Black History Projects and Resources

Black History Month 2006

Projects

Dr. King's I Have Dream Speech

Resources

Famous African-American Scholars and Educators
Black History Month, Week 1, 2006

Famous African-American Scientists and Inventors
Black History Month, Week 2, 2006

Famous Aftican-American Writers and Artists
Black History Month, Week 3, 2006

Famous African-American Civil Rights Leaders
Black History Month, Week 4, 2006

Famous African-American Healers
Black History Month, Week 5, 2006

Black Saints

Black History Links

Black Saints

St. Anthony the Great of Thebes
St. Anthony is called the Patriarch of Monks. He was born at Aama, village south of Memphis, near Thebes. His parents were rich Christians. Shortly after inheriting his parents’ fortune, he sold all his vast fortune and gave the proceeds to the poor, sent his sister to a nunnery and retired to an old ruin of a tomb. He ate only every three or four days and spent his time at manual labor and prayer.

St. Benedict the Moor
St. Benedict the Moor was born in Sicily in 1526. He was the son of African slave parents, but he was freed at an early age. When about 21 years old he was insulted because of his color, but his patient and dignified manner caused a group of Franciscan hermits who witnessed the incident to invite him to join their group. He became their leader. He was known for his power to read people’s minds and held the nickname of the “Holy Moor”. St. Benedict’s feast day is April 4th.

St. Macarius the Younger
He was born and raised at Alexandria, and in adulthood traveled to Upper Egypt. In 373 he returned to Lower Egypt. This monk became famous for his prayerfulness, and performances of miracles. For seven years he ate only raw vegetables and beans. He wanted to improve on his fasting, so for the next three years he consumed daily only 4 to 5 ounces of bread that he moistened with a few drops of olive oil. Each day, he prayed while he worked, weaving palm leaves into baskets and maps. His feast day is January 2.

St. Monica
St. Monica was an African laywoman who was born in northern Africa about 331. She was a devout Christian and an obedient disciple of St. Ambrose. Through her patience, gentleness and prayers she converted her pagan husband. When St. Monica’s son, St. Augustine was a boy he disappointed her by turning his back on all religion and began living in a nonchristian-like way. Before her death Monica had the great job of knowing that Augustine had returned to God and was using all of his energies to build Christ’s Church. Her feast day is August 27.

St. Augustine of Hippo
St. Augustine was the son of St. Monica and was born in Tegaste, Africa on November 13, 354. He learned the love of God from his mother. He was highly educated. He was brilliant-actually a genius. He used his great abilities to lead men to love God. His thousands of letters, sermons, 232 books and his instructions to the Early Church still have relevance for the Church today. St. Augustine lived a holy, simple life and performed many acts of penance. His Feast Day is August 28.

St. Moses the Black
Saint Moses, the Black was a desert monk, born around 330. He was an Ethiopian of great physical strength. He belonged to a gang of professional thieves and robbers in Egypt. Moses ran away from his slave master into the Scete Desert. The hermits who lived in the desert converted Black Moses to Jesus. To fight harder for Jesus, Moses the Black moved further into the desert. Some of his old band of thieves found him and tried to turn him back to crime. He converted them. He was chosen to the priesthood, and at his ordination the bishop remarked to him, “Now the black man is made white.” Moses replied, “Only outside, for God knows I am all black within. St. Moses the Black’s feast day is August 28.

St. Martin de Porres
Martin was born on December 9, 1579, in Lima Peru. From early childhood Martin showed a deep love for all God’s creatures and a passionate devotion to Our Lady. At 11 years of age Martin became a servant in the Dominican priory. He was able to get $2000 a week by begging rich people. All the money that was begged was given to the poor and sick of Lima in the form of food, clothing and medicine. He was put in charge of the Dominican’s infirmary where he became known for his tender care of the sick and for his spectacular cures. Because of his deep devotion, his superiors dropped the stipulation that “no black person may be received to the holy habit or profession of our order” and Martin was vested in the full habit and took the solemn vows as a Dominican brother. He established an orphanage and a children’s hospital for the poor children of the slums. He never ate a meal; he fasted continuously and spent much time in prayer and meditation. On May 16, 1962 Pope John XXIII made Martin de Porres the first black American saint. His feast day is November 3rd.

St. Josephine Bakhita
Josephine was born in 1869 in Sudan. Slave traders captured her when she was nine years old. When Josephine was 19 years old her slave owners thought that she should be instructed in the Catholic faith, and, if she wished, to be baptized. When her slave owners came back for her 10 months later she refused to go with them. She had decided to stay at the convent. The cardinal baptized Josephine into the Catholic Church. Feeling loved and called by God; she expressed her desire to become a nun. She spent the next 50 years serving God and others in local community houses of the Daughters of Charity of Canossa. “Be good, love the Lord, and pray for those who do not know Him still!” Her feast day is February 8th.

