Famous African-American Influence

On November 9, 1731, in Ellicott’s Mills, MD, Mary Banneky gave birth to Benjamin Banneker. Benjamin was the son of an ex-slave named Robert, and his mother Mary was the daughter of an Englishwoman named Molly Welsh. The both of his parents were both freed slaves and he was luckily able to escape the torture of slavery as well. His ability to read was taught by his biological grandmother when she’d read him books. He also attended a Quaker school for a very short period of time, but was primarily self-educated. At an early age, he was able to execute making an irrigation system for his family’s farm. He was had the ability to create a wooden clock that was able to compute accurate time for more than 50 years until his passing.

African America were brought on a dutch ship that brought 20 African Americans to britain to work in the 1600s and in later years fight for rights(1).It started back in the 1700s slavery was now legal in the NorthWest territory and the United States(1).People started buying slaves and trading food for slaves to work on the farm fields(2).In 1793 a federal fugitive law was made that if you catch a runaway slave you have to bring it back to its owner(1).In 1793 Eli whitney’s invention of the cotton gin greatly increased slave labor(1).In 1849 Harriet Tubman escapes slavery and becomes one of the leaders of the underground railroad(1).In 1857 the Dred scott case holds thats congress do not have the right to ban slavery because they said african americans were not citizens(1).In 1896 Plessy V.S Ferguson this landmark Supreme Court decision holds the racial segregation is constitutional,paving the way for repressive Jim Crow laws in the South(1).

Introduction: In 1619, Jamestown, Virginia, African American were brought to North America to aid in production of crop such as tobacco. Slavery happened from 1619 through 1865. Eli Whitney, the inventor of the cotton gin was also invented 1793 and led slaves to great demand in the South. The cotton gin influenced the history of the United States.

Olaudah Equiano African-American history in an important piece of history and impacts the way the world reacts now based on particular situations. One piece that influenced today’s generation is the slave trade. From Africa to The United States slavery was originated by white people. The experience of slavery was frightening to many African-Americans.

Many people helped get african americans rights and slaves there freedom, there were 3 people who standed out the most in this disorder. The first person I am going to talk about is a women named Harriet Tubman she was born in maryland into a slave family. When she was around five she has suffered an injury due to a rock hiting her head for protecting a slave who was about to recieve punishment. She had suffered from unpredictibale black outs but that didn't stop her from becoming an abolitionist, she decided to escape her owner later on. She was deciding to escape on a saturday night because she knew that her owner couldn't put up a notice until monday morning. When she escaped she came up with different tactics to free the other slaves

African American’s first legal sight of freedom came in 1799 with the Gradual Emancipation of slaves that were born on or after 1799. Many whites against slavery helped with their efforts in bring the Gradual Emancipation’s approval. The Quakers were the first to help the slaves fight for freedom. The New York Manumission Society contributed the most for the emancipation of slaves, but let’s not give all the credit to the whites. Black efforts undeniably helped in the process of gradually abolishing slavery as well.

Duke Ellington is considered to be one of the most influential African-American composers of the twentieth century. He was a composer, bandleader, songwriter, and a musician.  Duke Ellington was born in Washington D.C on April 29, 1899 and died on May 24, 1974 in New York, New York. Often times,  Duke’s music was called “American Music” because it was for America, later his music was placed under the category of Jazz. After his death, Duke’s musical reputation was widely spread across America gaining more popularity.

Knowledge and understanding is key to success and that’s what African Americans developed over the previous battle with black codes. Blacks saw opportunity in adverse situation, such as overcoming black codes which led to overcoming sharecropping. Through that adverse situation, blacks created a way to go around the sharecropping system by eventually forming the “Colored Farmers National Alliance.” African Americans saw the opportunity to sponsor their own cooperative stores where members could obtain necessary goods and equipment at a reduced price, published newspapers to help educate

Abolition of the slavery in 1865 was clearly a landmark in the progress of black Americans once freed if they wanted the land, education and the rate in that order. Soon after the war southern states introduced the so called black men codes. Maldwyn Jones improved the living standards of African

The exploitation of African Americans in this country took on many forms through decades. The centuries of slavery in this country laid the foundation of our current relationship to America. From cotton fields to building America's most significant buildings African Americans have helped build the wealth

Slavery continued on during the late 1600s and the 1700s, and the African American slaves helped build the economic foundations of the new nation. One of the major inventions that assisted in the demand for more slaves was the cotton gin, invented by Eli Whitney in 1793.

After attending several events such as Founders Convocation and hearing Helen Smith Price, Jacque Reid, and Krystal Underwood speak, I was embraced by the presence of the knowledge of three powerful African American females and graduates from Clark Atlanta University. The legacy of “ Find a way or Make one” at Clark Atlanta University continues after leaving CAU and will go with you for the rest of your life, as shown by listening to the guest speakers talk about their accomplishments in life and how that were able to get to where they are today. Helen Smith Price, Jacque Reid, and Krystal Underwood have made me appreciate more of who I am as a person, my culture and the wonderful institution that I attend. The guest speakers for Founders

While Kylie Jenner’s faux dreadlocks for her ‘rebel-themed’ Teen Vogue photoshoot were described as beautiful, edgy, and raw by various style magazines, Zendaya Coleman’s dreadlocks she wore on the Oscars red carpet were described as making her look like she “smells like patchouli oil. Or, weed," by Fashion Police host Giuliana Rancic. America loves to appropriate black culture, even when black people themselves, don’t receive the same amount of love from America. From box braids to dashikis, black culture has been stolen by America and used for their own personal gain, disregarding the historical context and meaning of these traditions or blatantly perpetuating stereotypes.

Blacks in Science: Ancient and Modern by Ivan Van Sertima debunks the common accusations that Africans never invented anything and also veered away from mathematics because it was too complex for our understanding. Dr. Sertima’s speech was very insightful, I was unaware of the numerous amount of inventions/discoveries created by Africans. I believe this is due to the history taught in school systems; black history is never stressed it is more so overlooked. Nevertheless, I was reluctant to believe Africans had accomplished as much as they did. Every history class that I’ve taken has never went into detail about the history of Africans or even a famous inventor, scientist, or writer such as Langston Hughes.

African American influence in music has been an ever present and controversial subject in American history. Stemming from many different cultures, religions and backgrounds, large portions of American music was introduced by, and credited to African Americans. Although in many cases, this music was used for entertainment by the masses or majority, contrary to popular belief, black music served a greater purpose than just recreation. Dating all the way back to the beginning of slavery in the U.S. during the 17th century, music has been used to make a statement and send a message. As African American music progressed over the years, there were common themes expressed as the genres evolved. It has been an open letter to the world, documenting and protesting the ongoing oppression faced by blacks in the United States, as well as an outlet for frustration. For many African Americans, the music gave them the only voice that couldn’t be silenced by their oppressors.