Black History Month 2023 Honors Black women and men whose history making creations and actions led the nation in many professions
AGN.News Team
February 18, 2023
RICHMOND (AGN.News) – Richmond was known as the Capital of the Confederacy. That all ended in 1865. What did not end was the effort of African Americans living in Richmond and across the nation to lead the nation in many areas of business and life.
First African American woman doctor
Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler (1831-1895), born Rebecca Davis in Delaware, was an American physician. In 1855, Crumpler was employed as a nurse. She was accepted into the New England Female Medical College in 1860.
In 1860, there were 54,543 physicians in the United States, 300 of whom were women. None of them were African American, making Rebecca Lee Crumpler the first and only African American physician in her class.
She graduated from the New England Female Medical College in 1864. She became the first African American woman to become a doctor of medicine in the United States.
Crumpler first practiced medicine in Boston, primarily serving poor women and children.
After the American Civil War ended in April 1865, she moved to Richmond. In Richmond, she continued to treat women and children. Later she partnered with the Freedmen’s Bureau to provide medical care for freed slaves.
Dr Crumpler became an author
In 1883, Doctor Crumpler published ‘A Book of Medical Discourses’. The book has two parts that cover the prevention and cure of infantile bowel complaints, and the life and growth of human beings.
Dedicated to nurses and mothers, it focuses on maternal and pediatric medical care and was among the first publications written by an African American about medicine.
Dr Crumpler faced intense racism
Dr Crumpler was subject to “intense racism” and sexism while practicing medicine. During this time, many men erroneously believed that there was a difference in average brain size between men and women.
Because of this prejudice towards women, especially Black women, many male physicians did not respect Dr Rebecca Lee Crumpler, and would not approve her prescriptions for patients or listen to her medical opinions. Still, Doctor Rebecca Lee Crumpler persevered and worked passionately.
She later moved back to Boston to continue to treat women and children.
She had many obstacles to overcome in her life and career. Despite those issues, she became a model of excellence for future African American women who would become medical doctors.
Dr Crumpler honored years later
In 2019, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam declared March 30 (National Doctors Day) the Dr. Rebecca Lee Crumpler Day.
The Rebecca Lee Pre-Health Society at Syracuse University and the Rebecca Lee Society, one of the first medical societies for African American women, were named after her. Her Joy Street house is a stop on the Boston Women’s Heritage Trail.
First African American woman banker
In 1903, Maggie Lena Walker chartered St. Luke Penny Savings Bank. She was its first president. She became the first female bank president in the United States.
Today, the bank is called the Consolidated Bank and Trust Company. It is the oldest surviving African American bank in the United States.
First African American mail carrier
The U.S. Post Office had a policy of “Whites Only” mail carriers until May 31, 1869. John Creswell, the United States Postmaster General ended the practice because Black people like everyone else paid the salaries of postal workers.
On June 1, 1869, John Creswell appointed James Christian of Richmond, Virginia, the first African American mail carrier in the United States. This gave honor and value to the Black community.
First African American MS Postmaster
Minnie M. Cox (1869-1933), a graduate of Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee, was appointed the first African American woman as Postmaster in Mississippi.
Minnie Cox earned her teaching degree at the age of 19. In 1891, at the age of 22, she was appointed postmaster of Indianola during the administration of President Benjamin Harrison. In those days the office of postmaster or postmistress could only be appointed by the President of the United States.
She later founded one of the first Black-owned banks in Mississippi. Adding to her life’s accomplishments was the founding of one of the first Black-owned insurance companies, the Mississippi Life Insurance Company, in the United States to offer whole life insurance.
First African American Vice President
On November 20, 2020, Kamala Harris was elected the first African American woman to become Vice President of the United States. She was sworn into office on January 20, 2021.
As vice president, Kamala Harris has shown leadership in international relations. Many domestic initiatives have been led by her and her team of White House professionals.
First African American Female Millionaire
Madam C.J. Walker (1867-1919) was the first documented African American woman to become a self-made millionaire in the United States.
She made her fortune by developing and marketing a line of cosmetics and hair care products for Black women through her company, Madam C.J. Walker Manufacturing Company, which was incorporated in Indianapolis, Indiana.
First African Americans patent-holder
The next time you take your clothes to the dry cleaner, you can thank Thomas L. Jennings (1791-1856). He was the first African American to hold a patent for a dry-cleaning process in the United States.
Jennings was an African American inventor and entrepreneur. He was granted the patent in 1821 for his new or novel way of dry cleaning.
African American created Mac and Cheese
There are many dishes being served on America’s dinner table that were created by African Americans. One is those dishes is called Macaroni and Cheese or mac and cheese. It was created by James Hemings.
Macaroni and cheese (also called mac and cheese in Canada and the United States and macaroni cheese in the United Kingdom) is a dish of cooked macaroni pasta and a cheese sauce, most commonly Cheddar sauce.
Who was James Hemings the chef?
James Hemings (1765-1801) was the first African American to train as a chef in France. He was born in Virginia. At the age of eight he became a slave of Thomas Jefferson at his Monticello plantation.
Monticello was located outside Charlottesville, Virginia, in the Piedmont region, the plantation was originally 5,000 acres, with Jefferson using the labor of over 6,000 enslaved Africans.
James Hemings was a half-sibling of Jefferson’s wife, Martha Jefferson, they were half brother and sister. Both had the same father with Hemings’ mother being an enslaved African American.
When Jefferson became U.S. Minister to France, he carried James with him in 1784. In Paris, he was trained as a French chef. From the money he earned, he paid for French lessons. Subsequently, he learned to speak French fluently.
At 19, Jefferson wanted James to be trained as a chef so he could become his personal chef in Paris and at Monticello when they returned. As his chef, Hemings earned four dollars a month.
African American Chef: James Hemings
In Paris, he earned the role of chef de cuisine in Jefferson’s kitchen. There he served his creations to the European aristocrats, writers, and other dignitaries who were invited to dinner.
One of his lasting creations is a dish called “macaroni pie”. This dish evolved into what Americans call Macaroni and Cheese.
Because she served the dish at dinners years later, this dish has been incorrectly attributed to Jefferson’s cousin who included the recipe in her cookbook in 1824 (23 years after James Hemings’ death).
African Americans created many firsts
From the time when enslaved Africans were brought to what would become the United States in 1619, Black people have founded many products, programs, foods, and companies that are still apart of America’s family and business history.
During Black History Month we’re reminded of the need to give credit where credit is due because Black history is American history.
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