(Photo By Flickr User Pam Broviak)

As the month of February continues, we here at Central Illinois’ Christian Voice, are helping to celebrate Black History Month. Check out on what’s happening with African-Americans….…

Black History Scope Today for February 8th:

1986: Oprah Winfrey becomes the first African-American woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show. Also, figure skater Debi Thomas, became the first African-American to win the Women’s Singles of the U.S. National Figure Skating Championship competition, was a pre-med student at Stanford University.

1985: Brenda Renee Pearson, an official court reporter for the House of Representatives, was the first black female to record the State of the Union message delivered by the president in the House chambers.

1968: Actor Gary Coleman was born in Zion, IL on this day. Also, officers killed three students during demonstration on the campus of South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, SC. Students were protesting segregation at an Orangeburg bowling alley.

1944: Journalist Harry S. McAlphin, was the 1st African-American to accredited to attend White House press conference.

1925: Marcus Garvey entered federal prison in Atlanta, GA. Students staged strike at Fisk University (Nashville, TN) to protest policies of white administration.

1894: Congress repeals the Enforcement Act which makes it easier for some states to disenfranchise African-American voters.