7 Little-Known , Black History Facts.<br />1. Shirley Chisholm, She was the first Black woman elected to Congress and survived multiple assassination attempts when she ran for President of the United States.<br />2. John Baxter Taylor , He was the first African American <br />to win an Olympic gold medal.<br />3. Billie Holiday, Her song, "Strange Fruit," was originally published as a poem by Abel Meeropol, a Jewish school teacher.<br />4. Hattie McDaniel, The first African American to win an Oscar, McDaniel wasn't allowed to attend the premiere of 'Gone with the Wind.'.<br />5. Phillis Wheatley, At only 12 years old, she became the <br />first published African American female author.<br />6. Josephine Baker , The famed entertainer worked as a <br />French Resistance spy during World War II.<br />7. Black History Month , It was decreed a national observance in <br />1976 by President Gerald Ford
