Unsung Heroes: Honoring The Legacy of 5 Unsung Heroes of Black History
Many untold stories enrich the diversity of black history. However, widespread celebrations of the struggles and achievements of prominent figures like the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela and numerous other essential but lesser-known figures have also made their mark on black history in unique ways.
In this article, we will uncover five hidden gems of black history, shining a light on some of the lesser-known stories that have helped shape the course of history.
Starting with the story of Robert Purvis, an abolitionist, and activist who worked hard to end slavery, we will learn more about the lives of five lesser-known black figures who made a lasting impact in their fields.
Robert Purvis: Abolitionist and Activist
Robert Purvis was an American abolitionist and activist who played a significant role in the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses that helped escaped enslaved people reach freedom.
Purvis was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1810. He became well-known in Philadelphia as a leader of the movement to end slavery. He worked to end slavery through political activism and lobbying. He was also a close ally of William Still, a fellow abolitionist and "conductor" on the Underground Railroad.
Even though people were against him and tried to hurt him, Purvis kept fighting to end slavery until he died in 1898. As we move on from Robert Purvis, we come to the story of Biddy Mason, a formerly enslaved person who became famous as a businesswoman and giver of money.
Robert Purvis was an American abolitionist and activist who played a significant role in the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses that helped escaped enslaved people reach freedom.
Biddy Mason: Entrepreneur and Philanthropist
Biddy Mason was once enslaved. In the 1800s, she moved to Los Angeles, became a successful businesswoman, and gave money to good causes. Born in Georgia in 1818, Mason was brought to California as an enslaved person and worked as a nurse and midwife.
After gaining her freedom in 1856, she used her nursing skills and entrepreneurial spirit to build a substantial real estate portfolio and become one of the wealthiest African American women of her time.
Mason was also a deeply religious Christian who used her money to help many good causes, like starting the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles. Biddy Mason became a successful businesswoman and civic leader in 19th-century Los Angeles.
She built on her success as a formerly enslaved person, nurse, and midwife. Like Robert Church Sr. in Memphis, Tennessee, she was also generous and entrepreneurial.
Biddy Mason was once enslaved. In the 1800s, she moved to Los Angeles, became a successful businesswoman, and gave money to good causes. Born in Georgia in 1818, Mason was brought to California as an enslaved person and worked as a nurse and midwife.
Robert Church Sr.: Businessman and Civic Leader
Robert Church Sr. was a businessman and civic leader who played a pivotal role in the growth and development of Memphis, Tennessee, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Born in slavery in 1839, Church worked his way up from humble beginnings to become one of the city's most influential figures.
He was a successful entrepreneur who owned several businesses, including a hotel, a theater, and a park. He was also a philanthropist who gave generously to various causes, including education and housing for African Americans.
Church was also a political activist who used his influence to advocate for civil rights and worked to bridge the divide between black and white communities in Memphis.
Benjamin "Pap" Singleton was a leader in the Great Migration. He inspired and guided hundreds of African Americans to move to the North in search of new economic and political opportunities. He did this by carrying on the work of Robert Church Sr., who worked to bring black and white communities together.
Robert Church Sr. was a businessman and civic leader who played a pivotal role in the growth and development of Memphis, Tennessee, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Benjamin "Pap" Singleton: Pioneer of the Great Migration
Benjamin "Pap" Singleton was a formerly enslaved person who became a pioneering figure in the Great Migration, the movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Born in Kentucky in 1809, Singleton was enslaved until the end of the Civil War. Upon gaining his freedom, he relocated to Tennessee, advocating for black land ownership. He moved to Kansas, started a few towns only for black people, and helped hundreds of other African Americans move north.
Singleton's work gave African Americans new economic and political opportunities. It made it easier for future generations to follow their dreams.
While Benjamin "Pap" Singleton was paving the way for African Americans in the Great Migration, Zora Neale Hurston made her mark as a writer, anthropologist, and folklorist, preserving and celebrating the rich cultural heritage of African Americans through her work.
Benjamin "Pap" Singleton was a formerly enslaved person who became a pioneering figure in the Great Migration, the movement of African Americans from the rural South to the urban North in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Zora Neale Hurston: Writer, Anthropologist, and Folklorist
Zora Neale Hurston was a talented writer, anthropologist, and folklorist who did much for African American culture and literature.
