February is Black History Month. Each day one historical fact will be shared from the time period of 1492 - 2000, in 25 year increments. 

Today's fact:

1926-1950

During the Great Depression, 25-40% of Black people are on relief (vs. 12% of Whites).  Jesse Owens won 4 gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Munich, Germany. In 1941, President Roosevelt issued an executive order barring federal discrimination.  In that same year, an attack on Pearl Harbor began US involvement in WWII – 1 million Black Americans served during the war.  Jackie Robinson was named baseball’s most valuable player in 1949.