Black History Month 2023 Calendar

Black History Month 2023

Movements: Slavery (1619-1865) Reconstruction (1865 to 1877), Post-reconstruction-Jim Crow Laws (1877-1965), Redlining (1930s-present), Stop and Frisk (1968-present),Mass Incarceration-New Jim Crow (1970-present), War on Drugs (1971-present) and , Voter Suppression Laws ( from Black enfranchisement to present)

February 1 Harrie Tubma

(1822-1913)

February 2 Wilto Danie Gregor

(1947- )

Week 1

Abolitionist/ political activist/ part of the “Underground Railroad”

Catholic Priest/First African American Cardinal in the United States/ Archbishop of Washington, DC

February 3 Virgi Ablo

(1980-2021 )

February 4 Jacob Lawrenc

(1917-2000)

February 5 Katherin Johnso

(1918-2020)

American designer, DJ, entrepreneur, artistic director of Louis Vuitton

Painter/best known works, The Migration Series which depicts the migration of African-Americans from the rural south to the urban north.

“I was conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can't say I never ran my train off the track, and never lost a passenger ”

“I have to try to remind people on both sides of the barque of Peter that there is room for us all and that we are not the first generation of Catholics to experience serious theological and pastoral differences of opinion. In fact, from the New Testament, strong leaders within the church disagreed openly. Eventually, the truly great ones found ways to heal conflicts and keep the Lord's flock united.”

“When creativity melds together with global issues, I believe that you can bring the world together.”

Long Island’s underground RR: Underground railroad la…

NASA Mathematician/ provided calculations of orbital mechanics for first US space

“I’d like them to experience the beauty of life, the struggle, how people can overcome certain things that could be frustrating or very demeaning,” he explained “People have the capacity to overcome these obstacles by various means, and this is an example of that… I’m talking about people in general; I’d like it to be a universal statement.”

“Take all the courses in your curriculum Do the research Ask questions. Find someone doing what you are interested in! Be curious!”

Watch: Cardinal Gregory spoke at The National Press Club 9/21

Read the obituary

Watch Vimeo recording of HR meeting around diversity at Louis Vuitton

Watch: Jacob Lawrence: An Intimate Portrait, 1993

Watch: NASA Trailblazer: Katherine Johnson

February 6 Brya

Massingal

(1957- )

flights/Awarded Presidential Medal of Freedom

Catholic priest/author/ activist/ theologian

“Thomas Aquinas taught us that courage is the precondition of all virtue. Without courage.… We’re not able to be just, because courage is that virtue that allows us to surmount the fear that comes with the following of the Gospel. If we ’ re going to do anything that is difficult, there is going to be hesitation; there are ongoing obstacles and opposition, and the fear that those obstacles engender in us. Courage is that virtue that enables us to not be afraid.”

Watch: April, 2022, Fr. Massingale receiving the Robert M. Holstein Faith Doing Justice Award, given annually to individuals who have “demonstrated a significant commitment to leadership for social justice grounded in the spirituality of St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus ”

February 7 Id

B. Well

(1862-1931)

Journalist/ Anti-lynching activist/Women’s Suffragist

“The way to right wrongs is to turn the light of truth upon them.”

Week 2

February 8

Loi J. Curti

(1967-2022)

February 9 Mari Va

Britta Brow

(1922-1999)

Artist, activist for others with disabilities

““Institutional placement of persons perpetuates assumptions of incapable or unworthy” (Ruth Bader Ginsburg at Supreme Court ruling L.C. vs. Olmstead.)

Listen and watch: https://lynchinginamerica eji o rg/listen/doria-dee-johnson

Consider:

The lynching’s generational eects

Read about Lois in Feb. 9, 2021 publication “Center for Learner Equity”

Nurse/Inventor/ invented closed circuit TV initially for home security/Jamaica, Queens native

“Since 1993 property crime has fallen in the US by 69% thanks to the pioneering work of one woman: Marie Van Brittan Brown” UntoldEdu

Watch: Marie Van Brittan Brow

February 10 Joh Lewi (1940-2020)

Politician/Civil RightsActivist

February 11 Wilm Rudolp

(1940-1994)

February 12 urgoo Marshal

(1908-1993)

Polio survivor/ gold medal Olympian/ coach/ activist

“Get in good trouble, necessary trouble ”

“Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us. ”

Lawyer/activist/ argued Brown v Board of Education/ first Black Supreme Court Justice

“None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps – a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns –bent down and helped us pick up our boots ”

February 13 Damar Hamli (1998- )

February 14 Shawne DanielSyke, SSND (1960-2022 )

Buffalo Bills NFL football player, still recovering from cardiac arrest

Theology professor, Preacher, Health Care Ethicist, 2019 Black Excellence Award

“I am committed to impact my community”

In his own words, listen to https://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=5ayewOtuixI

Watch: Olympic records film clip -

Wilma Rudolph's Incredi…

Read (especially watch the clip included):

https://www.uscourts.gov/educ ational-resources/educationalactivities/justice-thurgood-ma rshall-profile-brown-v-board

Watch: Damar Hamlin First Annual Toy Drive VLOG

“I want all to know that they can achieve their life goals.”

