The Good, The Bad, The Black as Hell: Things You Never Learned in History Class

Hey girlfriend! January took its sweet time, but February flew by! As we close out the month, it’s bittersweet. While we celebrated love, it’s just as important to honor the rich and notable Black history we recognize this month.

The Good

Black history hasn’t just contributed to American culture—it has shaped the world. Before Africans were taken from their homeland, they built thriving societies of scholars, architects, astronomers, and more. One prime example is the University of Sankore, founded in Timbuktu, Mali, in 988 AD. This was a hub of knowledge where scholars gathered to study philosophy, math, law, and medicine. It was backed by one of the richest men to ever live, Mansa Musa.

And let’s not forget the Walls of Benin! Everyone knows about the Great Wall of China, but did you know the Walls of Benin—located in present-day Nigeria—were four times longer? These massive walls were built to protect the kingdom but were tragically destroyed by the British Army in 1897.

African innovation didn’t stop there. Not only was the White House built by enslaved Africans, but Washington D.C. itself was designed by an African American man—Benjamin Banneker, a self-taught mathematician and astronomer.

The Bad

Black people have fought tirelessly for freedom. And did you know Europeans weren’t even the first to try enslaving Africans? Nearly a century before the transatlantic slave trade, the Spanish attempted to enslave Africans but failed. When Europeans later began capturing entire communities, they faced relentless resistance—many enslaved Africans rebelled or escaped.

Even after slavery ended, Black Americans wasted no time rebuilding. Take Seneca Village, a thriving Black community in New York that existed before Central Park. In 1857, the government forcibly removed its residents to make way for the park in a manner similar to gentrification. Sounds cruel? It doesn’t even compare to what happened to Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Black Wall Street.

Black Wall Street was home to thriving Black entrepreneurs—banks, grocery stores, nightclubs, libraries, restaurants, and retail shops were all Black-owned. But in 1921, white supremacist terrorists burned, bombed, and massacred the entire district. And here’s a piece of music history for you—ever heard "You Dropped the Bomb on Me" by The GAP Band? That song references the attack. The band's name, GAP, stands for Greenwood, Archer, and Pine, the streets where Black Wall Street once stood.

The Black as Hell

Despite centuries of oppression, Black culture is essential—it shapes music, fashion, food, and more. Being Black in America is a badge of honor. Some of the very things that kept our ancestors alive—like cornrows—are now embedded into pop culture. Drumming and singing in the fields were once banned, yet today, Black artists continue to set trends and break barriers. Word to Beyoncé.

So as we wrap up Black History Month, let’s remember: despite everything, still we rise. And we will continue to do so.