Feb. 27 — In 1869, John Willis Menard rose from his seat in the chamber of the U.S. Congress to defend his status as the first African American elected to the institution, thus becoming the first Black to address Congress. Alas, he was denied the seat and returned to Florida where he became a school superintendent.

Black History Month began in 1926 as ‘Negro History Week’, founded by historian Carter G. Woodson to highlight the overlooked contributions of Black Americans. The second week of February was chosen to honor the birthdays of abolitionist Frederick Douglass and President Abraham Lincoln.

Black History Month Anderson locations to see, the Church Street Heritage Plaza in downtown Anderson, with storyboards and displays. Barbecue and fried fish were popular delicacies that attracted crowds to the area as well as artists and musicians who also performed on Church Street.