Today in Black History
|
Kwanzaa Ends New Years Day Haiti Independence Act 1804 African Benevolent Society (Education) 1808 Lincoln University was incorporated (1854) in PA. Emancipation Proclamation 1863 First meeting of the Catholic Afro-American Lay Congress (1889) in WDC Prairie View Bowl (1929) First Black African-American college football bowl game Buddy Young, (1947) First Black African American to score a Rose Bowl touchdown Wally Triplett, Dennie Hoggard (Penn State) (1948) First Black African Americans to play in the Cotton Bowl Richard G. Hatcher, (1967) First Black African American mayor of Gary, Indiana John E. Jacob, (1982) succeded Vernon Jordan as president of the National Urban League David Dinkins, (1990) was sworn in as the First Black African American Mayor of the City of New York
William Lloyd Garrison, (1831) Began publishing The Liberator, Abolitionist newspaper, in Boston, Mass. John Hope Franklin, born 1915 Historian W. Wilson Goodie, (1984) was sworn in as the First Black African American Mayor of Philadelphia, Pa. Sharon Pratt Dixon, (1991) was sworn in as the First Black African American woman Mayor of a major City, Washinton, D.C.
William Tucker, (1624) First Black African American child born in America, baptized in Jamestown Adam C. Powell Jr. (1961) assumed the Chairmanship of the House Education and Labor Committe of Congress
The first Black African American baseball league, National Negro Baseball League, organized 1920 Grace Bumbry, born 1937, Opera singer Andrew Young, (1982) was sworn in as Mayor of Atlanta, Ga.
George Washington Carver, (1864 - 1943) Scientist developed more than 400 different products from the potato and the peanut Benjamin Ward, born 1984 took office as New York City's First Black African American Police Commissioner
The World Anti-Slavery Convention opened in London, 1831. Samson W. Keeble, (1873) First Black African American member of the Tennessee State House of Representatives Joseph Oliver Bowers, (1953) First Black Catholic bishop to serve in the United States in this century The IRS granted tax-deductible status to the NAACP National Office for functions other than its programs (1981) Robert N.C. Nix Jr., (1984) First Black African American Pennsylvania State Supreme Court Justice John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie, died 1993, Musician
W.B. Purvis, (1890) Patented the fountain pen Marian Anderson, (1955) First Black African American person made her debut in the Metropolitan Opera in Verdi's Masked Ball
Fannie M. Jackson, (1836 - 1913) Pioneer and Educator, First Black African American woman college graduate in United States Butterfly McQueen, born 1911. Actress James Weldon Johnson (1950) Mermorial Collection of Black Arts and Letters was given to Yale University Sandra Antoinette Wilson, (1982) First woman ordained a priest in the Protestant Episcopal Church
Fisk University (1866) founded in Nashville, Tenn.
Lincoln declared Black African American should be educated in D.C. James Varicick, born 1768 First A.M.E. Zion Bishop Edward W. Brooke, (1967) of Mass. was sworn in as the Third Black African American to serve in the U.S. Senate. He held that postion until Nov. 1978
Charles W. Anderson, (1936) First African American member of the Kentucky Legislature Lorraine Hansberry, died 1965 Author of "Raisin in the Sun" died in New York City Reuben Anderson, (1981) First Black African American Supreme Court Judge (Mississippi)
Mordecai W Johnson, (1890 - 1976) Educator The Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) was organized in 1957 Congressional Black Caucus organized in 1971
Convention of the Colored National Labor Union, the first Black labor convention, 1869 Don Barksdale, (1953) Became First Black African American to play in an NBA All-Star Game Doug Wilder (1986) First Black African American of any State in the U.S.A. was inaugurated as Governor of Virginia
John Oliver Killens, born 1916 Novelist Ernest Just, (1930) a Black African American biologist, served as V.P. of American Zoologists Julian Bond, born 1940 Senator for the stste of Georgia
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority was founded at Howard Univeristy in 1908 Martin Luther King, Jr., (1929 - 1968) Civil rights leader Rev. Curtis W. Harris, (1998) Union Baptist Church where he serves as pastor and Hopewell Action Council Affiliate President,Former Civil Rights marcher with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., has served on City Council since first elected in 1986. In 1994 he was elected Vice Mayor, and in 1998 he made history by being elected the first African/American Mayor of Hopewell
Jefferson Franklin Long, (1871) took oath of office as first Black African American Congressman from Georgia Lucius D. Amerson (1967) Sworn in as first Black African American sheriff of the South since Reconstruction in the 20th century in Tuskegee, (Macon County, Alabama) Roy Wilkins, (1986) Exec. Dir. of the NAACP and civil rights activist for over 50 years, Congressional Gold Medal was presented to Aminda Wilkins, wife of Roy Wilkins
Paul Cuffee, born 1759 Merchant, shipbuilder and Black nationalist Muhammad Ali, (Cassius Clay) born 1942 Heavyweight champion of the world three times born in Louisville, Ky.
Dr Daniel H. William, born 1856 Surgeon, performed first successful open heart operation in 1893 William Dawson - GA., (1949) First Black African American to head a congressional standing committee in recent times William E. Rhee, (1958) First Black African American professional hockey player Boston Bruins Robert C. Weaver (1966) Became first Black African American presidential cabinet member when sworn in as Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs, (Johnson Administration)
Freed Blacks African Americans organized Savannah GA.'s first Baptist Church, 1788 John H. Johnson, born 1918 Editor and Publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines.
W.R. Pettiford, born 1847 Founder of Alabama Penny Savings Bank Hiram Rhodes Revels, (1870) First Black African American U.S. senator (Mississippi) Barbara Jordan, born 1936 Congresswoman Lorenzo Milam, First Black African American radio network (1972) KPOO-FM San Francisco "Poor People's Radio" Dr. Ronald McNair, died 1986 Astronaut, Physicist extraoridinaire and one of the First three Black African American Astronauts to be chosen for the shuttle program, died in Challenger explosion
Freedom Journal, First Black African American paper 1827 Willam Brown-Chappell, born 1906 Pioneer aviator
Nat Turner, born 1800 Slave plowman, Preacher leader of the insurrections, he and followers killed some 60 whites during slave revolts in 1831 He was killed in Southhampton County, Virginia
Lott Carey, (1821) First Black Baptist missionary to Liberia, Africa Dr. Daniel Hale Williams (1889) Pioneer in surgery, Founded Provident Hospital in Chicago, Il. Constance B. Motley (1966) became the First Black African American Woman to be named to a Federal Judgeship in New York City Paul Robeson, (1976) Athlete, Lawyer, Singer, died in Philadelphia Clarence Norris died 1989 the last survivor of the "Scottsboro Boys" rape case, which became a symbol of racial injustice in the Deep South in the 1930's died in New York City
Martin Delaney, (1812-1885) Ethnologist Lenora Spruill White (1937) Aunt Jackie Robinson, (1962) First Black African American elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame Clarence "Bighouse" Gaines (1990) Coach won record 800th college basketball game
Sojourner Truth, (1851) addressed the First Black Women's Rights Convention, Akron Ohio Carl T. Rowan, (1961) was appointed Deputy Ass't Sec'y of the State for Public Affairs Sandra Wilson, (1982) First Black African American Female priest of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the NYC Archdiocese
54th Regiment (Black African-American) infantry formed 1863 Bessie Coleman, born 1893 First African American woman aviator Angela Davis, born 1944 Activist James Clinton Spruill, (1942) Uncle Executive Order 9981, to end segregation in US Armed Forces signed by President Harry Truman, 1948 Shirley Chisholm, (1972) First Black African American Congresswoman, announced her candidacy for President of the United States Chester Lobelle (1991) First Black African American Protestant Episcopal bishop in the West
Leontyne Price, (1961) World-renowed opera singer, made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House Angela D. (Propst) Henderson born 1962 a Black African American Woman and friend Mahalia Jackson (1911-1972) Gospel Singer Jordan Romana Murphy (1989) Cus
Philadelphia's Free Africa Society organized, 1787 John Brown, (1858) Organized raid on Arsenal at Harper's Ferry Richard Barthe, born 1901 Sculptor born in New Orleans
Francis L. Cardoza, (1872) Elected State Treasurer of South Carolina Violette Anderson, (1920) First Black African American woman lawyer admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court Oprah Winfrey, born 1954 Entertainer Stokeley Carmichael (1967) addressed the " Conference'67 - Survival of Black People " in San Francisco
William Wells Brown, (1858) novelist and dramatist, Published first Black drama, "Leap to Freedom" Stachel Paige, died 1962 named National Baseball Congress' alltime outstanding player died in Kansas City
