You probably know February is Black History Month. But how did it start? A historian realized he did not learn about many African Americans in school. So, in 1926, he started a one-week celebration. He wanted to bring attention to different African Americans who made great contributions to society.
Some people change their careers to find ways to help others. Mary Jackson changed her career more than four times! She started working as a math teacher, but then was asked to work at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). There, she worked as a mathematician for two years. She then took night classes so she could become NASA’s first African-American female engineer. After 20 years as an engineer, she changed her career again. She worked as an administrator to help hire and promote other female scientists and mathematicians.
You may have heard of George Washington Carver. Carver was a famous botanist. He experimented and discovered better ways to farm. He found a way for farmers to improve their crops and make them healthier every year. His method of farming is called crop rotation. It is now used all over the world!
What Do You Think? What does Black History Month mean to you?
Photo Credit: (t)NASA Langley Research Center, (b)Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division [LC-J601-302]
