16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History

Black history is full of powerful stories that have shaped America, but many of these stories are not well-known. Some events and people in Black history have been overlooked or forgotten, even though they played a substantial role in the country’s growth. 

From the hidden struggles and triumphs to the moments of cultural change, these lesser-known facts will surprise you.

1. Juneteenth

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Juneteenth Independence Day dp476034870
Image Credit: AsiyaHotArt/Depossit

Celebrated on June 19th, Juneteenth is a special day that marks the moment in 1865 when enslaved people in Texas were told they were free. This happened two and a half years after President Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.

2. Black Inventors 

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Garrett Morgan wc
Image Credit: dvidshub.net/image/1165661, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Many things we use today were created by Black inventors. Garrett Morgan invented the traffic light. George Washington Carver found new uses for peanuts, helping farmers.

Madam C.J. Walker became one of the first Black female millionaires with her hair care products.

3. Black Women in the Civil Rights Movement

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Rosa Parks Montgomery bus boycott wc
Image Credit: Gene Herrick for the Associated Press; restored by Adam Cuerden, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Black women played important roles in the fight for civil rights. In 1955, Rosa Parks refused to give up her bus seat, sparking the Montgomery Bus Boycott.

In 1963, Fannie Lou Hamer fought for voting rights. Ella Baker helped organize the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) in 1957.

4. The Civil Rights Act of 1964

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Civil Rights Act of 1964 wc
Image Credit: Cecil Stoughton, White House Press Office (WHPO), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was an important law that ended segregation and made it illegal to treat people unfairly based on their race, color, religion, or gender.

This law helped end discrimination in schools, jobs, and public places.

5. Obama Is Still… the First Black President

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Barack Obama wc
Image Credit: Steve Jurvetson from Menlo Park, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The claim that John Hanson was the first Black president of the United States is incorrect. The confusion comes from John Hanson, a Black man from Liberia, who lived in the 19th century.

He played a key role in resettling freed slaves in Africa, but he had no connection to the American Continental Congress​. Therefore, John Hanson was not the first Black president of the U.S. (ref)

6. Millions of Black Soldiers Enlisted in World War II

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Tuskegee Airmen wc
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

During World War II, over one million Black soldiers served in the U.S. military. They fought bravely in Europe and the Pacific, but they faced discrimination both in the military and back home.

The Tuskegee Airmen were a famous group of Black pilots who protected bombers during missions, proving that Black soldiers were just as capable as any others.

7. The Tuskegee Syphilis Study

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Tuskegee Syphilis wc
Image Credit: Uploaded by Taco325i, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Tuskegee Syphilis Study was a dark chapter in history. From 1932 to 1972, doctors studied the effects of untreated syphilis in Black men without telling them.

The men thought they were getting treatment but weren’t. This study caused a lot of pain and mistrust in the Black community towards the medical system.

8. The Great Migration

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Great Migration wc
Image Credit: Jack Delano, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Great Migration happened between 1916 and 1970 when millions of Black people moved from the South to the North and West. They were looking for better jobs and less racism.

Cities like Chicago, Detroit, and New York saw significant increases in their Black populations, which changed the culture and economy of those cities.

9. The Reconstruction Era (1865-1877)

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Jim Crow laws wc
Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

After the Civil War, the Reconstruction era aimed to rebuild the South and help freed slaves integrate into society. Some progress was made, like the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments that ended slavery and gave Black men the right to vote.

However, many White people in the South fought against these changes, and after Reconstruction ended, they put Jim Crow laws in place to limit Black people’s rights.

10. Tulsa Race Massacre

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Tulsa Race Massacre wc
Image Credit: United States Library of Congress, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Tulsa Race Massacre happened in 1921 in a wealthy Black neighborhood called Greenwood, also known as Black Wall Street, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A White mob destroyed homes, businesses, and killed hundreds of Black residents.

The attack lasted two days and left the community in ruins, with over 35 city blocks burned down.

11. Redlining among Black Americans

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Bank Run on American Union Bank wc
Image Credit: Wikideas1 (talk) (Uploads), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Redlining was a practice where banks and the government refused to give mortgages or insurance to Black Americans in certain neighborhoods.

It started in the 1930s and made it hard for Black families to buy homes or build wealth. This led to long-term housing discrimination and segregation.

12. The Black Panthers’ Community Programs

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Black Panther Leader Bobby Rush wc
Image Credit: Chicago Sun Times / Larry Graff, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Black Panthers were a group that fought for Black rights in the 1960s and 1970s. Besides their activism, they created community programs like free breakfast for children, health clinics, and educational programs.

These programs helped thousands of people in poor Black communities.

13. COINTELPRO

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Martin Luther King Jr wc
Image Credit: David Erickson, CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons

COINTELPRO (Counter Intelligence Program) was a secret program run by the FBI to disrupt and spy on groups they saw as threats, including the Black Panthers, civil rights groups, and activists like Martin Luther King Jr.

It aimed to stop these movements by creating conflict and spreading false information.

14. Government Crackdown on Drugs

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Seattle Firefighters wc
Image Credit: Seattle Municipal Archives from Seattle, WA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The War on Drugs began in the 1980s, with the government cracking down on illegal drug use and distribution. This led to more arrests and harsh sentences, especially for Black Americans.

Many people were imprisoned for small drug offenses, which caused a lot of damage to Black communities and families.

15. The Harlem Renaissance

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Langston Hughes wc
Image Credit: Gordon Parks, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Harlem Renaissance was a cultural explosion that took place in Harlem, New York, during the 1920s. Black artists, writers, and musicians created beautiful works that celebrated Black life.

Famous people from this time included poet Langston Hughes and musician Duke Ellington. It was a time when Black culture was in the spotlight.

16. Freedom Rides

16 Facts That Will Make You Rethink What You Know About Black History » Freedom Rides wc
Image Credit: State Library of New South Wales, ON 161/220, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The Freedom Rides were a pivotal civil rights movement in 1961, where interracial groups of activists, known as Freedom Riders, challenged segregation in public transportation.

Organized by the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) and later supported by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), these activists rode buses through the southern United States to test a Supreme Court ruling that banned segregation in interstate bus travel.

The rides were met with violent resistance, including attacks by mobs and police, but they drew national attention to the injustices of segregation.

These facts illustrate the contributions and struggles of Black people throughout history.

Martha A. Lavallie
Martha A. Lavallie
Author & Editor | + posts

Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.