Black History Throughout The Years

Editor’s Note: This article was edited for length. To see the full list with more achievements, visit www.stacker.com.

Black History Month is dedicated to celebrating the achievements and reflecting on the experiences of Black Americans. What began as a week in 1926 has blossomed into 28 days of remembrance and lessons.

In the face of historical oppression and inequality — slavery, Jim Crow laws, and the police violence that ignited the #BlackLivesMatter movement — African Americans have continuously fought for their rights, reaching countless milestones, achievements, and freedoms in doing so. While being forced to exist largely on the fringes of society, Black Americans nevertheless have made many significant contributions to the arts, education, politics, technology and numerous other fields.

Here are some of the significant achievements and moments in Black history, from 1919 to the modern era.

1919: Oscar Micheaux produces “The Homesteader”

Regarded as the first African American feature filmmaker, Oscar Micheaux produced the film version of his book "The Conquest" under the name "The Homesteader." This silent film featured an all-Black cast and touched on the issues of race relations during that era.

1921: “Shuffle Along” becomes the first major African American musical on Broadway

When "Shuffle Along" debuted on May 23, 1921, almost a decade had passed since an all-Black musical of any kind had graced a Broadway stage. The vaudeville-style play about a mayoral race launched the careers of Josephine Baker and Paul Robeson and is widely regarded as one of the first Black musicals to cross over to mainstream white audiences. As such, the musical's success signaled a change and dismantling of sorts of racial segregation in the Broadway theater world.

1922: Abolitionist Frederick Douglass' home becomes a national museum

In 1922, Cedar Hill, Frederick Douglass' home until his 1895 death, became a certified historical site. Among the preserved sites visitors can see during a visit is his "growlery," or man cave. Douglass would retreat to this private room with a stove, desk and bed whenever he wanted privacy to work on his writing.

1924: National Bar Association is founded

The National Bar Association was founded out of two movements — the Greenville Movement and the Convention of the Iowa Colored Bar Association — after numerous Black lawyers were denied membership in the American Bar Association. Today, the association has more than 84 chapters and represents more than 60,000 legal professionals.

1927: Floyd Joseph Calvin hosts first Black radio show

"Courier Hour" was the first radio talk show that highlighted African American issues. Calvin's work inspired countless podcasts today that exist with the same mission of highlighting Black voices and issues.

1928: First African American elected to Congress

Oscar Stanton De Priest began his political career in 1915 with a stint on the Chicago City Council. More than a decade later, he made history when he was tapped as the Republican candidate for a seat in the House of Representatives representing Illinois.

1936: Jesse Owens wins four gold medals at the Berlin Games

At the 1936 Berlin Games, track and field star Jesse Owens broke and equaled nine Olympic records, setting three world records. In so doing, Owens additionally thwarted Adolf Hitler's theory of white superiority.

1937: “Their Eyes Were Watching God” is published

Zora Neale Hurston's Black feminist classic, "Their Eyes Were Watching God," tells the story of Janie Crawford and her personal changes over the course of her three marriages. Dismissed by many upon its release (and out of print for nearly 30 years), Hurston's novel has become a crowning achievement about Black womanhood and the discovery of love.

1940: Hattie McDaniel wins an Academy Award

Hattie McDaniel made history as the first Black person to win an Academy Award for her role as Mammy in "Gone With the Wind." She came under fire at the time for her portrayal of a maid, but the defiant McDaniel famously retorted, saying she'd rather play a maid than serve as one in real life.

1947: 16 men embark on the “Journey of Reconciliation”

Sixteen Black and white men went on a direct-action bus trip that flipped racial structures on their heads: Black protesters sat at the front of the bus, while white protestors sat at the back. Protests like these served as a tangible representation of the power of hands-on activism.

1948: Desegregation of the U.S. Armed Forces

In a step to dissolve segregated racial lines, President Harry Truman signed an executive order to integrate the U.S. Armed Forces, effectively ending segregation across the military. There was significant pushback to the order, but by the end of the Korean War, most of the military was integrated.

1955: Read's Drug Store sit-ins begin

Local Black students of Morgan State College teamed up with the Committee on Racial Equality to stage a series of sit-in protests to desegregate the local lunch counter at Read's Drug Store in Baltimore, Maryland. The peaceful, five-day protest was a success — after losing significant business, the drug store vowed to serve all customers.

1957: Civil Rights Act of 1957

President Dwight Eisenhower signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1957 to protect civil rights, specifically Black voting rights. The act also established the Civil Rights Division in the Justice Department, giving federal officers the green light to prosecute those who deny or impede voter rights.

1963: “Letters from a Birmingham Jail” is published

In April 1963, Martin Luther King Jr. was arrested for leading a march urging the boycotting of white stores during the Easter holiday. A statement published by The Birmingham News prompted King to write a 7,000-word response forever remembered as "Letters from a Birmingham Jail."

1965: Malcolm X assassinated

Human rights activist Malcolm X committed his life to the advancement of Black people with his "by any means necessary" philosophy. After pivoting away from the Nation of Islam, he was gunned down in February 1965 by members of the same organization.

1971: Congressional Black Caucus is formed

Made up of mostly African American members of Congress, the Congressional Black Caucus has for the last 50 years been committed to ensuring Black Americans and other marginalized members of society have equal rights and opportunities. The caucus uses constitutional power, authority and finances to address pressing issues like reforming the criminal justice system, voter suppression and racial health disparities.

1974: Henry “Hank” Aaron hits his 715th home run

When Hank Aaron hit a home run in the fourth inning of a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, he surpassed Babe Ruth's home run record, cementing his position as one of the best in baseball.

1983: Vanessa Williams is crowned Miss America

Then 20-year-old Vanessa Williams made history by becoming the first Black Miss America. She would go on to reign for nearly 10 months before being forced to resign the title amid a photo scandal. Nevertheless, her star continued to rise as she transitioned to singer and actress.

1987: Dr. Ben Carson separates conjoined twins

Dr. Ben Carson was director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Medicine when he became the first person in history to separate twins conjoined at the head. The risky surgery took 22 hours and was considered by many to be a medical miracle.

1990: Lawrence Douglas Wilder becomes first elected Black governor

Nothing signals the changing times of the 1990s more than when Lawrence Douglas Wilder made history as the first elected African American governor.

1995: Million Man March is held in Washington, D.C.

Called on by Minister Louis Farrakhan, this mass meeting had the aim of changing the perception of Black manhood. The march has since gone down in history as a positive occasion of brotherhood and personal atonement, though some criticisms regarded the exclusion of women.

2008: Barack Obama becomes president of the United States

With the campaign slogan, "Yes we can," Senator Barack Obama became President Obama after defeating John McCain in the 2008 election.