African Free School opened

(1874) Congressman Richard Harvey Cain, “All We Ask Is Equal Laws, Equal Legislation And Equal Rights”

During an 1874 Congressional debate over the Civil Rights Bill then being considered, South Carolina Representative Richard Harvey Cain responds to attacks on the proposed legislation. His speech appears

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Source: Black Past

Count Basie

William James Basie was one of the most notable jazz musicians of the 20th century. He was born on August 21, 1904 to Harvey Lee and Lillian Basie in Red Bank, New Jersey. Both his parents were musicians, which influenced Basie from an early age. His father played the mellophone, and his mother

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Source: Black History Resources

Aug

21

1904

Davy, Gloria (1931-2012)

Gloria Davy, a rich-voiced (lirico-spinto) soprano who “sang for the sheer joy of singing” had a four decade career as a concert singer. Early in her career she replaced Leontyne Price as Bess in the 1954 international tour of Porgy and Bess. In 1958 she broke color barriers when she

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Source: Black Past

First African Methodist Episcopal Church, Los Angeles, California, (1872- )

The First African Methodist Episcopal (FAME) Church is today the oldest and one of the largest African American congregations in Los Angeles, California. It was founded in 1872 by Bridget (Biddy) Mason who arrived as a slave in Los Angeles with her owner in 1856. However, since California was

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Source: Black Past

New York Draft Riots

On the Monday morning of July 13, 1863, the Enrollment

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jul

13

1863

Marshall, Thurgood (1908-1993)

Thurgood Marshall was an American civil rights activist with the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the first African American to serve on the Supreme Court of the United States. He is remembered as a lawyer who had one of the highest rates of success before the

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Source: Black Past

Chica da Silva (1731/5-1796)

Francisca da Silva de Oliveira, better known as Chica da Silva (or spelled Xica da Silva), was a Brazilian woman born into slavery, who went on to gain her freedom and become a powerful and well-known member of Brazilian

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Source: Black Past

Dancer Bojangles dies

Tap dancer Bill Bojangles Robinson dies in New York city.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Nov

28

1949

Ving Rhames

Ving Rhames is one of the celebrated African American film artists. He is best known for his work in Pulp Fiction, Con Air, Dawn of the Dead, Mission: Impossible film series and Bringing Out the Dead. In 1998, he was awarded Golden Globe for his remarkable performance in a TV miniseries, Don

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Source: Black History Resources

May

12

1959

Documentary Films on Blackpast.org - African American History - Director

A&E Television Americas Black Warriors (on World War II) 1998

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Source: Black Past

Fiftieth Anniversary of Emancipation Proclamation

Black Americans celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of Emancipation Proclamation. Major celebrations were held at Jackson, Mississippi, New Orleans and Nashville. Three states--Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey--appropriated money for official celebrations of the event.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

29

1913

First Lutheran Baptism of African American

An African America man named Emmanuel was baptized April 13, 1669, (Palm Sunday) in a Lutheran congregation in New York.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Apr

13

1669

New York Police Arrest 294 at Worlds Fair

New York police arrested 294 demonstrators at opening of World Fair.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Apr

22

1964

On this day Andrew J. Beard, and African American inventor was awarded Patent #

On this day Andrew J. Beard, and African American inventor was awarded Patent # 594,059. Despite having no formal education in engineering or metalwork, Beard had invented an automtic railroad car coupling device called the Jenny Coupler. Prior to the Jenny Coupler train cars were joined together

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Nov

23

1897

"Yes We Can": Barack Obama's Road to the White House, 2008

Barack Obamas campaign for the Presidency in 2008 has been described by many political analysts as brilliant and virtually flawless. Despite his inexperience in national politics and limited experience in state politics (Obama was first elected to political office in 1994), he assembled

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Source: Black Past

(1832) Maria W. Stewart Advocates Education for African American Women

In September 1832, Maria W. Stewart delivered at Boston’s Franklin Hall one of the first public lectures ever given by an American woman. Her speech, directed to the women of the African American Female Intelligence Society, called on black women to acquire equality through education. The speech