First meeting of Black Masonic lodge recognized by white Masonry (1871) Alpha Lodge of New Jersey Jackie Robinson, born 1919 First Black African American baseball player in the major leagues Lt. Commander Samuel L. Gravely, (1962) was given command of the Destroyer USS Falgout
Jefferson Franklin Long, (1871) First Black African American to speak in the House of Representatives as a Congressman Langston Hughes, (1902-1967) Poet and author, Black African American North Carolina A & T college students staged a series of sit-in demonstration at a segregated lunch counter that stimulated a whole new era in Civil Rights agitation in America in Greensboro, N. C., 1960 Julian James Murphy, (1987) Cus
Samuel Lowery, (1880) First Black African American lawyer to argue a case before the Supreme Court Ernest E. Just, (1914) Biologist, received the Spingarn Medal for pioneering research on fertilization and cell division
15th Amendment (Black suffrage) passed 1870 Autherine Juanita Lucy Foster, (1956) First Black African American student admitted to the University of Alabama Geraldine McCullough, (1965) Wins Widener Gold Medal for Sculpture Franklin A Thomas, (1979) the First Black African American head of a major American philanthropic agency, The multibillion dollar Ford Foundation William "Bill" White, (1989) former broadcaster for the Yankees and CBS radio, became the First Black African American to be named as Baseball's National League Persident
24th Amendment abolished Poll tax, 1864 Rosa Parks, born 1913 Elaine Ifill, born 1915 Painter Austin T. Walden, (1964) First Black African American judge in Florida since Reconstruction
Dr. James Bowman, born 1923 Professor, pathology and genetics born in Washington, D.C. Henry "Hank" Aaron, born 1934 The home run king of major league baseball L. R. Lautier (1956) First Black African American to be admitted to the National Press Club
First organized emigration of U.S. Blacks back to Africa, from New York to Sierra Leone, 1820 Peabody Fund established to promote Black education in South, 1867 A Jail-in Movement was started in Rock Hill, S.C. SNCC urged a southwide " Jail, No Bail " campaign Jonathan Jasper, (1870) Wright elected to South Carolina Supreme Court
Freedman's Aid Society, founded to promote education among Blacks Eubie Blake, (1883-1983) Famed pianist, born in Baltimore Grady Veron Spruill (1939) Uncle Irwin C. Mollison, (1945) Appointed Judge of the US Customs Court by President Truman Emmett L. Ashford, (1966) the First Black African American Umpire in a major leagues
Harry S. McAlpin, (1944) First Black African American reporter to attend White House press conference First trial of Beckwith for the murder of Medgar Evers declared a mistrial (1964) Oprah Winfrey,(1986) The First Black African American woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show
Paul Lawrence Dunbar, (1872-1906) 1st poet to use Black dialect in his verse died in Dayton, Ohio Richard Long, born 1927 scholar of language and the arts, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Leroy "Satchel" Paige, (1971) Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame Bernard Harris, (1995) The First African American astronaut to take a spacewalk
Leontyne Price, born 1927 World renowned Soprano Roberta Flack, born 1940 Singer Southern Christian Leadership Conference founded, 1957 H. Lewis, (1961) conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra. Andrew Brimmer, (1966) The First Black African American person to serve on the Federal Reserve Board Ronald Brown (1989) elected by acclamation as the First Black African American to head the National Democratic Party
Terry Diane Cunningham-Burd, born 1959 IT manager City of Hopwell, Virginia and Friend Clifford Alexander Jr, (1977) The First African American Secretary of the Army Barbara Harris, (1989) the First Black African American Woman Episcopal Bishop in Boston, Mass. Nelson Mandela, (1990) leader of movement for democracy in South Africa, released from prison after 27 years
Congress enacted the first fugitive slave law in 1793. Abraham Lincoln born 1809 Henry Highland Garnett, (1843) First Black African American man to preach in the rotunda of the Capitol to Representatives NAACP founded after riot in Springfield, Ill., 1909 Barbara Harris, (1989) First female Anglican bishop in the world
Andrew "Rube" Foster, (1920) First successful Black professional baseball league organized First Black pro Basketball team, "The Renaissance," organized 1923 Joseph L. Searles, (1970) The First African American member of the New York Stock Exchange
Valentine's Day Frederick Douglass, (1817 - 1895) Abolitionist born in Tuckahoe, Md. Morehouse College, founded in Atlanta, 1867 David Dinkins, (1989) Borough President of Manhattan, announced his candidacy for Mayor of New York City
Patrice Lumumba, (1961) Congo Premier slain, U.S. and African Nationalists disrupted the U.N. with demonstrations of the slain Nat King Cole died 1965 Henry Lewis, (1968) was named director of the New Jersey Symphony
New York City Council passed a bill prohibitting racial discrimination in all city assisted housing developments Joe Frazier, (1970) became World Heavyweight Boxing Champion by a knockout
The Ku Klux Klan (1865) was organized at Pulaski, Tenn. Michael Jordan, born 1963 Basketball player
Toni Morrison, born 1931 (born Chloe Anthony Wofford) Author
The First Black Y.M.C.A. was started in Washington, D.C. in 1853 First Pan-African Congress organized in Paris by WEB DuBois, 1919 William "Smoky" Robinson born 1940 Singer
Frederick Douglass died 1895 Orator, Crusader and Journalist born in Maryland, died in Washington D.C. at 78 yrs old
Lemuel Haynes, (1804) First Black African American to receive an honorary degree from a white college, Middlebury College, VT Malcolm X (1925 - 1965) Black NAtional Leader Assassinated in the Audubon Ball Room in Harlem, New York City Hon. Barbara C. Jordan, born 1936 Member of Texas Senate, First Member of Congress from Texas, Member of Judiciary Comm. and Democratic Steering and Policy Comm. a keynote speaker at the '76 Democratic National Convention.
George Washington born in 1732. Julius Winfield "Dr. J" Erving born in 1950
Dr. WEB DuBois, (1868-1963) Author, Scholar and Historian
Bishop Daniel A Payne, born 1811 Reformer and educator of AME Church Rebecca Lee, (1864) became the first African American woman to receive an M.D. degree Judge J. Waites Waring (1964) quit his Charleston, S.C. home as a result of ostracism for his fight for Blacks
Hiram R. Revels, (1870) First Black African American U.S. Senator, took oath of office Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) won World Heavyweight crown in 1964 Grady Seandus Spruill, (1973) Cus
15 th Amendment proposed in Congress, giving former slaves the right to vote in 1869 Tiger "Theodore" Flowers, (1926) First Black African American middleweight champion of the world Singer "Fats" Domino, born 1928
John Willis Menard, (1868) First Black African American to speak on the floor of the House Charlotte Ray, (1872) First Black African American woman lawyer, graduated Harvard University Marion Anderson, born 1902 World renowned Contralto Singer, born in Philadelphia, received honorary doctor of letters from the University of Connecticut at the age of 85
Phillis Wheatly, (1753-1784) Poetess Richard Wright's Native Son published in 1940 A Fereral Grand Jury (1967) returned Federal Conspiracy Indictments against men in connection with death of three Civil Rights Workers
U.S. Supreme Court (1953) ruled that District of Columbia restaurants could not legally refuse to serve Blacks Hattie McDaniel became the first Black African American (male or female) to win an Oscar (for Best Supporting Actress) for her role as Mammy in "Gone With The Wind."
Ralph Ellison born 1914 Writer Howard University, (1867) Washington DC, charted by an Act of Congress James Milton Turner, (1871) First Black African-American minister appointed to Liberia Harry Belafonte born 1927 singer, performer, activist and humanitarian born in New York City Sidney Barthelemy (1986) was elected Mayor of New Orleans, in 1974 became Louisiana's First Black African American Senator since Reconstruction
Freedman's Bureau founded for Black Education, 1865 Dr. Jerome H. Holland, (1972) elected to the board of directors of the New York Stock Exchange
Richard Allen, (1794) founded AME Church Thomas L. Jennings, (1821) First Black African American to receive a patent dry cleaning process First University open to all races University of SC (1868) Garrett A. Morgan, (1877 - 1963) Scientist and Inventor Laurean Rugumbwa (1960) Black Tanganyikan, named to the College of Cardinals Dr. Richard R. Green, (1988) was installed as the First Black African American Chancellor of New YOrk City's School System Carole Gist, (1990) crowned First Black African American Miss USA
Crispus Attucks, (1723 - 1770) was among the first to shed blood for American Independence ( Boston Massacre ) Josiah Thomas Walls, (1871) First Black African American congressman elected from the state of Florida James Ernest Wilkins Sr., (1954) First Black African American assistant secretary of labor
Blanche Kelso Bruce of Mississippi elected to full term in U.S. Senate in 1975.
