February was first designated as Black History Month nearly fifty years ago in 1976*. As February came and went, I was reminded of growing up in Oakland. Recently, my long time friend, Phillip Jackson sent me these medallions. During March of our sophomore year at St. Elizabeth High School, Phillip handed these out to mark a new event for us, "Black American Day"!
Before there was an official Black History Month, California held its first Black American Day" on March 5, 1971, which was championed as a holiday by Assembly member Willie Brown. A brass medallion, the "People's Gold", was issued featuring the dates 1619 and 1971. 1619 marks the first arrival of Africans in Virginia.*
*References:
First commemoration of Black History Month
https://www.voanews.com/a/february-is-black-history-month-in-the-us/7466915.html
History relayed on coins
https://www.coinbooks.org/v24/esylum_v24n06a33.html