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Source: Black Past

Actress Cicely Tyson is born in New York, NY

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Dec

19

1933

George Crum

George Crum was born as George Speck in 1822 in Saratoga Lake, New York, the son of a Huron Native-American mother and an African-American father who worked as a jockey. He worked for a while as a mountain guide and trapper in the Adirondack Mountains in New

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Source: Black History Resources

Aug

21

2013

Adderley, Julian Edwin “Cannonball” (1928-1975)

Combining styles of earlier influences with his own unique twists secured Julian Cannonball Adderley’s place in history as an experienced alto saxophonist who was fearless in exploring fresh musical styles. Born in Tampa, Florida on September 15, 1928, Adderley was welcomed into a musical family

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Source: Black Past

Sep

15

1928

Saddler, Joseph/Grandmaster Flash (1958 - )

Although he will more than likely be remembered best for releasing “The Message,” the first rap song to delve into social commentary about the plight of African Americans in the inner-city, Grandmaster Flash was also the original technological virtuoso of the early hip-hop movement to

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Source: Black Past

Dakar, Senegal (1857- )

Dakar was the political center of French West Africa and is the capital of modern Senegal. Located on Cape Verde, the westernmost point of the African mainland, Ndaxaru, known by its French name, Dakar, has been occupied at least since Europeans began to explore the area. The French, attracted by

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Source: Black Past

Hillary, Barbara (1931- )

Barbara Hillary is the first African American woman on record to reach both the North and South Poles. Born in New York City, New York on June 12, 1931 to Viola Jones Hillary and raised in Harlem, Hillary attended the New School University in New York, N.Y. where she earned both her Bachelor of

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Source: Black Past

Dash, Julie (1952- )

Filmmaker Julie Dash was born on October 22, 1952 in Queens, New York. She received her B.A. in film production from City College of New York in 1974 and went on to earn a two-year fellowship to the Center for Advanced Film Studies at the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles. At AFI, Dash

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Source: Black Past

Oct

22

1952

Jupiter Hammon, 1st Black poet

Jupiter Hammon, New York slave who was probably the first Black poet, published An Evening Thought: Salvation by Christ, with Penitential Cries.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Dec

25

1760

(1860) Abraham Lincoln, “Cooper Union Address”

On February 27, 1860, Abraham Lincoln, a presidential candidate who had yet to win the Republican nomination, accepted an invitation to speak to the Young Mens Republican Union at Cooper Union Hall before a capacity crowd of 1,500. Lincoln used the occasion to outline his views on slavery in the

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Source: Black Past

Feb

27

1860

Ella Fitzgerald

Ella Jane Fitzgerald was an American jazz icon of the 20th century. She was born on April 25, 1917 in Virginia to William and Temperance Fitzgerald. The couple separated soon after Ella’s birth, and Temperance moved to New York with her boyfriend, Joseph De Silva. She had a half sister named

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Source: Black History Resources

Jun

15

1996

Singer Leslie Uggams born

Singer Leslie Uggams, who made her singing debut with the Lawrence Welk Band, was born in New York city.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

May

25

1943

Towns, Edolphus (1934- )

Currently in his 13th term in Congress, Edolphus Towns is a Democratic Representative from the State of New York. Towns was born in Chadbourn, North Carolina on July 21, 1934, and attended the public schools of Chadbourn before graduating with a B.S. degree from North Carolina Agricultural and

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Source: Black Past

Jul

21

1934

Arthur Ashe, the first winner of the U.S.Open

Arthur Ashe became the first winner of the U.S. Open Tennis Championship, defeating Tom Okker of the Netherlands at Forest Hills Stadium, New York.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Sep

9

1968

Riot prevented Paul Robeson form singing

Riot prevented Paul Robeson form singing at the Lakeland picnic grounds near Peekskill, Weschester County, New York.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Aug

28

1949

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