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 started as "Negro History Week" in February 1926 as a way to chronicle the accomplishments of African Americans in the aftermath of slavery.

This year's Black History Month theme is "African Americans and Labor," and plenty of local museums and institutions are putting on special events. State of play: The Library of Congress is showcasing a display on Black labor,