South Mountain Democrats

Ballots arrive next week!

In 1918-1919, The Golden 14 were the first Black women to serve in the U.S. Navy during WWI. Breaking racial and gender barriers, they worked as clerks and typists, paving the way for future generations of Black women in military service. #BlackHistoryMonth #Golden14 #BlackWomenInHistory

Formed in 1933, the Black Cabinet, led by Mary McLeod Bethune and others, fought for equal access to New Deal benefits and job training for African Americans. Their advocacy laid the groundwork for future civil rights advancements. #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackCabinet #CivilRights

Founded in 1946, The Links is a network of 16,000+ Black women dedicated to education, civic engagement, and service. With HBCU scholarships, health initiatives, and over 1M service hours yearly, they uplift Black communities worldwide. #BlackHistoryMonth #TheLinks #BlackExcellence

Founded by Marcus Garvey in 1914, the Universal Negro Improvement Association was a global movement promoting Black pride, economic independence, and Pan-African unity. Garvey’s vision inspired Black entrepreneurship and self-determination, shaping future civil rights movements. #BHM #MarcusGarvey

Founded in 1966, the Black Panther Party fought against racism and police brutality while empowering Black communities with free breakfast programs, health clinics, and education initiatives. Their legacy inspires the fight for justice today! #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackPantherParty #KnowYourHistory

Since 1909, the NAACP has fought for civil rights, from desegregation to voting rights. Their legacy includes victories like Brown v. Board of Education and the Voting Rights Act—and the fight for justice continues today! #BlackHistoryMonth #NAACP

A trailblazing physicist, Dr. Shirley Ann Jackson 's research led to caller ID, fiber-optic cables & touch-tone phones! 📞✨ As the first Black woman to earn a Ph.D. from MIT in physics, she’s paved the way for future innovators. 🚀 #BlackHistoryMonth #WomenInSTEM

A pioneer in optical storage & laser technology, John Thompson’s inventions shaped modern computing. His innovations made data storage more efficient, inspiring future Black tech leaders! 🖤✨#BlackHistoryMonth #JohnThompson #TechPioneer #BlackExcellence

The first Black Medal of Honor recipient, Sgt. William H. Carney risked his life in the Battle of Fort Wagner (1863) to protect the U.S. flag. Wounded, he carried it to safety, declaring: “The old flag never touched the ground!” 🏅 #BlackHistoryMonth #Hero

Jean-Michel Basquiat redefined art with his raw, powerful style, tackling race, identity, and power. His iconic crown 👑 and bold imagery continue to inspire. "I am not a Black artist, I am an artist." #BlackHistoryMonth #Basquiat #BlackExcellence

Founder of The Chicago Defender (1905), Robert Sengstacke Abbott used journalism to fight racism, expose injustice, and inspire the Great Migration. His paper challenged Jim Crow, fought lynching, and built Black political power! 🗞️

#BlackHistoryMonth #BlackPress

Abolitionist & entrepreneur, Mary Ellen Pleasant used her fortune to aid the Underground Railroad, desegregate San Francisco’s trolleys (1866), & secretly fund John Brown’s raid against slavery. A true powerhouse for Black progress!

#BlackHistoryMonth #MaryEllenPleasant

Amelia Boynton Robinson a leader in the Selma to Montgomery marches, she fought for Black voting rights and was brutally beaten on Bloody Sunday. Her activism helped pass the Voting Rights Act of 1965—a legacy of courage that still inspires today!
#BlackHistoryMonth #Selma

Gordon Parks Photographer, filmmaker, & activist, Parks used art to expose injustice. From LIFE Magazine to directing Shaft, he redefined Black storytelling. His legacy proves art is power. “The camera could be a weapon against poverty, against racism.”

#GordonParks #BlackExcellence #BHM

Paul Robeson was a singer, actor, athlete, and activist who fought for civil rights. A Rutgers valedictorian and All-American football star, he earned a law degree while playing in the NFL. Despite McCarthy-era backlash, his legacy in music, film, and activism endures. #BHM #PaulRobeson

Audre Lorde was a Black, lesbian, feminist, poet, and activist who fought oppression through her writing and advocacy. She co-founded the Callen-Lorde Health Center and inspired activism through the Audre Lorde Project. Her legacy of resistance lives on. #BlackHistoryMonth #AudreLorde

Melvin Van Peebles, the "Godfather of Black Cinema," revolutionized film with Sweet Sweetback’s Baadasssss Song (1971), paving the way for Black filmmakers. A bold storyteller in film, theater, and music, his legacy of innovation still inspires. #BlackHistoryMonth #MelvinVanPeebles

Fred Hampton was a revolutionary leader of the Black Panther Party and founder of the Rainbow Coalition, uniting Black, Latino, and white communities for justice. Assassinated by police in 1969 at just 21, his vision for unity and liberation lives on. #BlackHistoryMonth #FredHampton

This Black History Month, we honor Ethel Reed Maynard, Arizona’s first Black woman legislator (1967-1973). A champion for education, civil rights, and healthcare, she fought for state-supported kindergarten and served as a nurse and activist. #BlackHistoryMonth #Trailblazer

Fritz Pollard was a barrier-breaking icon in football. In 1921, he became the NFL’s first Black head coach and was the first Black player in the Rose Bowl (1916). He fought for racial equality in sports, shaping the game forever. #BlackHistoryMonth #FritzPollard

Paul Revere Williams overcame racism to design icons like LAX, Beverly Hills Hotel & St. Jude. Known as the “Architect to the Stars,” he built for Sinatra & Lucille Ball—his legacy still shapes skylines today! #BlackHistoryMonth #PaulRevereWilliams

Edward W. Brooke III was the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate by popular vote, serving Massachusetts from 1967-1979. A champion for civil rights, he fought for fair housing, voting rights, and social justice, leaving a lasting impact. #BHM2025 #BlackExcellence

Medgar Evers was a civil rights hero who fought to end segregation, expand voting rights, and demand justice as the NAACP’s first Mississippi field secretary. Despite threats, he led boycotts, investigations, and voter registration drives. Assassinated in 1963, his legacy endures. #BHM2025

Daisy Bates was a civil rights leader who helped desegregate Little Rock Central High School by supporting the "Little Rock Nine." Her bravery and advocacy for racial equality continue to inspire today. #BlackHistoryMonth #BHM2025 #BlackExcellence #CivilRights

Barbara Jordan was the first Black woman elected to Congress from the South and delivered a powerful keynote at the 1976 DNC. A champion for justice, civil rights, and immigration reform, her legacy continues to inspire generations. #BHM2025 #BlackExcellence

Shirley Chisholm was the first Black woman in Congress & first to seek a major-party presidential nomination. A true trailblazer, her legacy of courage lives on! #BHM2025 UnboughtAndUnbossed

Bayard Rustin was a strategist in the Civil Rights Movement, organizing the 1963 March on Washington and advising Dr. King on nonviolence. He also supported labor, LGBTQ+, and global human rights. President Obama awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom posthumously in 2013. #BlackHistoryMonth

Dr. Carter G. Woodson, the "Father of Black History," founded ASALH and launched Negro History Week in 1926, which later became Black History Month. His legacy endures. #BHM2025 #BlackExcellence

Today, on Holocaust Remembrance Day, we reflect on the six million Jewish lives lost and countless others in history's darkest chapter. Let's honor the victims, support survivors, and commit to fighting all forms of hatred and intolerance, ensuring such atrocities are never repeated. #NeverForget