Dred Scott decision handed down by Supreme Court in 1857 (Blacks are not citizens of the U.S.) Ghana became independent 1957
Robert S. Pious, born 1908 foremost artists of U.S. Spingarn medalist, paintings in Smithsonian Institute First cadets graduated from flying school at Tuskegee in 1942.
Rhodes Island, (1774) First act passed forbidding the importation of Black African American slaves Senate refuses to seat P.B.S. Pinchback of Louisiana in 1876. Police broke up protest demonstrations on Alabama State Campus (1960) Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali, (1971) First Black African American boxers to draw a multimillion dollar gate
Oscar DePriest born 1871 elected to Congress from Illinois in 1930 served two terms, born in Florence, Ala. Clifton Wharton, (1961) is sworn in as ambassador to Norway Carl T. Rowan (1963) was appointed Ambassador to Finland
Harriet Tubman (1821 - 1913) "Engineer" of the Underground Railroad
Benjamin Banneker with L'Enfant began to lay out Washington in the District of Columbia, 1789 U.S. Supreme Court ruling (1956) on segregation in Public Schools denounced in a manifesto issued by 100 Southern Senators and Representatives
Jeanne Baptiste Pointe de Sable (1773) founded settlement now known as Chicago, Ill Andrew Young, born 1932 member U.S. House of Rep. from Georgia and U.S. Ambassador to United Nations New York established a Fair Employment Practices Commission (1945) Lorraine Hansberry play, Raisin in the Sun, opened on Broadway in 1959
Eli Whitney, (1794) Patented the cotton gin, based on the ideas and plans of a slave Orders giving to enlist Black Afreian Americans in Cinfederate Army (1865) Lee Surrenderd before these troops saw action First Black daily newspaper in modern times (1932) The Atlanta Daily World Fanie Lou Hamer, freedom fighter, died 1977 Absalom Jones ordained first Black priest in Episcopal Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church founded, 1821, New York Quincy Jones, born 1933 Composer and Musician
John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish, (1827) published the Freedom's Journal, First Black newspaper Los Angeles Sentinel founded by Leon H. Washington in 1933. Orangeburg, S.C. (1960) 350 protestors were arrested and placed in a stockade
Norbert Rillieux, (1806-1894) Inventor of sugar refining San Antonio, Texas (1960) became the first large southern city to integrate lunch counters
St. Patrick's Day The Phoenix Society founded 1833, New York Jackie Robinson, (1946) made his professional debut as a member of the Montreal Royals Lawrence Pendleton (1982) was confrimed as head of the U.S. Commission on Cilvil Rights
Charlie Pride, born 1938 Country Singer Romare Bearden Artist died in 1988 in New York City
Nat King Cole, born 1919 Singer Commercial Ad, Inc. (1939) an all Black advertising specialty company was established in New York City
Harriet Beecher Stowe, (1852) published Uncle Tom's Cabin Jan Matzeliger, (1883) Inventor patenting of the first successful machine to manufacture entire shoe Patience Singleton friend of compiler of most of these facts born
Alonzo Pietro, (1492) pilot, sailed with Columbus Eva Beatrice Dykes, (1921) First Black African American woman to complete the requirements for a Ph.D. Walter White, leader of NAACP died 1955 in New York City Selma Freedom March began in 1965 Nambia gained its independence, 1990
Marcus Garvey, (1916) Black nationalist, arrived in America from Jamaica Alabama State Board of Education ordered by Federal Court to begin desegregation of all school by fall of 1967
Moses "The Mailman" Malone, born 1954 NBA star Lee P. Brown, (1982) was appointed First Black African American Police Chief of Houston Texas
Supreme Court rules in 1976 that Black African Americans and other minorities are entitled to retroactive job seniority
Scottsboro Boys arrested, Point Rock, Alabama, 1931 Poll Tax ruled unconstitutional in 1966 Whoopi Goldberg (1991) won an Academy Award Oscar as best supporting actress for her performance in the movie Ghost
Richard Allen, (1760 - 1831) AME Church Bishop Thomas J Martin (1872) awarded patent for fire extinguisher William H. Hastie, (1937) appointed First Black African American federal judge of the Virgin Islands Archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel (1962) ordered all Roman Catholic schools in New Orleans diocese to end segregation
Arthur Mitchell, born 1934 Dancer and Choreographer Augusta Savage, Sculptor died in 1962 known for "Lift Every Voice and Sing" and "The New Nergo" died in New York City
New York State abolished slavery, 1799 Ohio passed law restricting the movement of Blacks, 1804 Harlem Rens, (1939) First Black African-American team on record to win a professional world's basketball championship Crystal Bird Fauset, died 1965 First Black African American Woman to be elected to the State Legislature in Penna.
Granville T. Woods, (1904) railroad brake patent Pearl Bailey, born 1918 Actress Florida, Texas, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi ordered to desegregate all school grades by the fall of 1967
15th amendment gave Freed Black African American Men the right to vote, was declared ratified in Congress in 1870
Thomas Mundy Peterson, (1870) First Black African American votes as a result of ratification of the Fifteenth Amendment George Dixon World Boxing Champion, (1890) First Black African American man to hold an American title in any sport Laurian Rugambwa, (1960) First Black African American cardinal in the Catholic church
Hampton Institute opened in 1868. North Caroline Mutual opened doors for business, 1899 Dr Charles Richard Drew, died 1950 Scientist, discovered method of storing blood plasma, killed in auto accident
Toussaint L'Ouverture, (1796) appointed Commander in Chief of French forces in St. Domingo Attorney Gen. MacGrath and Solicitor Gen. Perlman argued before the U.S. Supreme Court for reversal of 1896 ruling (Plessy Vs. Ferguson) which upheld segregation John Thompson, (1984) became the First African American coach to win NCAA basketball tournament
Dr Matthew Ricketts, born 1858 First Black African American man elected to Nebraska State Legislature (from Omaha) Humpfrey H. Reynolds, (1883) First Black African American to patent an improved window ventilator for railroad cars Carter G Woodson, died 1950 the Father of African American history
Maya Angelou, born 1928 Author Dr Martin Luther King Jr, (1929 - 1968) Civil rights leader, assassinated in Memphis Tn.
