“Blacks Have No History!”
San Juan, Puerto Rico
January 24, 1874 – June 8, 1938
January 24 is the birthday of black historian, writer, and activist who researched and
raised awareness of the great contributions of black people worldwide, especially Afro-Latin Americans
and African-Americans. Arturo was born in the town of Santurce, Puerto Rico (now part of the
capital San Juan). While in grade school, one of his teachers claimed
that
blacks have no history, heroes, or accomplishments. Inspired to prove
the
teacher wrong, Arturo Schomburg determined that he would find and
document the
accomplishments of continental Africans and those throughout the diaspora, and became an important
intellectual figure in the Harlem Renaissance.
