Black History Month originated in 1926 by Carter Godwin Woodson as Negro History Week. The month of February was chosen in honor of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln, who were both born in that month.
In honor of this month im going to try and drop a little knowledge on you all and in the process possibly even learn a little something myself.
The first actual African Americans were 20 indivduals who arrived in Jamestown, Virginia in the end of August in 1619. The blacks who lived there did not... I REPEAT... DID NOT arrive as slaves. In fact they came there as indentured servants along with the majority of white settlers. It was understood that in time after working the land for the nobility back in Europe that they would eventually earn the right to own land themselves. It wasn't until after the terms of their indentured servitude began to run out that the Europeans began looking for people who would remain in service, therefore leading to slavery. Africans agreed to come over and work the land 1: for a price and 2: for it to only be for a limited amount of time. This original agreement was later overturned by Europeans and led to the every notorious Slave Trade.
Just so you know... knowledge has been DROPPED!!!