Booker T Washington, (1856 - 1915) Educator and founder of Tuskegee Institute born in Hale's Ford, Virginia Colin Powell, born 1937
Robert E. Perry and Matthew Henson (1909) reached the North Pole Fisk University became the First Black Institution of higher education in the U.S. to receive a charter for a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa
First major slave revolt in New York City (1712) Billie Holiday, born 1917 blues singer, in E. Baltimore Booker Taliaferro Washington, (1940) First Black African American depicted on U.S. postage stamp
Hank Aaron, (1974) Hit his 715th home run
Richard Allen, (1816) First Black African American AME bishop Daniel Coker, (1819) First Black African American missionary associated with the AME church Civil Rights Bill (1866) passed granting Blacks citizenship giving the same rights enjoyed by white citizens Paul Robeson, (1898 - 1976) Actor, scholar, singer George Augustus Stallings, (1990) Organized the African Orthodox Church
Open housing demonstrations and several clashes intensified in Louisville Ky. (4/40-4/24) after City's Board of Aldermen rejected an open housing act Lee Elder, (1975) First Black African American to play in the Masters Tournament
Spellman College, GA. (1881) First institution of higher education established to educate black women * Dr. Percy L Julian, born 1899 1898 Chemist whose research helped create drugs for treatment of arthritis graduated and taught at DePauw University in 1920, taught at Fisk University ans West Virignia State State College Roy Wilkins (1955) appointed Executive Secretary of the National Office of the NAACP
Free African Society organized in 1787 in Philadelphia Civil War began at Fort Sumter, Charleston S.C. 1861 "Sugar" Ray Robinson, died 1989, won the middle weight boxing championship of the world five times was debbed " the Harlem Hurricane" died in Los Angeles
Thomas Jefferson's birthday. United Negro College Fund (1944) was founded by Dr. Frederick D. Patterson, President of Tuskegee Institute
The first abolition society in the U.S. was founded in Pennsylvania, 1775. First influential revival to emphasize the centrality of speaking in tongues (1906) Dr. John Hope Franklin, (1963) was appointed to faculity of the University of Chicago, (1982) became the James B. Duke Prof. Emeritus of History and Prof. of Legal History in the Law School at Duke University
Jackie Robinson, (1946) First Black African American in major league baseball The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (1960) (SNCC- pronounced Snick) was formed on the campus of Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina
Congress passed bill ending slavery in Washington, DC, 1862 Carol Brice, born 1918 Concert Singer C.F. Poole, (1961) appointed U.S. Attorney for the Northern California District Soc. Culture. African. American on Internet begins, 1990 (Internet can be accessed on Invention Factory BBS in NYC)
Francis Williams (1758) U.S. First Black African American college graduate, published a poem in Latin Rev. Ralph David Abernathy died 1990
Bill Russell, (1966) First Black African American to coach in the National Basketball Association, predominantly white professional basketball team Alex Haley, (1977) author of Roots, awarded Pulitizer Prize "Youth March for Intergrated Schools" drew 30,000 students to Washington D.C.(1959)
Cheyney State College, one of the oldest Black colleges in the US, founded in 1837 Dr. Percy L. Julian died 1975 Chemist
Harriet Tubman, (1853) started working on the Underground Railroad
Pvt. Milton L. Olive, III, (1966) was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor posthumously
First slave revolt occurs in South Carolina, 1526 Charles Mingus, born 1922 Bassist, composer, pianist and bandleader Charles H. Houston, died 1950 leading constitutional lawyer and Spingarn Medal recipient Harold Robert Perry, (1966) First Black African American bishop consecrated in the United States
Granville T Woods, (1856 - 1910) Inventor of automatic air-brake and over 40 other inventions Charlotte E. Ray, (1872) First Black African American woman admitted to practice before the D.C. Supreme Court National Urban League founded, 1910 Sarah "The Divine One" Vaughn, died 1990 Jazz Vocalist begain to sing at 16 at the Apollo Therater
National Medical Ass'n of Black physicians organized in Atlanta Ga.in 1884 The United Negro College Fund was established in 1944 The University of North Carolina admitted its First Black African American student (1951)
W.B. Purvis, (1882) Patent on a paper bag manufacturing device Ella Fitzgerald, born 1917 Singer "First Lady of Song" The Johnson Publishing Co. (1962) became the First Black Owned book publishing company * William Count Basie, died 1984 Jazz pianist Artist and musician died in New York City
John James Audubon, born 1785 Artist and Ornithologist * William "Count" Basie, died 1984 Jazz pianist and musician died in New York City First white church to give money in response to James Fornian's demand for reparations (1969) Dr. Frederick D. Patterson, died 1988, President of Tuskegee Institute
Coretta Scott King, born 1927 Activist (and wife of Martin Luther King) Roscoe Simmons, died 1951 Journalist Orator and Politician was 78 years old
George B Vashon, (1847) First Black African American to enter New York State Bar Samuel Adams Jr., (1965) appointed Overseas Director of the Agency for International Development Samuel Lee Gravely, (1971) Appointed first Black African American admiral in US Naval history Lee P. Brown, (1993) First Black African American nominated director of the Office of National Drug Policy
Macon B. Allen and Robert Morris Jr, (1845) First Black African American to practice law, open practice Duke Ellington, (1899-1975) Musician and jazz composer Benjamin O. Davis, (1965) awarded Legion of Merit for work as director of the U.S. Air Force Manpower Organization U.S. Commissioner of Education announced that all of the nations public schools required to desegregate completely by autumm 1967 Col Frederick Gregory, (1985) First Black African-American astronaut, piloted space shuttle Challenger First day of LA Riots, (1992) sparked by acquittal of four white cops in the beating of Rodney King, which would result in at least 50 deaths, thousands injured and estimates of up to $1 billion in property damage
Wallace Saunders, (1900) wrote the song "Casey Jones"
Howard University opened in 1867 in Washington, D.C. * Gwendolyn Brooks, (1950) First Black African American awarded a Pulitzer Prize (poetry) * Paula V. Smith, (1986) was confirmed as the First Black African American Woman to serve as Wage and Hour Administrator in the U.S. Dept. of Labor
Elijah McCoy, (1844-1929) Inventor, held over 50 patents First game of National Negro Baseball League played in Indianapolis, 1920 Joseph A. Johnson, (1953) First Black African American student at Vanderbilt University Injunction against Philip Morris, Inc. - First Case to be tried under Title VII of 1964 Civil Rights Act (1967) J. Terry Steib, (1993) First Black African American bishop in the state of Tennessee
Macon B. Allen, (1845) admitted to Mass. bar as First Black African American to practice law in the United States Sugar Ray Robinson, born 1920 Middleweight Boxing Champion born in Detroit Mi. Ersa H. Poston, born 1921 appointed New York State Civil Service Commissioner in 1967
Plessy vs. Ferguson upheld "Separate But Equal" doctrine in 1896 Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) organized the first of several "freedom rides" from Washington, DC to force desegregation of southern bus terminals, 1961
Dr. Richard R. Green, died 1989 Chancellor of the New York City School System Robert S. Abbott, (1905) published first issue of the newspaper "Chicago Defender" * Gwendolyn Brooks, (1950) became the first Black person awarded a Pulitzer Prize, for Annie Allen Eugene A. Marino, (1988) who had served as auxiliary Bishop of Washington D.C. for 13 years, was installed as Archbishop of Atlanta, Ga. the First Black Catholic Archbishop in the U.S.
First Black Masonic Lodge founded Prince Hall, Boston, 1787 U.S. Federal Court ruled that Atlanta, Ga. must start school desegregation by September 1961 Civil Rights Act signed by President Eisenhower in 1960
William Penn, (1700) began monthly meetings for Black African Americans advocating emancipation J.R. Winters, (1878) patented the fire escape The Liberty Ship George Washington Carver, named after the scientist, launched 1943
Rev. Henry McNeal Turner, died 1915 Ernest Green, (1958) became the First Black African American to graduate from Little Rock's Central High School
John Brown, born 1800, Abolitionist Slaves in Georgia, Florida and South Carolina were freed, 1862 Luke G. Moore, (1962) appointed U.S. Marshal, First Black African American to Serve in this capacity since Frederick Douglas
Pinckeney B.S. Pinchback, born 1837 First Black African American State Governor born in Louisiana Smith v Allwright, (1944) excluding Black African Americans from primary voting is illegal
Ira Aldridge, (1807-1867) Great 19th century Black African American Actor, famous throughout the world Martha Graham born 1854 Dancer Jackson State College, (1967) riots broke out on campus for two days, seven Blacks killed and two wounded
Robert Smalls, (1862) Seized Confederate warship Segregated street cars integrated in Louisville, Ky., following sit-in staged by a Black teenager, 1871 Joe Gains, (1902) First American born Black African American to win a World Boxing Crown Samuel "Toothpick Sam" Jones, (1955) First Black African American professional baseball player to pitch a no-hitter H. Rap Brown, (1967) replaced Stokeley Carmicheal as Chairman of SNCC
Slavery abolished in Brazil, 1888 Joe Louis, born 1914 held World Heavyweight Boxing Champion title longer than any man (1937-1949) was born pugilist James Charles Evers, (1971) First Black African American mayor of Fayette, Mississippi African American Catholic Church established (1990)
In 1804 a slave known only as York accompanied Lewis and Clark on their expedition "Freedoem Riders" (1961) bus from D.C. to New Orleans was bombed and burned by white segregationists outside Anniston, Alabama
Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, founded at Indiana University, was incorporated in 1911 Arthur Ashe, (1963) The First Black African American at 19 years old joined the U.S. Davis Cup Tennis Team
Denmark abolishes slave trade, 1792 Sammy Davis Jr., (1925-1990) Entertainer Asa Philip Randolph, died 1979 Labor and Civil Rights Leader died in New York City
U.S. Supreme Court outlawed school segregration, Brown vs. Board of Education made "Separate But Equal" in public schools unconstitutional in 1954 W.C. Handy, (1969) First Black African American blues musician on a postage stamp Lawrence Wendell Bottoms, (1975) First Black African American moderator of the Presbyterian Church
First law passed regulating Black servitude (General Court of Election, Rhode Island) (1652) Supreme Court decision in Plessy vs. Ferguson affirmed the doctrine of "separate but equal" (1896) Reggie Jackson, born 1946 Baseball player Mary McLeod Bethune, died 1955 Educator founder of Bethune-Cookman College died in Dayton Beach, Florida
Malcolm X, (1925-1965) Political and Religious Activist
Elias Neau, (1704) Founded school for slaves in New York Robert N. C. Nix, (1958) Elected to United States Congress John Hope Franklin, (1962) appointed The Wm. Pitt Professor of American History and Institutions at Cambridge University england for one year Canrad Harper, (1990) partner since 1974 of the N.Y.C. major law firm of Simpson Thatcher & Bartlet, became the First Black African American President of the 120 year old - 18,000 memeber New York City Bar Assn.
