam. In the early morning hours, the fire support base was subjected to a concentrated bombardment of heavy mortar, rocket, and rocket propelled grenade fire. Simultaneously the position was struck by a human wave ground assault, led by sappers who breached the defensive barriers with bangalore torpedoes and penetrated the defensive perimeter. Colonel Rogers with complete disregard for his own safety moved through the hail of fragments from bursting enemy rounds to the embattled area. He aggressively rallied the dazed artillery crewmen to man their howitzers and he directed their fire on the assaulting enemy. Although knocked to the ground and wounded by an exploding round, Colonel Rogers sprang to his feet and led a small counterattack force against an enemy element that had penetrated the howitzer positions. Although painfully wounded a second time during the assault, Colonel Rogers pressed the attack killing several of the enemy and driving the remainder from the positions. Refusing medical treatment, Colonel Rogers reestablished and reinforced the defensive positions. As a second human wave attack was launched against another sector of the perimeter, Colonel Rogers directed artillery fire on the assaulting enemy and led a second counterattack against the charging forces. His valorous example rallied the beleaguered defenders to repulse and defeat the enemy onslaught. Colonel Rogers moved from position to position through the heavy enemy fire, giving encouragement and direction to his men. At dawn the determined enemy launched a third assault against the fire base in an attempt to overrun the position. Colonel Rogers moved to the threatened area and directed lethal fire on the enemy forces. Seeing a howitzer inoperative due to casualties, Colonel Rogers joined the surviving members of the crew to return the howitzer to action. While directing the position defense, Colonel Rogers was seriously wounded by fragments from a heavy mortar round which exploded on the parapet of the gun position. Although too severely wounded to physically lead the defenders, Colonel Rogers continued to give encouragement and direction to his men in the defeating and repelling of the enemy attack. Colonel Rogers' dauntless courage and heroism inspired the defenders of the fire support base to the heights of valor to defeat a determined and numerically superior enemy force. His relentless spirit of aggressiveness, conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity in action at the risk of his own life above and beyond the call of duty are in the highest traditions of the military service and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit and the United States Army."

1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery is the oldest Regular Army unit on active duty.
Alexander Hamilton, a founding father of the United States, was its first Commanding Officer during the Revolutionary War.
Charles C. Rogers, Officer Commanding, Firebase Rita, 1 Nov 1968, kept the faith.

 

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Martin Luther King, Jr. Research and Education Institute of Stanford University. Arguably the best MLK resource site, this one has everything.

 

Martin Luther King Speeches - Excerpts from King's most famous addresses. From infoplease

 

"I Have a Dream" speech, text and audio, from American Rhetoric.

 

"I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech, text and audio, from American Rhetoric.

 

 

Here are three links to information about Rosa Parks:

Biography for kids from Ducksters (great series of sites, BTW)

 

Rosa Parks from Wikipedia - harder for kids to read, but good

 

Remembering Rosa Parks on Her 100th Birthday Excellent bio video from Biography.com.

 

 

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Civil Rights Movement Veterans "This website is created by Veterans of the Southern Freedom Movement (1951-1968). It is where we tell it like it was, the way we lived it, the way we saw it, the way we still see it. With a few minor exceptions, everything on this site was written, created, or spoken by Movement activists who were direct participants in the events they chronicle. To meet our mission, we provide:

 

But wait, there's more! For Students "This website is about the Civil Rights Movement of 1951-1968. Many of us who were active in the Civil Rights Movement prefer to call it the "Southern Freedom Movement." Whatever name you use, this was the period of protests and political struggles in the South to win freedom from race-based oppression and exploitation, end racial segregation, and win voting rights for all regardless of race. Almost everything on this site was written by a veteran of the Southern Freedom Movement. This is where we who were there tell it like it was in our own words.
While students are welcome and encouraged to use all parts of this site, the following sections may be the most useful to you:"