Born in Alabama in 1891, she was exposed to the rich oral tradition of African American folk culture in her small all-black community in Florida, where she grew up. This experience affected her later work as an anthropologist, where she tried to record and keep African American stories, customs, and beliefs.
As a writer, Hurston is most famous for her novel "Their Eyes Were Watching God," which was published in 1937. This book is a classic of African American literature, taught in many schools and colleges.
Hurston's writing is known for being lyrical and full of imagination. It also celebrates African American folk culture and traditions.
In addition to her writing, Hurston was also a pioneering anthropologist. She did a lot of fieldwork in the American South, the Caribbean, and Haiti. She talked to African Americans and people from other groups to get their stories, songs, and beliefs. Her work in anthropology was vital and helped make it possible to study African American culture and folklore.
Along with Robert Purvis, Biddy Mason, Robert Church Sr., and Benjamin "Pap" Singleton, Hurston is a testament to the rich tapestry of black history, made up of the lives and contributions of people who have helped shape the course of history and left a legacy for future generations to cherish.
Zora Neale Hurston was a talented writer, anthropologist, and folklorist who did much for African American culture and literature.
Conclusion
In the end, black history is a rich tapestry made up of the lives and contributions of many people, some of whom are well-known and some are not. The five "hidden gems" of black history that this article discusses are just a few examples of how black people have made significant contributions to history.
From Robert Purvis, an abolitionist, and activist who worked to end slavery, to Biddy Mason, an entrepreneurial philanthropist, to Robert Church Sr., a businessman and civic leader, to Benjamin "Pap" Singleton, a pioneer of the Great Migration, and finally to Zora Neale Hurston, a talented writer, anthropologist, and folklorist, each of these figures helped to shape the course of history and make a lasting impact in their respective fields.
Even though they faced problems and setbacks, these people kept going. They left a legacy that continues to inspire people today.
Black history is a rich tapestry made up of the lives and contributions of many people, some of whom are well-known and some are not.
How The Cosby Show Changed My Life
The Cosby Show was a significant part of my young adult years.
The purpose of this post is not to debate Bill Cosby's legacy of legal troubles but to share how his show changed my life. It impacted me in a way I didn't really understand until I got older and saw how it changed how we looked at African-Americans on TV.
It gave me hope for what life could be like as a Black man. As an adult, it has inspired me to create my own world with positivity and laughter. Today's post will focus on 2 ways this show changed my life:
- My view of myself.
- My view of others.
The Cosby Changed My View of Myself
The Cosby Show was unlike anything that had come before on TV. It seemed to be ushering in a new era of multi-faceted television. In the 1990s, something changed, and shows with all-black casts were marketed towards all-black audiences. Black people have been on TV for years; however, they rarely appeared as people of education and means.
Shows like Good Times depicted black life as a struggle, even though most main characters were employed. Now we had The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but Will Smith was ditching his hometown for ritzy West Philadelphia (he's from East Philly).
We had Martin Lawrence as an underachiever; UPN's Homeboys in Outer Space, featuring two black astronauts who happened to be brothers; we had Living Single. The show was full of characters with advanced degrees from well-to-do families, but it still wasn't the Cosby Show.
Even though they did not always do it well, this show showed life as a family. They showed how absurd families could be and also the things that happen in families. We remember this show for its funny moments and its sincere moments. When the entire family sang along with little Rudy singing Margie Hendricks's part, it became an instant classic. It made you realize that your own family is not as fun.
The Cosby Show was unlike anything that had come before on TV. It seemed to be ushering in a new era of multi-faceted television.
The Cosby Show Changed My View of Others
The Huxtables were cool parents. They danced, sang, and laughed all over the place. But they also held a mock trial to catch Theo in a lie and flipped out when Vanessa got caught wearing makeup after being told not to.
The Huxtables didn't want to be their kids' best friends or let them get away with anything. The show was a step in the tradition of shows like Leave It To Beaver and The Brady Bunch, but it also had a lot to say about race relations.
When I first saw this show, I didn't think anything of it. After all, there were black families on TV before the Huxtables came along. But as time went on, and as I grew older and saw the good and the bad of black sitcoms and television in general, I came to appreciate Bill Cosby's show for what it was: a trailblazing insight into African-American life.