George Paddington, (1836) First Black African American to be ordained by an American bishop (Thomas) Fats Waller, (1904-1943) Jazz pianist and composer Leo Pinckney, (1917) The First American drafted during World War I Gov. John Patterson, (1961) of Alamaba declared martial law in Montgomery and called out the National Guard Lowell W. Perry, (1975) Confirmed as chairman of the Equal Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Thelma Davidson Adair, (1976) First Black African American moderator of the United Presbyterian Church
Claude McKay, died 1948 Novelist and Poet Benjamin O. Davis, (1959) promoted to rank of Major General in U.S. Air Force Langston Hughes, died 1967 Poet laureate
Bob Marley, (1931-1981) Reggae Music Legend J. O. Neill, (1962) was named coach of the Chicago Cubs
Lincoln University, Penn, The First Black African American college in the U.S. founded by Prebyts, 1854 Patti LaBelle, born 1944 Singer Blanche Preston McSmith, (1960) First Black African American to address a joint session of the (AL) legislature in this century Leontyne Price, (1966) opened Metropolitan Opera season Hal McRae, (1991) Manager of the Kansas City Royals
Henry O. Tanner, (1859-1937) Artist Madame C. J. Walker, died 1919 Entrepreneur Miles Davis, born 1926 Jazz musician Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, born 1878 Dancer and Entertainer, born in Richmond VA,
Althea Gibson, (1956) Won the French Open, becoming the First Black African American tennis player to win a major tennis title Marvin Cook, (1961) was named Ambassador to Niger Republic by President J.F. Kennedy
Blind Tom Bethune, born 1849 Pianist and composer Victoria E Matthews, (1861 - 1898) Educator, born in New York Louis Gossett, Jr., born 1936 Actor
Eliza Ann Gardner, born 1831 Underground railway conductor Wisconsin Legislature in 1949 passed law forbidding discrimination in the National Guard
Vesey slave revolt in Charleston (1739) Countee Cullen, born 1903 Poet, born in Baltimore Edward Franklin Fraizer, died 1962 Sociologist, Historian and Educator Vivian Malone Jones, (1965) First Black African American student to graduate from the University of Alabama
NAACP in 1909 held first conference (as the National Negro Committee),in New York U.S. Supreme Court (1954) ordered school desegregation with "all deliberate speed"
Sojourner Truth, (1843) begins travel as abolitionist speaker Slavery was abolished in all U.S. possessions, 1862 White House Conference on Civil Rights " to fulfil these rights" was held 1966 in Washington D.C.
Harriet Tubman, (1863) led Union Army guerillas into Maryland, freeing more than 700 slaves James Augustine Healey, (1875) became the First Black Catholic Bishop in the US T. Thomas Fortune, died 1928 Jounalist
Dr Charles Richard Drew, (1904-1950) Pioneer of blood plasma research Wesley A. Brown, (1949) The First Black graduate of Annapolis Naval Academy Poor Peoples March on Washington, 1968
The First Baptist Church in America was founded in 1665 Mississippi Valley State University founded 1951 Arna Bontemps, died 1973. Writer and educator
Martin Luther King Jr. (1955) Awarded his doctorate from Boston University A Federal Court in 1956 ruled that racial segregation on Montgomery City buses violated the Constitution Dr. Mae C. Jemison, (1987) of Los Angeles was named the Nation's First Black African American female shuttle filer for NASA
First annual convention of "people of color" held in Philadelphia 1831 Congress of Racial Equality founded in 1942. Bill Russell, (1962) basketball player for Boston Celtics named " Player of the Year " Stokely Carmichael, (1966) launched "Black Power" movement
Gwendolyn Brooks, born 1917 Pulitzer Prize winning Poetess U.S. Supreme Court (1950) avoided a general ruling on "separate but equal" dotrine Mary Church Terrell, (1953) Wins struggle to end segregation in Washington DC restaurants
First Civil Rights Act passed, 1886 Homer A Plessy, (1892) refused to move to segregated railroad coach in New Orleans, initiating Plessy v Ferguson Supreme Court in 1953 banned segregation in Washington, D.C. restaurants Satchel Paige died 1982 baseball pitcher
Meta-Vaux Warick Fuller, born 1877 Sculptor Emmett J. Rice, (1979) Economist became one of seven Governors of the Federal Reserve Board
Richard Allen, (1794) founded the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia James Augstine Healy, (1854) First American black to be ordained in the Catholic church Hattie McDaniel, born 1898 First Black African American person to win an Oscar (for Best Supporting Actress in "Gone With The Wind," 1940) National Guard was sent to Prattville Alabama to suppress violence stirred up by stokeley Carmicheal (1967)
Hazel Dorothy Scott, born 1920 classical pianist and singer
Medgar Evers, (1926-1963) NAACP Civil Rights Activist, martyred in Jackson, Mississippi by a sniper's bullet President J.F. Kennedy (1963) stated that the nation faced "moral crisis" over Black Afriacn American demends for equality; pledged legislation to open public facilities for all
Oscar J Dunn, (1868) Elected Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana Solicitor Gen. Thurgood Marshall, (1967) Appointed Associate Justice of Supreme Court by President L.B. Johnson
Flag Day Harriet Beecher Stowe, (1811-1896) White abolitionist and author of Uncle Tom's Cabin born in Litchfield, Conn. Congress ruled that Black soldiers must receive equal pay, 1864 Eva Beatrice Dykes, (1921) First Black African American Woman to receive a Ph.D. Harold D. West, (1952) named president of Meharry Medical College
Josiah Henson, (1789-1883) Abolitionist Henry O Flippea, (1877) became the First Black African American graduate of West Point Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander, (1921) First Black African American to receive a Ph.D. in economics Errol Garner, born 1923 Singer and Musician Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), founded 1943 Cheryl White, (1971) First Black African American Woman Jockey James Earl James, (1987) Playwright and Actor won Tony Award for best actor in a play " Fences "
Denamrk Vessy, (1822) Led slave rebellion in South Carolina Percy C. Ifill, born 1913 Architect designed the Harlem State Office Bldg
Thomas Ezekiel Miller, congressman, was born in 1849. James Weldon Johnson, (1871-1938) Writer poet, first Black admitted to Florida Bar co-author of "Lift Every Voice And Sing" (Black National Anthem) John Wesley, (1758) First black elected bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America Louis H. Latimer, (1882) Patenting of the first cost-efficient method for producing carbon filaments
Denmark Vesey and Peter Poyas, 1822 Slave revolt leaders arrested in Charleston, SC Ella Fitzgerald, (1987) Singer was presented a National Medal of Arts at the White House by President and Mrs. Reagen Romare Bearden, (1987) Artist was presented a National Medal of Arts at the White House by President and Mrs. Reagan Nannie Burroughs, (1909) founded national training School for Women Geroge W. Caver, (1941) Scientist awarded Doctor of Science Degree by University of Rochester
First Convention of Black African Americans (1831) was held in Philadelphia Pa. Tennessee University opens as Tennessee A&L State College in 1912
Charles W. Chestnut, born 1858 Novelist Dr Lloyd A Hall, (1894) Pioneer in food chemistry, born Illinois
Henry O Tanner, (1859-1937) Artist Williams Edwards White (1879) was the First Black African American player in the Major Leagues for the Providence Greys of the National League, was accepted that the First two Black African American players were catcher Moses Fleetwood Walker and his brother Welday, an outfeilder, both played for the Toledo Blue Stockings of the American Association in 1884 Arthur Ashe, (1965) tennis champion, led UCLA to NCAA tennis championship
Joe Louis, (1938) became youngest First Black African American national sports hero in heavyweight rank boxing to score a one-round knock out WEB DuBois, (1943) becomes First Black African American member of National Institute of Letters NAACP (1953) set intergration as its goal and officially repudiated the theory of " Separate but Equal "
Wilma Rudolph, born 1940, Former polio victim who became the world famous track star, winning three gold medals in the Olympic Games Roy wilkins, (1964) Executive Secretary of NAACP, granted the Spingarn Medal
John R. Lynch became First African American to preside over deliberations of a national political party in 1884. Leontyne Price, (1965) awarded the Spingarn Medal for her accomplishments in the field of Music Daniels & Bell (1971) an all Black African American Firm became a member of the New York Stock Exchange
