Who is the real Uncle Ben's Rice?
Jack Johnson beat Tommy Burns to become the First Black man to win the World Heavyweight Championship title, December 26, 1908.
In the mid-1960s, the SNCC established “Freedom Schools” as temporary alternatives to traditional schools for Black children.
These schools taught standard subjects alongside Black history and social activism, attempting empowering Black students with knowledge and awareness. #freedomschool #blackhistory #school
Are you being watched?
In 1971, the FBI field office in Philadelphia was burglarized, bringing COINTELPRO into the public spotlight.
Following a series of highly publicized investigations, J. Edgar Hoover announced that the centralized version of the Counterintelligence Program would cease to exist. However, he stated that similar activities would continue on a case-by-case basis.
They never explicitly said they were going to stop; we simply assumed they did after the program was exposed. #blackpanthers
When Black GIs were stationed in Korea during the Korean War, they introduced Fried Chicken to the local Korean community.
The History of Black Cowboys
Sesame street has always had deep connections to Black culture and neighborhood of Harlem
In 1951, Hank Ketcham introduced the comic "Dennis the Menace," During the civil rights movement, Ketcham felt his comic could subtly address race and equality, introduing a Black Friend
She way through the highest echelons of society, but beneath this glamorous exterior, she was also one of World War II’s most daring and successful spies.
The Black Five
Basketball was invented by Dr. James Naismith in 1891, and its history intertwines with America's racial segregation. Initially, Black players were barred from mainstream professional leagues and college teams. In response, they formed the "Black Fives." At the time, teams were called “fives” in reference to their five starting players. These teams were supported by churches, clubs, and businesses, turning basketball games into social events. These events blended basketball with music, featuring advertisements such as “Basket Ball and Dance.”
This period, known as the Black Fives Era, saw the rise of notable teams like the New York Renaissance and the Harlem Globetrotters. The New York Renaissance, founded in 1923, was a standout team with an 83% win rate from 1923 to 1948. Meanwhile, the Harlem Globetrotters, founded in 1926, transitioned from competitive play to showcasing incredible skills through entertaining performances.
Without formal leagues, these teams traveled nationwide, capturing Black media attention and breaking racial barriers. Their legacy paved the way for future integration in the sport.
Introduced to Americans in the 17th century, collard greens thrived in the harsh winters of the South but were truly transformed by enslaved Africans. Collard were one of a few vegetables that enslaved Black folks were allowed to grow and harvest.
They turned this humble green, often seen as waste by their oppressors, into flavorful meals by simmering them with salt pork, ham hocks, or turkey necks to enhance the taste and texture.
The labor-intensive process, often involving cleaning, chopping, and slow simmering, is a preparation ritual passed down through generations and entwines stories of both struggle and success.
This is especially true during New Year’s Day, Southern folklore suggests that pairing collards with black-eyed peas and pork can bring luck and prosperity, with collard greens said to represent paper money. #blackcooking #blackfoodhistory #blackhistory #soulfood
