More to Explore People and Groups This Day in History Black
History Month celebrates the contributions of African Americans
to American history and culture. Get the facts about the origins
of Black History Month, the creation of the NAACP and famous
firsts in African American history. In the 1950s and 1960s,
civil rights activists in the United States used nonviolent
protest, civil disobedience and legal action to end segregation
and pursue equality for all Americans. Slavery and its legacy
have shaped American history, from the Civil War to
Reconstruction in the 1860s and 1870s to the struggle over civil
rights a century later. Did You Know? Shirley Chisholm was the
first African American woman elected to the House of
Representatives. She was elected in 1968, and represented the
state of New York. - Slavery comes to North America - Rise of
the cotton industry - Nat Turnerâ€™s Revolt - Abolitionism and
the Underground Railroad - Dred Scott case - John Brownâ€™s raid
- Civil War and emancipation - The Postâ€“S