Black Deaf History February 20 Joseph Sarpy was the first professional Black Deaf actor. He shares his story with someone dear to him. Watch the video:

Black History February 19 Did you know that slaves built the White House, Capitol, and other government buildings in DC? President George Washington, the first president of the USA, initially planned to import workers from Europe to meet their labor needs. President Washington and the administration turned to African Americans—enslaved and free, but primarily enslaved to provide the bulk of labor that built the White House, the United States Capitol, and other early government buildings. Most of these enslaved laborers were hired out from slave owners from southern Maryland, northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C. on a contract basis. Over 200 known enslaved individuals labored to build the White House and the Capitol Building, and over 100 other known enslaved people worked in presidential households. Enslaved individuals worked in a variety of positions in the president’s household, including as chefs, gardeners, stable hands, maids, butlers, lady’s maids, valets, and more. Enslaved individuals working in the White House often slept in the attic or in the rooms along the Ground Floor Corridor. Their living arrangements varied by administration. Accounts suggest these spaces were uncomfortable with extreme temperature disparity. In particular, the Ground Floor level was often damp and rodent infested. The commissioners typically provided workers with housing, two meals per day, and basic medical care. Source: https://www.whitehousehistory.org/press-room/press-backgrounders/slavery-and-the-white-house Watch the African American 🇺🇸 timeline video: https://youtu.be/5w05lZ1HCJI

Black History February 18 “Never ever be afraid to make some noise and get in GOOD TROUBLE, necessary trouble!” -John Lewis John Robert Lewis was a Black American politician and civil rights leader. He experienced segregation as a young boy. He had already been ARRESTED 24 TIMES in the nonviolent movement for equal justice. He was the U.S. Representative for GA's 5th congressional district since 1987. He was the dean of the Georgia congressional delegation. He was a member of the Democratic Party. Later, Lewis was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer. He died in Atlanta, Georgia on July 17, 2020 from the disease, aged 80.

Black History February 17 Michael Jackson broke a number of barriers for Black Americans including being the first Black artist to have a video in regular rotation on MTV, the first Black global pop icon who will forever be the King of Pop, by setting and breaking sales records throughout his career, including the long-established record for the biggest selling album of all time for Thriller, and being recognized for his unparalleled philanthropic endeavors. Michael is an American icon that pushed the envelope for the Black community worldwide. Source: https://www.michaeljackson.com/news/black-history-month/ Watch the Thriller music video: https://youtu.be/sOnqjkJTMaA

Black Deaf History February 15 Jade Bryan is the first Black Deaf Filmmaker and Activist. In 2012, Jade Bryan is a social and cultural icon centralized on spreading awareness about the lack of representation of BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) in television and film. She founded the Deaf Talent Movement. This movement began on multiple online and real-life platforms, starting with social media. Jade Bryan created a social media platform by using Twitter and Facebook to spread awareness of the need for better representation in television and film before moving her movement to the streets. From 2015-2017, The Shattered Mind film has toured 47 film festivals around the world and won 17 awards! Deaf White actors use the hashtag in their media advertisements and campaigns to protest hearing actors taking on Television and movie roles of Deaf characters away from Deaf people. Jade Bryan fought to preserve her original "The Deaf Talent" movement to fight for Black Deaf actors/Actors of color's roles and opportunities in TVs and films. She officially owned the trademark, Deaf Talent! It is still an ongoing fight for recognition, visibility and inclusion in front of and behind the camera. #DeafTalent Source: https://www.jadefilm.com/ Watch the video: https://youtu.be/

Black Deaf History February 14 ❤️ Nakia Smith is the Black Deaf young TikTok influencer. She posted popular TikTok videos to celebrate the history of Black ASL (BASL) and delight in its divergences from mainstream American Sign Language (ASL). Nakia comes from the 6th generation Black Deaf family. Her existing Black Deaf grandparents were placed in a segregated Deaf school in Texas. They preserve their Black ASL for stewardship purposes. Watch Nakia signs in comparison of BASL and ASL video:

Black History February 13, 2021 Huey P. Newton was a legendary Black Panther revolutionary who had a lot to say. ✊🏾 He raised his voice about policing and the justice system. The Black Panther Party was a revolutionary socialist organization formed in Oakland, California. The party was created in the midst of the Black Freedom Movement in mid 1950s. Amid continued police brutality and oppression in Black neighborhoods, the Black Panther Party sought to defend and provide services include hunger-relief programs, improving access to education and providing healthcare to Black communities. In 1970’s interview from prison, Huey stated “The police in our community occupy our area, our community, as a foreign troop occupies territory. And the police are there not to promote our welfare or for our security or our safety, but they’re there to contain us, to brutalize us and murder us.” Black Americans are still facing systemic racism to this day. Watch the mini-biography Huey P. Newton video: https://youtu.be/yM8ceTyFsVk

Roger Demosthenes O' Kelly was the first Black Deaf Blind lawyer in 1908! During that era, there were not interpreters, American Disabilities Act (ADA), or any accessible for Deaf people to navigate through the college years. O'Kelly applied to enroll at Gallaudet, but was declined because of his skin color. He attended Shaw University and graduated with a law degree. https://youtu.be/aDwjFzx91hM

Black History February 10 First Black Billionaire: Robert Johnson became the first African American billionaire when he sold the cable station he founded, Black Entertainment Television (BET) in 2001.

Black History February 9 Raphael Gamaliel Warnock is an American pastor and politician serving as the junior United States senator from Georgia. He became the first Black senator from Georgia on January 20, 2021! Watch Warnock signs in ASL https://youtu.be/yO63NVHOS3g

Black Deaf History February 8 Michelle Banks is an award winning actress, writer, director, producer, choreographer, motivational speaker, and teacher. She was the first Black Deaf student to study drama at the State University of New York. Michelle established the first Deaf theatre of color: Onyx Theatre. She’s the first Black Deaf actress featured in a Black TV show on a cable network “Soul Food” on Showtime, “Girlfriends”, and “Strong Medicine”. In addition, Michelle was featured article in the ESSENCE magazine in February 1998.

Black Deaf History February 7 Warren “Wawa” Snipe is a Black Deaf writer, rapper, actor, and performer. He was featured in several TV series like Black Lightning and R&B artist’s lyric videos. He rendered the Dip Hop (Hip Hop) through Deaf eyes. Wawa released two albums: Deaf So What?! and the latest album, Wamilton. Today is the special historic event where he will perform the National Anthem and America the Beautiful in ASL at Kansas City Chiefs vs Tampa Buccaneers 🏴‍☠️ Super Bowl tonight at 6:30PM EST! Further info: https://diphopwawa.com/bio

Black Deaf History Month February 6 Dr. Carolyn McCaskill attended the Alabama School for the Negro Deaf in Talladega, Alabama. She is the Black Deaf co-author of a book and DVD: The Hidden Treasures of Black ASL Its History and Structure published in May 2011. Carolyn and the co-authors have given numerous of presentations related to various aspects of Black ASL on a local, national and global level. Watch the BASL video created by Netflix: https://youtu.be/3HDm3kx3rhY

Black Deaf History February 5 Claudia Gordon is the first Black Deaf female attorney in the United States. She is recognized as one of former President Barack Obama’s key anti-discrimination advisors for disability issues.

Black History Month February 4 Rosa Parks helped initiate the Montgomery Bus Boycott in Alabama. She refused to give up her seat to a white ableist passenger. Fun fact: Rosa Parks and I share the SAME birthday! 🥳