Abraham Lincoln signed bill providing schools for Black children [no date given] Joe Louis defeated Primo Carnera at Yankee Stadium in 1935 Fair Employment Practices Commission established 1941
James Weldon Johnson, died 1938 Prince Edward County, Virginia (1959) abandoned public school system in an attempt to prevent school desegregation Blacks and Whites riot over racial segregation in St. Augustine 1964
Vermont, (1777) First state to abolish slavery in its constitution First permanent order of Black Catholic nuns (1829) Oblate Sisters of Providence, MD Paul Lawrence Dunbar, (1872-1906) Poet and novelist born in Dayton, Ohio Elijah McCoy, (1872) Patenting of lubricator for steam engines Jack Johnson, (1908) First Black African American world champion in boxing John W. Porter, (1969) First Black African American superintendent of schools in Atlanta, Georgia
Organization for Afro-American Unity founded in 1964. Andrew Brimmer, (1966) became the First Black African American to serve on the Federal Reserve Board Supreme Court handed down Bakke decision, affecting racial quotas in education and industry, 1978
James Van Der Zee, born 1886 Photographer, born in Lenox, MA Carter Woodson, (1926) Wins Springarn Medal for his research of Black history Marlin Briscoe, (1968) became the First African American Quarterback in pro football
Lena Horne, born 1917 Actress, Vocalist and Activist
Carl Lewis, born 1961 Athlete At the National Convention (1966) (CORE) voted to endorse the concept and goals of "Black Power"
Vermont became the First U.S. territory to abolish slavery, 1777 Thurgood Marshall, born 1908 Supreme Court Justice, born in Baltimore Civil Rights Act passed, 1964 Lilllian Roberts (1981) was appointed Industrial Commissioner for the New York State Dept. of Labor
St. Phillips African Church (1819) First Black Protestant Episcopal Church in New York City First Black African American baseball player in the major leagues, Jackie Robinson, was named to Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962 At the National Convention (1966) NAACP officially disassociated itself from the "Black Power" doctrine
Independence Day Slavery abolished in New York in 1827. Booker T Washington opened Tuskegee Institute in Alabama 1881 Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, born 1900 trumpet king
Abyssinian Baptst Church (1809) New York City, organized with 19 persons Larry Doby, (1947) First Black African American player in the American League Baseball (major league) Arthur Ashe, (1975) won the Men's Wimbledon Singles Championship
Republican Party (1854) organized to oppose extension of slavery South Carolina, (1868) First state legislative body with a black majority Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, died 1971 trumpet king
Augustus Tolton, (1886) First widely known Black priest to celebrate mass Walter White, born 1893 NAACP Leader Margaret Walker, born 1915 Writer Althea Gibson, (1957) First Black African American Women to win a Single Tennis Wimbledon Championship
E. Frederick Morrow, (1955) was appointed Administrative officer in the Eisnhower Excutive Office William DeHart Hubbard, (1924) First Black African American in Olympic history to win an individual gold medal Venus Williams, (2000) wins Wimbledon
Dr Daniel Hale Williams (1858-1931) performed world's first successful open heart surgery operation at Provident Hospital in Chicago, 1893 Francis L. Cardozo installed as South Carolina's Secretary of State in 1868 George L.F. Weaver, (1961) named Secretary of Labor in charge of International Affairs
Mary McLeod Bethune,(1875-1955) Educator founder of Bethune-Cookman College died in Dayton Beach, Florida Betram Lee and Peter Bynoe, (1989) First Black NBA team owners (Denver Nuggets)
W.E.B. Dubois, (1905) Civil rights activist founded the Niagara Movement Hudgins and Associates (1961) became First Black African American owned small business investment company to be licensed under 1958 Federal Law
George Washington Carver, born 1864 Scientist Bill Cosby, born 1937 Entertainer Frederick M. Jones, (1940) Patenting of a practical refrigeration system for trucks and railroad cars Democratic National Convention (1960) adopted Civil Rights Plank supporting the sit-ins and school integration
Continental Congress (1787) outlawed, prohibited slavery from Northwest Territory New York City (1863) Draft riots began, lasting three days 1,000 killed
George Washington Carver National Monument (1951) dedicated in Joplin MO, First National park honoring a Black African American Sarah E. Goode, (1885) First patent of the First known Black African American Woman inventor
Pompey Lamb, (1779) noted spy, aids the American Revolutionary War effort Public schools for Blacks open in Philadelphia, 1822
V. A. Johnson, born 1882 First Black African American Female to argue before the U.S. Supreme Court
Billie Holliday, died 1959 Singer
Lemuel Hayes, born 1753 First Black African American to serve as minister to a White Congregation Andrew Beard, (1897) Coupling device for railroad cars patent
Patricia R. Harris, (1979) named Secretary of Health, Education and Welfare
First U.S. Victory in Korea was won by African American troops in the 24th Infantry Regiment, in 1950. Leontine T.C. Kelly, (1984) First Woman Bishop of the United Methodist Church
14th Amendment ratified in 1868. Mary Church Terrell, (1896) founded National Association of Colored Women in Washington DC
President Abraham Lincoln, (1861) read the first draft of Emancipation Proclamation to the cabinet
* Louis Tompkins Wright, born 1924 Physician * Louis Tompkins Wright, (1891 - 1952) Physician
Mary Church Terrell, died 1954 Educator
Garrett T. Morgan, (1916) Inventor of the gas mask, rescues six from gas-filled tunnel in Cleveland, Ohio Charles Cordone, (1970) Won Pulitzer Prize for his play "No Place to Be Somebody" SS Leonard Roy Harmon, (1943) First warship named for a Black person, launched in Quincy Mass
* Patrick Francis Healy, (1865) first African American awarded a Ph.D President Truman, (1948) banned discrimination in the armed services
A.P. Abourne, (1880) Inventor was awarded patent for refining coconut oil
The 14th Amendment making Blacks American citizens was adopted in 1868
The First National Convention of Black Women was held in Boston MA, in 1895
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr, (1945 ) Activist and Politician, was elected congressman from Harlem
* Whitney Young, born 1921 Former Executive Director of the National Urban League * Father Patrick Francis Healy, (1874) First Black man to receive a PhD, named President of Georgetown University
* Whitney Young named executive director of National Urban League in 1961 Slavery declared unlawful in British Empire, 1834 Benjamin E Mays, born 1895 High School educator and former President of Morehouse college First issue of Atlanta Daily World newspaper first black daily in modern times (1932)
James Baldwin, born 1924 Writer born in New York Marcus Garvey, (1920) Presented his "Back To Africa" program in New York City
The Congress of African Peoples convention was held in Atlanta in 1970
"Long" John Woodruff, 1936) won an Olympic gold medal in the 800-meter run Dr Daniel H Williams, died 1931 pioneer in surgery Henry A Rucker, (1897) appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for Georgia
Edwin Moses and Evelyn Ashford, (1984) won gold medals in Olympic track & field James A Healy, born 1830 First Black bishop in America
Voting Rights Bill signed by President Lyndon Johnson 1965
Ralph J Bunche, (1904-1971) diplomat and first African American winner of Nobel Peace Prize Charles Mahoney, (1954) First black permanent member of the delegation to the United Nations Rick James, (1948-2004) Punk Funk Singer/Songwriter/Producer, died reportedly of natural causes at a residence Universal City, Los Angeles
* Matthew A. Henson, born 1865 Explorer and first to reach the North Pole
Jesse Owens, (1936) won four Olympic gold medals in Berlin * Mattheco Henson, born 1866 First Black to reach North Pole
Clarence C. White, died 1880 Composer and Violinist Ira Aldridge, died 1867 famed Shakespearean actor
Thaddeus Stevens, died 1868 Abolitionist J Rosamond Johnson, (1873-1954) Author, actor and co-composer (with his James Weldon Johnson) of "Lift Every Voice And Sing", born in Jacksonville FL Watts Riots in Southeast LA, 1965 James Varick, (1822) First African Methodist Episcopal Conference started
Dedication of Frederick Douglass' home in Washington D.C. was declared a national shrine in 1922
Baltimore Afro American Newspaper was founded in 1892.