The Huxtables didn't want to be their kids' best friends or let them get away with anything.
The Cosby Show was different from other shows. People on The Cosby Show were friends and families. This made it so that people could relate to the show. It's hard to imagine families as different as those in Everybody Hates Chris or Black-ish without the Huxtables.
The Cosby Show was groundbreaking because it depicted upper-middle-class black families in a way that had never been seen before on television. This show is the reason why I wrote my book, "Finding Joy Despite Life's Hardships: A Guide to Overcoming Setbacks."
By reading this blog post, I hope you will appreciate black people's rich history on TV. I also hope it inspires you to keep fighting against racism and discrimination in our communities, whether through your words or actions.
And finally, if any of these points resonate with you and make sense to you, please consider pre-ordering a copy of my book "Finding Joy Despite Life's Hardships: A Guide to Overcoming Setbacks."
Thank you so much!
What TV shows impacted your life?
It's hard to imagine families as different as those in Everybody Hates Chris or Black-ish without the Huxtables.
What’s in a Name?
When someone asks, “what’s the name of the church you pastor” and I respond, “Mars Hill,” three things happen:
- A blank stare
- They ask: “Are you affiliated with the church that disbanded in Seattle, WA?” (NO! We were Mars Hill before they were)
- They ask: “Are you affiliated with Rob Bell and the church in Grand Rapids, MI?” (see #2)
History makes one’s life richer by giving meaning to the origin. It broadens one’s outlook and enables one to grasp an understanding of one’s being by shedding light on its past. Since it is Black History Month, I would like to share the history behind why we chose Mars Hill as our name.
Athens, Greece | Photographs of Mars’ Hill, Acropolis
The Origin of our Name
The Areopagus or Areios Pagos is the “Hill of Ares” or Mars Hill. It is located northwest of the Acropolis in Athens.
In classical times, the Areopagus functioned as the chief homicide court of Athens. It is known as the location where Ares was supposed to have been tried by the Gods for the murder of Poseidon’s son, Alirrothios. Also, the hill was said to be the site for the trial of Orestes, for killing Clytemnestra and Aegisthus, his stepmother and her lover.
In pre-classical times (before the 5th century BC), the Areopagus was the council of elders, in the city, and were much like the Roman Senate. Similar to the Senate, its membership derived from those who held high public office, in this case that would be the Archon. In 462 BC, Ephialtes put forth reforms, which deprived the Areopagus of mostly all its functions, except the murder tribunal.
At the foot of the Areopagus was a temple dedicated to the Erinyes, where murderers would find shelter, in an effort not to face the consequences of their actions. Near the Areopagus, the Basilica of Dionysius Areopagites was constructed. The basilica was a rectangular building used as a town hall and law courts. It was used in the Christian period and served as the blueprint for early churches. (more…)
It’s More Than Just Another Month – What Black History Means To Me
Black History Month means different things to different people.
As a Nation we have a month of recognition and silence for the mighty men and women of color who paved the way for all of us. We recognize them for their hard work, tears, and for those who died fighting for equality for people of color. I am proud to be a man of color born in America.
As we take time to celebrate this notable occasion, I would like to share what Black History Month means to me. For me, Black History Month is a time of reflection, rejoicing, and recommitting to reach the next generation.
5 Books You Should Read During African-American History Month
Black History Month, also known as African-American History Month in America, is an annual observance in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom for remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African diaspora.
Research has found that the proportion of young people who are daily readers drops has dropped dramatically in recent years. According to some studies, since 1984, the percentage of 13-year-olds who are weekly readers dropped from 70% to 53%. Even worse, the percentage of 17-year-olds who are weekly readers fell from 64% to a startling 40%. It’s jarring news. Therefore, I’m sharing my list of reading recommendations. Here are a few titles that had an impact on my life and that every African-American should read.
The Mis-Education of the Negro – Carter G. Woodson, Ph.D.
The thesis of Dr. Woodson’s book is that African-Americans of his day were being culturally indoctrinated, rather than taught, in American schools. This conditioning, he claims, causes African-Americans to become dependent and to seek out inferior places in the greater society of which they are a part. He challenges his readers to become autodidacts and to “do for themselves,” regardless of what they were taught: History shows that it does not matter who is in power… those who have not learned to do for themselves and have to depend solely on others never obtain any more rights or privileges in the end.
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