Some people say, “history repeats,” others say “history does not repeat – it rhymes.” Either way, the past has a direct impact on current conditions and the future's outlook.
February’s recognition as Black History Month was always meant to be temporary. Its founder, Dr. Carter G. Woodson – who started the celebration as ‘Negro History Week’ in 1926 – aimed to honor past contributors to America’s success, and inspire the current generation of Black Americans to greatness by showing them their potential. Woodson also desired this targeted celebration to be a fleeting moment. His ultimate goal was to have all Americans, regardless of race, to honor the achievements of African Americans year-round, not for a single week nor month.
The City of Stonecrest’s Black History webpage honors Dr. Woodson’s wish. We post videos and links to current and past achievements by African-Americans.
Please view the videos and click on 'Discover More' to reveal more details of these phenomenal people and events which shaped the course of this country and the world!
Note: All videos/websites referenced herein are for informational purposes only. The City of Stonecrest does not endorse any particular organization that sourced the referenced material.
First African-American Woman to Serve on U.S. Supreme Court
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
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Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is the first African-American female judge confirmed to serve on the United States Supreme Court.
First African-American Man to Serve on U.S. Supreme Court - Thurgood Marshall
Judge Thurgood Marshall was the first African-American to preside on the United States Supreme Court.
First African-American Woman Judge in the United States - Jane Bolin
Among many achievements, Jane Bolin became the first African-American woman to graduate from Yale Law School and the first African-American woman judge in the United States.
First African-American Congresswoman - Shirley Chisholm
In 1972, Shirley Chisholm became the first African-American congresswoman in the United States House of Representatives.
Stem Cells Provide Medical Miracles Thanks to Her
Henrietta Lacks
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Anytime someone receives stem cells - anywhere in the world - they are receiving an African-American woman's DNA. Her name was Henrietta Lacks, and in 1951 she unwittingly donated her blood cells to research that gave birth to stem cells used in every application today.
Her Suffering - Reduced the Agony for All Women Giving Birth Today!
Anarcha Westcott
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Anarcha Westcott, an enslaved teenager, sacrificed her body and health to ensure today's safe gynecology practices. Around the 1840s Anarcha was forced into at least 30 gynecological surgeries without anesthetics in the pursuit of perfecting medical procedures. These 'perfected' surgeries were then performed, with anesthesia, on white women. Anarcha was not unique in this manner, as other enslaved women had similar procedures performed on them.
Did You Turn the House Alarm On?
Marie van Brittan Brown
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Today many of us take for granted the assurance a home security system provides. Let's take a moment to thank Marie van Brittan Brown, the African-American innovator who made it possible.
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