Ernest E Just, (1883-1941), Biologist, scientist and pioneer of cell division
Freed American slaves established country of Liberia, on the West coast of Africa, 1824
Louis E Lomax, (1922-1970) Author
WB Purvis, (1897) Patented the electric railway switch Marcus Garvey, (1887-1940) Black Nationalist
James Meredith, (1963) The First African American admitted to the University of Mississippi graduated
Benjamin Banneker, (1791) published his first Almanac NAACP Youth Council begins sit-ins at lunch counters, Oklahoma City in 1963
Richard Allen, (1830) chaired the first National Negro Convention in Philadelphia Wilberforce University established in Ohio, 1856 First Black slaves brought by the Dutch to the colony of Jamestown, 1619
William Count Basie, born 1904 Jazz pianist, big band and orchestra leader, born in Red Bank NJ, Nat Turner, killed 1831 Leader of Slave revolts in Southampton, VA
John Lee Hooker, born 1917 blues singer and guitarist First black college founded in Tennessee, and still in existence Fisk University established, 1867
National Negro Business League founded in 1900
Edith Sampson, (1950) First Black delegate to United Nations appointed by President Harry S. Truman
Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters organized in 1925. Althea Gibson, (1927) Tennis champion, born in South Carolina National Association of Colored Nurses, founded 1908 John LeFlore, (1972) First black candidate certified to run for a U.S. Senate seat First meeting of the American National Baptist Convention (1895)
William Dawson, (1943) elected Black Democratic Party vice-presidential candidate
W.E.B. DuBois, died 1963 Editor Author and Civil Rights Leader, dies in Ghana
March on Washington in 1963. Martin Luther King Jr., (1963) delivers "I Have A Dream" speech at Lincoln Memorial
Charlie "Bird" Parker, born 1920 Jazz Musician, born in Kansas City Sheridan Broadcasting Corp purchases Mutual Black Network, making it the first completely Black owned radio network in the world, 1979 E. Franklin Frazier, (1894-1962) Sociologist
Lt. Col. Guion S. Bluford, Jr, (1983) became the First African American astronaut in space Roy Wilkins, (1901-1981) 2nd Executive Director of NAACP Gabriel Prosser's slave revolt is betrayed, Virginia, 1800
Eldridge Cleaver, born 1935
General Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr. named Commander-in-Chief of North American Air Defense Command in 1975. Robert T Freeman, (1867) was the first Black to graduate from Harvard Dental School
Frank Robinson, professional baseball player, named MVP of the American League, 1966
Charles Houston, NAACP leader, was born in 1895. Frederick Douglass, (1838) Escapes from slavery disguised as a sailor
Lewis H Latimer, (1848-1928) Inventor and engineer
John W Cromwell, born 1846 Sec. American Negro Academy George Washington Murray, (1895) Elected to Congress from South Carolina
The National Black Convention met in Cleveland in 1848
Integration began in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, M.D., public schools in 1954.
Althea Gibson became the first African American athlete to win a U.S. national tennis championship in 1957. Roy Wilkins, (1901-1981) Second Executive Director of NAACP Arthur Ashe, (1968) First black to win a major United States national championship
Carter G. Woodson founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History in 1915. Richard Wright, (1908-1960) Noted author of Native Son and Black Boy Association for the study of Negro Life and History founded by Carter G Woodson, 1915
Mordecai Johnson, first Black president of Howard University, died in 1976. Congressman John R Lynch presided over the Republican National Convention, 1884
"Duke" Ellington won Spingarn Medal for his musicial achievements in 1959.
Alain L. Locke, (1886-1954) philospher and first Black Rhodes Scholar Lewis Latimer invented and patented an electric lamp with a carbon filament, 1881
U.S. Cabinent member, Constance Baker Motley was born in 1921. President FD Roosevelt signed Selective Service Act, allowing Blacks to enter all branches of the US Military Service, 1940
Dr. Mae Jemison first African-American female astronaut in space in 1992. The first National Negro Convention began in Philadelphia, 1830 first black prizefight to gross more than five million dollars (1978) Muhammed Ali
Claude A. Barnett, founder of the Associated Negro Press, was born in 1889. Slavery abolished in all French territories, 1848 first black to rush for 250 yards in one NFL game (1973) O.J. Simpson
United States Constitution signed in 1787. Hampton Institute founded, 1861
Booker T. Washington delivered "Atlanta Compromise" address in 1895. Congress passed Fugitive Slave Law as part of the Compromise of 1850
Atlanta University was founded in 1865.
First episode of "The Cosby Show" aired in 1984. First Negro Convention of Free Men agreed to boycott slave-produced goods, 1830
F.W. Leslie, inventor, patented the envelope seal in 1891. Atlanta Life Insurance Co founded, 1905
Ralph Bunch awarded Nobel Peace Prize in 1950. Xavier University, first Black Catholic College in US, opened in New Orleans, LA, 1915
John Coltrane, innovative and famed jazz musician, was born in 1926. Mary Church Terrell, civil rights activist, born 1863-1954
Desegregation of Central High School, Nine African-American students integrated Little Rock Ark, 1957 first black bishop of the Episcopal Church in the diocese of Washington (1977) John T. Walker first black fighter to draw a million-dollar gate (1938) Joe Louis
Barbara W. Hancock became the first African-American woman named a White House fellow, 1974. Secretary of Navy authorized enlistment of slaves as Union sailors, 1861 first black to win a national boxing crown (1885) Peter "The Black Prince" Jackson
Bessie Smith, blues singer, died in 1937. Maggie L Walker, business and civic leader, first Black president in US, born 1867-1934
WC Handy published "Memphis Blues" the first Blues Song, 1912 first and only black Catholic college (1915) Xavier University
Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World published in 1929.
Hugh Mulzac, first African American captain of a U.S. merchant ship, launched with the Booker T. Washington in 1942. WGPR-TV Detroit, first Black-owned station in US, began broadcasting in 1975 President John F. Kennedy authorized use of federal troops in integration of University of Mississippi, 1962
Johnny Mathis, singer, was born in 1935.
Colin Powell, (1989) was appointed first African American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff James Meredith, (1962) became first Black student at University of Mississippi--after 3000 federal troops quelled riots against his admission Morgan State College founded in Maryland, 1872
Thurgood Marshall, (1967) sworn in as the first Black Supreme Court Justice Robert H Lawerence, (1935-1967) Astronaut
Nat King Cole, (1956) was the first black performer to host his own tv show Bethune-Cookman College opened in Daytona Beach FL, 1904
National Black convention met in Syracuse, New York, in 1864
Autherine Lucy Foster, born 1929 Yvonne Braithwaite Burk, born 1932 Congresswoman
Fisk Jubilee Singers began national tour in 1871 Fannie Lou Hamer, born 1917 freedom fighter
Toni Morrison became First African American Woman to win Nobel Prize in literature William Sill, (1821 - 1902) with The Underground Railroad
Jesse Jackson, born in 1941
O.B. Clare, (1888) patented the rail trestle Frank Robinson, (1974) became the First Black Afriacn American major league baseball manager (Cleveland Indians)
Ben Vereen, born 1946 Singer St. Francis Xavier Church, MD (1863) First exclusively Black parish in the United States
A. Miles, (1887) patented the elevator NAACP organized the Legal Defense and Education Fund, 1939
Richard "Dick" Gregory. born 1932 Lincoln University founded, 1854 Rita Frazier Normandeau, of NYC born 1946 Newport News, Va.
Arna W. Bontemps, born 1902 noted poet Garrett Morgan, (1914) invented and patented the gas mask Edith Sampson, born 1901 First Black African American Female US delegate to the United Nations Arna W Bontemps, (1902-1973) noted poet and librarian of Fisk University
Martin Luther King, Jr. (1964) is the youngest man awarded Nobel Peace Prize Harry Blair, (1834) received a patent for his corn planting machine
Clarence Thomas, (1992) confirmed to the U.S. Supreme Court
John Brown, (1859) Insurrection led attack on Harper's Ferry Abraham M. Hewlitt, (1859) First Black African American director of physical culture at Harvard University
Capital Savings Bank, First bank for Black Afriacn Americans organized opened in Washington, D.C., in 1888
Terry McMillan, born 1951 Paul Robeson, (1945) won Spingarn Medal for his singing and acting achievements
The U.S. Navy was opened to African American women in 1944. Henry O Tanner,(1900) painter, won Medal of Honor at Paris Exposition Byrd Prillerman, born 1859 co-founder of West Virginia State College
John Merrick, (1898) organized North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company NC Mutual Life Insurance Company organized, 1898
"Dizzy" Gillespie, born 1917 born in Cheraw, SC. Earl Lloyd (1950) First Black to play in the NBA
Clarence S. Green, became the First African American certified in neurological surgery
The NAACP petitioned the United Nations about racial injustics in 1947.
