To the people….

Throughout black history month I plan to post on known and forgotten black history facts and thought it was only appropriate to start off with the “Father of Chicago”…my home, Jean Baptiste Point DuSable. On a side note, why did I completely feel like I just had a Whitney Houston moment similar to how she announces, “My man, the king of R&B…Booobbbbaaaaa Brown!”

Jean Baptiste Point DuSable, born in Haiti, built the first permanent home in Chicago on the north bank of the Chicago River. He is also credited for having the first performed marriage in Chicago and his granddaughter was the first child born in Chicago. Although he died almost penniless, he is recognized as an entrepreneur that was officially named in 1968 as the founder of Chicago.

Sara Baartman, a Khoisan woman from South Africa, was taken in 1814 to France where she was exhibited as a freak show and “scientific research” due to her unusual body features, particularly her large backside, hips and genitals. She was named “Hottentot Venus”, Hottentot being a name given to people with cattle and Venus the Roman goddess of love, a cruel reference to Sara who was showcased naked for paid European audiences that were fascinated by her. Once the Parisians grew tired of her show, she was forced to turn to prostitution and died in 1815 at the age of 25. A French scientist Georges Cuvier made a cast of her body, removed her skeleton, brain and genitals, to displayed them in bottles at the Musee de l’Homme in Paris where they were not removed from public view in 1974. In 1994 then president Nelson Mandela suggested that her remains be brought home. It wasn’t until January 2002 when Baartman’s remains were finally returned to Cape Town where she was buried on Women’s Day, August 9th 2002.