Week 3

February 15 Bessi Colema

(1892-1926)

First Black/ Native American US female pilot/first Black international pilot/activist

“I refused to take no for an answer ”

Read her bio and achievements in her Obituary here and Shawnee Daniels-Sykes On the Roles, Faith, Socioeconomic Status, Race & Attitude Play in a Pancreatic Cancer Journey

Watch: scroll through article to clip

https://www womenshistory or g/education-resources/biogra phies/bessie-coleman

February 16

Mega Piphu

Peac

(1992- )

February 17 May

Angelo

(1797-1883)

Young woman ventriloquist; Sesame St puppeteer, performed on television shows Tu Si Que Vales (Italy), Die Puppenstars (Germany), and Showtime at the Apollo

“My goal was to have a theme, like perseverance, woven into every performance.”

Poet, writer, actress and activist “People will never forget how you made them feel.”

Watch her performance here and her About page here

February 18

Shirle Chishol

(1924-2005)

NY state politician/ educator/ author/ first Black candidate for major party nomination for President

”If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair.”

Read “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”. Enjoy her inauguration poem, “On the Pulse of Morning”

Write a Letter to the Editor. Newsday, for example: letters of 200 words or less on public policy issues to letters@newsday.com with “Just Sayin’” in the subject line or contact an elected ocial: How to Contact Your Elected Ocials

https://www usa gov/elected-o cials

February 19

Lewi H. Latimer

(1848-1928)

Inventor and innovator; expert draftsman; author of poetry and books; patent consultant; played the violin and flute, taught immigrants English and drafting; lived in Flushing, Queens.

“We create our future, by well improving present opportunities: however few and small they are”…

Watch “the accomplishments of Lewis Latimer”:

https://abc7ny.com/lewis-latimerblack-history-month-lightbulb-ne w-york-city/11589087/

February 20

Henriett Lack

(1920-1951)

Exploited for medical research/ “immortal cells” which have helped countless patients without

[T]he cell line named for her, HeLa (pronounced hee-lah), has been at the core of treatments for hemophilia, herpes, influenza,

Watch and reflect on the magnitude of the benefit to us (How might we honor the gifts

February 21 Chadwic Bema

(1976-2020)

the consent nor the knowledge of her family leukemia, and Parkinson’s disease as well as the polio vaccine, the cancer drug tamoxifen, chemotherapy, gene mapping, and in vitro fertilization

Award winning actor/ playwright/ played Jackie Robinson, James Brown, Thurgood Marshall, Black Panther

“I was raised in a sort of village. I have a huge family, and I think there is strength in that. It helped me to deal with some of the complications of living in the South because I always felt like I belonged, no matter what.”

Week 4

from unknown others?”): “The Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks” by Robin Bulleri

The immortal cells of H…

February 22 Audr Lord

(1934-1992)

February 23 Spik Le (1957- )

February 24 Jame Baldwi

(1924-1987)

NYC public school librarian/ feminist writer/ civil rights activist

Actor/ film director/ screenwriter/ professor

“Life is short and we must do what has to be done in the now ”

Watch one of his movies or Chadwick Boseman's Life Advice Consider advocating for or giving to one of the charities he supported: St Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital or Boys and Girls Clubs of Harlem or When We All Vote.

Watch Audre Lorde: the Theory of Dierence by Hailey Kemp:

Audre Lorde: The …

“I don't think my films are going to get rid of racism or prejudice. I think the best thing my films can do is provoke discussion.”

Writer, poet, activist, from NYC, passionate on the subject of racism

“The power of the white world is threatened whenever a black man refuses to accept the white world's definitions ”

Watch Trevor Noah’s interview with Spike Lee or the movie Malcolm X

Read Https://www.newyorker. com/magazine/1962/11/ 17/letter-from-a-region-i n-my-mind

or watch video of James Baldwin on Racism

February 25

Al Canad

(1950- )

February 26

Odett Holme

(1930-2008 )

First African American woman neurosurgeon/ “retired” to be chief of pediatric neurosurgery/ Sacred Heart, Pensacola

American singer, lyricist, classical training, Civil Rights activist

“If you want to be something, you have to perceive that something is possible.”

“You’re walking down life’s road, society’s foot is on your throat, every which way you turn you can’t get from under that foot. And you reach a fork in the road and you can either lie down and die or insist upon your life.”

February 27

Alvi Aile

(1931-1989)

Dancer, choreographer, director, founder of the American Dance Theatre, activist.

“ it was a birthday present for Alvin's mother. You see, she was coming from Texas to see her son ' s company and Alvin knew she'd be celebrating a birthday in New York In those days, none of us could shop at Tiffany or Bloomingdales, so Alvin decided the nicest present he could give his mother was a ballet ”

February 28

e Bowma, FSPA

(1937-1990 )

Granddaughter of slaves, only child of Methodist parents, her father a physician, her mother a teacher. At 12 she became a Catholic, inspired by the Catholic sisters who taught in her town in Mississippi PhD., lecturer, teacher, singer

“I think the difference between me and some people is that I'm content to do my little bit. Sometimes people think they have to do big things in order to make change. But if each one would light a candle we'd have a tremendous light.”

Read Dr Canady’s story in her own words: What It Meant to Me | Leaders & Best Impact

Watch her interview archived in the Library of Congress

Watch Cry created by Ailey for his mother or read more about it here or watch an excerpt from Revelations and share the activities included in this.

Watch: Going Home Like a Shooting Star: the Thea Bowman Story or her address to the USCCB (US Conference of Catholic Bishops)- she had the bishops locking arms and singing