Jackie Robinson, died 1972 Langston Hughes, (1935) opening of first play by a black author to be a long-run Broadway hit Mulatto
Dr. Benjamin O. Davis, (1940) becames the First African American general in U.S. Army
T. Marshall, (1872) Inventor patented the fire extinguisher Mahalia Jackson, (1911-1972) gospel singer
D. B. Downing, (1891) inventor, patented his street letter box Ruby Dee, born 1927
Levi Coffin, born 1798 Founder of The Underground Railroad
The Supreme Court ordered end to segregation in schools "at once" in 1969.
Richard Arrington, (1979) was elected the first Black mayor of Birmingham, Alabama Melody Lizziette Henderson, born 1990 Student and friend born in Brooklyn New York
Halloween Ethel Waters, born 1900 actor and singer
First issue of Crisis published in 1910. First issue of Ebony magazine published by John H Johnson, 1945 W.E.B. DuBois, (1910) began publication of NAACP monthly magazine, "Crisis" First free secular school in New York City (1787) African Free School
President Ronald Reagan signed law designating the third Monday in January Martin Luther King, Jr., Day in 1983.
South Carolina State College was established in 1896. JH Hunter, (1896) patented the portable weighing scales A.W. Willis Jr., (1964) First Black elected to the General Assembly Tennessee in this century
T. Elkins, (1879) patented the refrigerating apparatus
Walter E. Washington, (1974) elected Mayor of Washington, D.C., George Brown, (1974) became first Black Lt. Governor in US (Colorado) Shirley Chisholm, (1968) became first Black woman elected to Congress, representing Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY Theo Wright, (1836) becomes first Black to obtain Theology Degree in US Negro History Week initiated by Carter G Woodson, 1926
Absalom Jones, born 1746 minister Coleman Young and Thomas Bradley, (1973) First black elected mayors of Detroit and Los Angeles
David Dinkins, (1989) elected first black Mayor of New York City L Douglas Wilder, (1989) became first Black Governor in the US (Virginia)
Edward W. Brooke, (1966) was elected first Black U.S. senator (R-Mass) in 85 years First black to win a statewide election since Reconstruction (1960) Otis M. Smith, MI
Benjamin Banneker, (1731-1806) surveyor, inventor, mathematician, astronomer, and one of the planners of Federal City (now Washington DC) Medical School at Howard University opened with eight (8) students, 1868
Andrew T. Hatcher, (1960) was named associate press secretary to President JFK, becoming the first Black press secretary Granville T Woods, (1891) patented the electric railway Charlie Sifford, (1957) first black to win a major professional golf tournament Long Beach Open
Veterans Day Nat Turner, hanged in 1831 leader of a Southampton Virgina slave revolt D. McCree, (1890) patented the portable fire escape George R. Carruthers, (1969) first black to patent an image converter for detecting electromagnetic radiation
General George Washington, (1775) issued an order, later rescinded, which forbade recruiting officers to enlist Blacks
Black Renaissance begins Harlem, New York, 1922 Janet Collins, (1951) ballerina, first Black dancer to appear with the Metropolitan Opera Co. (in Verdi's Aida) Aisha Jean Spruill Beaton, (1969) Cus, Caretaker of All in Need Dwight Gooden, (1985) won the Cy Young Award
Booker T. Washington died, 1856 - 1915
Professor Arthur Lewis, (1979) the Nobel Prize in economics was awarded of Princeton Granville T Woods, (1887) Inventor patented his Synchronous Multiplier Railway Telegraph
W.C. Handy, (1873) "Father of the Blues", was born in Florence, AL.
Omega Psi Phi, fraternity, was founded on the campus of Howard University in 1911.
Sojourner Truth, born 1787 Abolitionist and orator Klu Klux Klan member convicted of 1963 church bombing that killed four young Black girls in Birmingham, Ala
Roy Campanella, (1953) was named most valuable player of the National Baseball League for the second time
Garrett T Morgan, (1923) inventor patented the traffic signal Howard University founded in Washington DC, 1865
Shaw University founded in Raleigh NC, 1865
Alrutheus A. Taylor, born 1893 teacher and historian Black Muslim movement initiated in Detroit, 1930
Jesse Dean Robertson Jr. born 1982 in New York City J.L. Love, (1897) put patents on the pencil sharpener Andrew J. Beard, (1897) invented the "jerry coupler," still used today to connect railroad cars
Scott Joplin, born 1868 composer Baptist Foreign Mission Convention of the United States of America formed (1880)
Luther "Bill" Robinson, died 1949 dancer Segregation in buses and terminals banned by Interstate Commerce Commission, 1955
Sojourner Truth, died 1883 evangelist National Negro Medical Association founded, 1895 First black appointed to a sub-Cabinet post (1911) William Henry Louis
* Richard Wright, died 1960 author
Ernie Davis, (1961) became the First African American to win the Heisman Trophy * Richard Wright, novelist and author of Native Son, dies, 1908 - 1960
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., born 1908 Congressman Thurgood Marshall, born 1908 First Black Supreme Court Judge First two known black converts (one being a woman) to the Methodism movement baptized (1758)
Shirley Chisholm, born 1924 Congresswoman
Jesse Dean Robertson Sr. born 1961 born in New York City Rosa Parks, (1955) refused to give up her seat on a public bus Arthur Spingarn, born 1878 founder of NAACP
Charles Wesley, born 1891 Historian Granville T. Woods, (1884) telephone transmitter patent JoAnn Spruill, born 1972, Cus, Student of Life
First issue of North Star newspaper published in 1847.
American Anti-Slavery Society organized in 1833. Alpha Phi Alpha, first Black Greek Letter Fraternity, founded 1906 First black Catholic association with preserved documentation (1843) Soc. Of Colored People of Baltimore
Mary McLeod Bethune, (1935 ) educator, founded National Council of Negro Women Montgomery Bus Boycott initiated by the actions of Rosa Parks, 1955 Phillis Wheatley, died 1784 one of the first Black female poets in America Mary McLeod Bethune, (1935) founded the National Council of Negro Women First televised heavyweight boxing championship bout (1947) Joe Louis v Jersey Joe Walcott
Lewis Franklin Powel, (1971) was confirmed as Supreme Court justice.
Rudolph Thermon Spruill, (1949) Uncle Lester Granger, (1941) was named executive director of the National Urban League in 1941.
Sammy Davis, Jr., born 1925 - 1990 Entertainer
Red Foxx, born 1925 Entertainer. Bill Picket, (1971) First black elected to the National Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame * Pinckney Benton Stuart Pinchback, (1872) First black state governor of Louisiana began his office
Ralph J. Bunche, (1950) becomes the first Black person awarded a Nobel Peace Prize Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Dr Martin Luther King Jr, 1964
* P.B.S Pinchback became the first African-American governor of an American state, Louisiana, in 1872. Micheal Gorian Robertson (1989) Nephew, Student
Joseph Hayne Rainey, (1870) first African- American elected to Congress to represent South Carolina National Negro Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," composed by James Weldon and James Rosamond Johnson, 1900
First Black women complete officer training for the WAVEs, 1944.
John Langston, born 1829 Congressman
December 15 Maggie Lena Walker, died 1934 Banker
Negro Methodist Episcopal Church founded in Jackson, TN, 1890 Andrew Young, (1976) of Georgia named Ambassador and Chief US Delegate to the United Nations
Noble Sissle, died 1975 lyricist and bandleader
Congress passed 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, 1865 Joe Walcott, (1901) First black welterweight champion
Carter G Woodson, (1875-1950) Historian and father of Black History Month Louie LittleJohn Spruill (1908) Grandmother, One of GOD's gifts to us
Mother Matelda Beasley, (1834-1903) nun
Berry Gordy, Jr., (1959) established Motown Records
Dr. Chancellor Williams, born 1898 Historian and author of Destruction of Black Civilization Henry Highland Garnet, born 1815-1882 abolitionist
Alice H. Parker, (1919) patented the gas heating furnace in 1919.
Irwin C. Mollison, born 1898 First African American judge of the Customs Court
Christmas Day Rev. Jesse Jackson, (1971) organized Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity). Marvin Sims, (1948-2003) VCU Associate theater prof, and former president of the association for theater in higher education and the black theater network, born in Ohio
Kwanzaa Begins DeFord Bailey, Sr., (1924) became the First African American to perform on the Grand Ole Opry Jack Johnson, (1908) First black heavyweight boxing champion
Dr. Charles Richard Drew, (1941) Pioneer of blood plasma research, established blood bank in New York City
Earl "Fatha" Hines, born 1905 famed jazz musician and father of modern jazz piano
Thomas Bradley, born 1917
Bo Diddley, born 1928 Blues composer and singer Dr Miles V Lynk, (1892) physician, published the first Black medical journal
|
