The "Honoring Black History and Progress with the Memphis Urban League" social media posts are designed to recognize and reflect on significant events, achievements, and individuals in the African American community. These posts serve a dual purpose: they educate followers about the rich history and ongoing progress within the Black community, and they align with the Memphis Urban League's mission of empowering communities and changing lives.
Why this is a good idea for the Memphis Urban League:
Educational Value: By sharing historical facts, stories of progress, and significant achievements, the Memphis Urban League can provide its audience with valuable knowledge and context about the Black experience in America. This aligns with the organization's goal of expanding economic opportunities and securing equality, power, and civil rights.
Community Engagement: These posts can foster a sense of pride and community among followers. By highlighting the contributions and successes of African Americans, the Memphis Urban League can help build a supportive network that celebrates Black culture and history.
Awareness and Advocacy: Social media is a powerful tool for raising awareness about issues affecting the Black community. By sharing content related to Black history and progress, the Memphis Urban League can amplify important messages and advocate for social justice, aligning with broader movements like Black Lives Matter.
Year-Round Relevance: While Black History Month is a key time to focus on these themes, the Memphis Urban League's commitment to honoring Black history and progress throughout the year demonstrates a sustained dedication to the cause, which can resonate more deeply with the community.
Positive Representation: Traditional media has often been criticized for negative portrayals of Black individuals. By curating and sharing content that honors Black history and progress, the Memphis Urban League can contribute to a more positive and balanced representation of Black Americans.
Digital Activism: As social media continues to be an important political outlet for Black Americans, these posts can contribute to digitally-enabled activism, helping to level the playing field and allowing the Memphis Urban League to participate in cause-based advocacy.
In summary, "Honoring Black History and Progress with the Memphis Urban League" posts are a strategic and meaningful way for the organization to engage with its audience, educate the public, and advocate for the values it stands for. These posts can help to build a more informed and connected community, which is essential for the Memphis Urban League's mission of empowerment and change.
Planned Post Content for Approval
April
April 4, 1968: Martin Luther King was assassinated.
April 5, 1951: Washington, D.C. Municipal Court of Appeals outlawed segregation in restaurants.
April 6, 1909: Matthew A. Henson reaches the North Pole, 45 minutes before Commander Peary.
April 7, 1885: Granville T. Woods patents apparatus for transmission of messages by electricity.
April 8, 1974: Atlanta Braves slugger Hank Aaron hits 715th home run, surpassing Babe Ruth as the game’s all-time home-run leader.
April 9, 1898: Paul Robeson, actor, singer, activist, was born.
April 10, 1947: Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson becomes the first African American to play major league baseball.
April 11, 1966: Emmett Ashford becomes the first Black umpire in the major leagues.
April 12, 1983: Harold Washington becomes the first African American mayor of Chicago.
April 13, 1950: Historian Carter G. Woodson, author of The Miseducation of the Negro, died.
April 14, 1775: The first abolitionist society in the U.S. is founded in Philadelphia.
April 15, 1964: Sidney Poitier becomes the first Black to win the Academy Award for Best Actor for "Lilies of the Field".
April 16, 1862: Slavery abolished in the District of Columbia.
April 17, 1983: Alice Walker wins the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for "The Color Purple".
April 18, 1864: More than 200 Black Union troops massacred by Confederate forces at Ft. Pillow, Tennessee.
April 19, 1972: Stationed in Germany, Major Gen. Frederic E. Davidson becomes the first Black to lead an army division.
April 20, 1894: Dr. Lloyd A. Hall, pioneering food chemist, was born.
April 21, 1966: Pct. Milton L. Olive III awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for valor in Vietnam.
April 22, 1922: Jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus was born.
April 23, 1895: Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus patents photographic print wash.
April 24, 1944: United Negro College Fund Incorporated.
April 25, 1918: Ella Fitzgerald, “First Lady of Song”, was born.
May
May 17: Anniversary of the School Desegregation Ruling. In 1954, racial segregation in public schools was unanimously ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court in Brown v. Board of Education.
May 21, 2023 (the third Sunday of May): “Malcolm X Day”, an American holiday in honor of civil rights leader Malcolm X.
May 25: African Liberation Day. Also known as African Freedom Day, it is a day to mark the progress of the liberation movement and the determination of the People of Africa to free themselves from foreign domination and exploitation.
