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Hello fellow book lovers!
We witnessed an incredible event in U.S. history when Barack Obama was inaugurated as the first African American President. February marks Black History Month, so we're taking this opportunity to focus on other important African American figures who have created major milestones in society.
Enjoy!
Catherine Carmichael
Editor
Famous Firsts: Black History Month
The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in 1901, but it was not until 1950 that a Black person was awarded one. Dr. Ralph J. Bunche, an African American from Detroit, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as a United Nations mediator, his efforts having led to the 1949 Arab-Israeli armistice agreement. The same award was presented to Martin Luther King Jr. in 1964.
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 Edward William Brooke is the first African American US senator since Reconstruction. He served as attorney general of Massachusetts from 1963 to 1966, the was elected as a Republican to the U.S. Senate. Brooke also served on the President's Commission on Civil Disorders, which investigated the causes of race riots in American cities. His autobiography is entitled Bridging the Divide: My Life.
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 The first African American woman to be elected to the US Senate is Carol Moseley-Braun, a lawyer from Chicago, Illinois. She upset two-term incumbent Alan Dixon in the Democratic primary and went on to defeat Republican candidate Richard Williamson in 1992.
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 Jack Johnson was the world's first African-American heavyweight champion. He was the son of two ex-slaves. In his youth he fought in the "battle royals" (dehumanizing fights between blacks for the amusement of white patrons). He defeated Tommy Burns in 1908, and defended his title against several white hopefuls.
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 Gordon Parks was the first African American to direct a Hollywood film. He directed and wrote The Learning Tree for Warner Brothers in 1969. He was also a groundbreaking American photographer, musician, poet, novelist, journalist, and activist. He is best remembered for his photo essays for Life magazine and as the director of the 1971 film Shaft.
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Pistil Books Online: In 2001, Pistil Books, a brick-and-mortar shop, transformed into Pistil Books Online, an internet only bookstore, carrying used books in all fields, with an emphasis on non-fiction and scholarly titles.
We also recycle old library books into wonderful blank journals. Our website is home to the Museum of Weird Books, and we are now having "readings" online featuring
audio files of local writers reading their work.
Pistil Books just celebrated our 15th year in business and we are looking forward to many
more.
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