This Black History month we salute African Americans who made and continue to make, American history.

The years 1735, 1738, and 1807 is believed to be the birthday of Prince Hall, founder of Prince Hall Freemasonry.

Prince Hall-youtube
Prince Hall-youtube
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Prince Hall, was a free man, voter, slavery abolitionist, leader in the free black community in Boston, and Revolutionary War Veteran. He lobbied for education rights for black children and was active in the back-to-Africa movement. He is the founder of the oldest, and most prestigious fraternity in the U.S., Prince Hall Freemasonry. On March 6, 1775. Prince Hall along with 14 other men of color, formed the African Masonic Grand Lodge #1 of North America. Hall was unanimously elected Grand Master and served until his death in 1807.
To this day no one really knows about his personal history. There's little to no records of the year or place he was born, who his parents were, nor whether or not he was married or had children. It's believed the confusion comes from the fact that there were a lot of men with the same name. Thankfully his accomplishments were well noted.
Prince Hall Mason-Facebook
Prince Hall Mason-Facebook
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Maria W. Stewart-wikimedia
Maria W. Stewart-wikimedia
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1833 Maria W. Steward became the first woman, of any race, to lecture on politics in public.

Maria W. Steward was a domestic servant, turned teacher, journalist, lecturer, abolitionist, and women's rights activist. Steward delivered one of the four speeches on this day, at the African Masonic Hall in Boston.to a mixed crowd of men and woman. Steward's most notable being, On African Rights and Liberty. She would not only be the first woman to do so, but the first African American as well.  Her lectures encouraged African Americans to seek education, fight for their political rights, and get public recognition for their achievements.

 

Below learn more about her story.

In 1869 John Willis Menard became the first Black elected to the U.S. Congress

1869 newspaper image of John W. Menard-youtube
1869 newspaper image of John W. Menard-youtube
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John Willis was a poet, newspaper publisher and politician of Louisiana Creole heritage. He was born free in Illinois. After moving to his parents native birth place, New Orleans, he took on several jobs to include working as a federal government employee, and newspaper publisher. In 1868 he was the first black man ever elected to the United States House of Representatives.

He was a member of the Republican Party(during this time all blacks were Republicans,) serving as inspector of customs and later commissioner of streets. Menard would be denied a seat in Congress. His opponent contested his election, and opposition to his election prevented him from being seated. Below learn more about his story.

In 1871 Menard moved to Florida, where he was appointed to the Florida House of Representatives. He would later become editor of two publications/newspapers, the Island City News and Southern Leader.  Menard ran for re-election to his office, but lost greatly due to white intimidation and voter suppression. However in 1877 he ran for Duval County justice of the peace, and he won. He died on Oct. 8, 1893 at age 55, in Washington, D.C.

In 1902 on this day Marian Anderson, a world-renowned opera singer, became the first African American soloist to perform at the White House.

Marion Anderson-youtube
Marion Anderson-youtube
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Marian Anderson, was is born in Philadelphia, PA. Below is a video of her singing in front of the Lincoln Memorial.

In 1964 Anna Julia Cooper, American author, educator, speaker, died at the age of 105.

Youtube
Youtube
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Anna Julia Cooper was one of the most prominent African-American scholars in United States history. She was also a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. Her most notable speech was delivered at the World's Congress of Representative Women in Chicago in 1893 (she was one of three black women invited to speak).

Anna Julia Cooper stamp-youtube
Anna Julia Cooper stamp-youtube
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At age of sixty-five, she became the fourth black woman in American history to earn a Doctorate of Philosophy degree.  On this day in 1964, she died at the ripe old age of 105. Her memorial was held in a chapel on the campus of Saint Augustine's College, where her academic career began. She was buried alongside her husband, at the City Cemetery in Raleigh.

Believe it or not, pages 26 and 27, of every new United States passport, contains her following  quotation: "The cause of freedom is not the cause of a race or a sect, a party or a class - it is the cause of humankind, the very birthright of humanity."  Because of her contributions, in 2009, the United States Postal Service, released a commemorative stamp in Cooper's honor.

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