Black History Month originated in 1926, founded by Carter G. Woodson and was created to celebrate achievements, births, important timelines, events and to remember those we lost.
February 25: This Day in Black History was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
1. Hiram Rhodes Revels
1870: Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, was sworn into the United States Senate, becoming the first African American ever to sit in the U.S. Congress. (Photo: Twitter)
2. Gwendolyn Brooks
1950: Gwendolyn Brooks, on this day, became the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize, for her book Annie Allen. She passed away in Chicago in December 2000. (Photo: NewsOne)
3. Foster Sylvers
1962: Singer, songwriter, record producer & multi-instrumentalist Foster Sylvers was born. (Photo: Tumblr)
4. Robert Hayden
1980: Award-winning Poet, essayist and educator Robert Hayden passed away, aged 66. He was also the first African American Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress. (Photo: Tumblr)
5. Rapper Static Major
2008: Stephen Ellis Garret aka Static Major passed away, aged 33. He was a Grammy Award-winning rapper, songwriter, record producer & singer. He died of a rare condition called myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder. (Photo: Tumblr)
6. Blues Great Louisiana Red
2012: Blues guitarist, singer & harmonica player Iverson Minter aka Louisiana Red passed away, aged 79.
