Black History Fact! Dr. Charles R. Drew (1904-1950) was a heart surgeon who invented blood transfusions, blood storage, and brought his blood storage concept to the Red Cross.

The Greensboro Four were four young black men who staged the first sit-in at Greensboro: Ezell Blair Jr., David Richmond, Franklin McCain and Joseph McNeil. All four were students from NC A&T and refused to leave after being denied service.

Black History Fact! In 2009, Barack Obama became the first African-American president in U.S. history. He occupied the White House for two consecutive terms, serving from 2009 to 2017.

Black History Fact! Hiram Rhodes Revels was a Republican U.S. Senator in 1863, minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church, and a college administrator. Born free in North Carolina, he later lived and worked in Ohio, where he voted before the Civil War!

Black History Fact! Joseph (Jojo) Smith 1938-2019 For over 60 years Smith was one of the top dance instructors and was known as “the choreographer of stars” within the industry. The NY native worked on 8 different Broadway productions and taught a number of famous entertainers.

Black History Month Fact! Mae Carol Jemison became the first African American woman to travel space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12th, 1992.

Black History Fact ! Malcolm X's birth name was Malcolm Little. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, on May 19, 1925 to Earl and Louise Little. Both his parents were admirers of the Black nationalist, Marcus Garvey.

Black History Fact ! Anna Murray was the first African American woman to be ordained as an Episcopal priest.

Black History Month Fact! Thurgood Marshall was the first African American ever appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court. He was appointed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, and served on the court from 1967 to 1991.

Black History Fact! John Mercer Langston was the first black man to become a lawyer. He passed the bar in Ohio in 1854. When he was elected to the post of Town Clerk for Brownhelm, Ohio, in 1855 Langston became one of the first African Americans ever elected to public office.

Black History Fact ! Jackie Robinson was born in Cairo, Georgia. Twenty-eight years later, he broke the baseball color line and became the first African American to play on a major sports team.

Black History Fact ! M.C. Harney, an African American inventor, invented the lantern lamp, which replaced the use of candles as the primary source of lighting when daylight was unavailable. His device was patented on August 19, 1884.

Black History Fact! In 1895, W.E.B Du Bouis became the first African American to earn a Ph.D from Harvard University. He wrote extensively and was the best known spokesperson for African-American rights during the first half of the 20th century. He co-founded the NAACP in 1909.

Black History Fact! Satchel Paige was the top pitcher in baseball’s Negro League.  He became one of the first African Americans to play major league baseball and continued pitching for over a span of 40 years. He was named the first black player in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Black History Fact! Shawna Rochelle Kimbrell is a Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force, and the first female African-American fighter pilot in the history of that service. She flew the F-16 Fighting Falcon during combat missions in Operation Northern Watch.

Black History Fact Dr. John H. Morrow Sr. This Alpha man and teacher was the first US ambassador to the Republic of Guinea from 1959-1961. He then left to serve as the first American representative for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Black History Fact! Josephine Baker (an American-born French entertainer, activist) was a spy for the French during WWII.

Black History Fact! Mary Edmonia Lewis (c. July 4, 1844 – September 17, 1907) was an American sculptor who worked for most of her career in Rome, Italy. Born free in New York, she was the first African American woman to achieve major recognition as a sculptor of fine arts.

Black History Month Fact! The celebration of Black History Month began as “Negro History Week,” which was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator, and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976.

Hit your favorite Alpha up for your $5 ticket!