St. Bessarion
The Egyptian Bessarion was born in the 4th century. He chose to live his Christian life wandering in the desert. Rather than live under a roof he wandered about like a bird, observing silence and subduing his flesh by extreme fasting. He is said to have once gone forty days without food, standing in prayer. Many miracles are attributed to him: walking on the Nile, making salt water fresh, making rain fall in the midst of a drought, and many marvelous deeds. His feast day is June 17.

St. Antonio Vieria
Antonio was an African born in Portugal. When he was fifteen years old, he became a Jesuit novice and later a professor of theology. He went to Brazil where he worked to abolish discrimination against Jewish merchants, to abolish slavery, and to alleviate conditions among the poor. On the 200th anniversary of his death in 1897, he was canonized.

St. Theodore the Sanctified
Around his 12th birthday, Theodore committed his life to God. He became a disciple to St. Pachomius. He went with St. Pachomius on visitations to surrounding monasteries. Theodore beeame the Abbot, which is the head of the monastery after St. Pachomius died. He visited
many monasteries. He instructed, comforted and encouraged every monk. Theodore's special powers to foretell the future and to heal the sick confirmed for others that he was especially blessed by God. His feast day is April 27.

St. Pachomius
Pachomius converted to Christianity and was baptized in 313. About 320, he received an inspiration to organize into a community the many disciples who were coming to see him. He was the first to organize and draw up rules for the disciples' common use. His rules required obedience to superiors, common ownership of goods, shared profits from labor, silence at table and assisting at Mass. At the time ofhis death, it is estimated that 3,000 men and women had come to live in the 9 monasteries for men and 2 convents for women that he founded. His feast day is May 9.

St. Paul the Hermit
When Paul was 21 years old he fled into the desert. He discovered so much joy in being alone that he remained there for the next 92 ye¥s. , He fled into the desert because his brother in law was going to report him to the authorities for being a Christian. His brother in law hoped to inherit Paul' s wealth. Even though he was very wealthy, he spent his life in solitude in the desert and prayer. His feast day is January 15.

St. Cerbonius
Around 575 three barbarian tribes threatened Bishop Cerbonius and sent him out of northern Africa. During the invasion of Populonis, Cerbonius provided safe shelter to some Roman soldiers. As a penalty for helping soldiers, the chief ordered Cerbonius to fight a bear. In the arena, the bear did nothing but lick Cerbonius' feet. He was later sent away to an island. He lived there for 30 years, teaching and preaching the :faith. His feast day is October 10.

St. Isidore of Alexandria
As a young man, Isidore dedicated his life to God. He gave the great wealth that he inherited from his family to the poor and went to live in the desert. He returned to Alexandria, Egypt and worked in the city's hospital and became it's chief. He helped many hospitalized people with his prayers. At age 80 he fled back into the Nitrian desert where he lived out his life in solitude and prayer. His feast day is January 15.

St.Pambo
Pambo instructed and educated many monks at his monastery in the Nitrian desert in Egypt. He was very reflective in prayer but tactless in his comments. He once left his teacher after his teacher suggested that he pray over Psalm 39, which states, "1 will take heed of my ways that I sin not with my tongue." He led a very simple monks life. However, when he was dying he said, "Since I came into the desert, I have eaten nothing that I have not earned by work, and I do not remember that I said anything for which I had need to be sorry afterwards. Nevertheless,1 must now go to God before I have begun to serve him." His feast day is July 18.

St. Ammon the Abbot
Ammon married when he was 22 years old. After 18 years together, Ammon left home and became a hermit in the Nitrian desert of Alexandria Egypt. His wife remained at home and invited many women to join the religious life with her. Ammon came home to visit his wife every 6 months. Because of his reputation for holiness, many disciples among the hermits came to visit him. Radiant in prayer, strict in diet, a miracle worker, Ammon became known for his holiness by those who knew him. His feast day is October 4.

St. John of Egypt
Between the ages of 25 and 30, John stopped being a carpenter in order to become a monk. At about age 40 John moved to a cave. In his cave he made a prayer room, a bedroom and a combination workroom and living room. He isolated himself from the outside world. He created only a small opening to receive fruits and vegetables and the prayer request ofvisitors. He prayed privately all week long and Saturdays and Sundays received visitors. He never ate before sunset and only ate dried fruits and vegetables. He lived this life for the next 40 years. John's visitors attested to his ability to heal the sick, read people's hearts and predict the outcome of future events. His feast day is March 27.

St. Peter Claver
He was born in 1581 in Spain. He was a farmer's son. He studied at the University of Barcelona. He became a Jesuit priest at age 20. He later became a missionary in America. He spent most of his life providing physical and spiritual ministry to slaves. When the slaves arrived in Cartegna, Peter converted them. Over the years, he converted over 300,00 slaves. He also worked for humane treatment of slaves on plantations for over 40 years. He died on September 8,1654. Pope Leo xrn canonized him in 1888

Black History

African American Historical Events Timeline

The Internet African American History Challenge

Kulture Kids Learn About African American Culture

Addy's Escape to Freedom

Black History.com

Black History at Infoplease.com