More than one hundred delegates from six states
More than one hundred delegates from six states held a Black convention in Philadelphia. John Mercer Langston, one of the first Blacks to win public office, elected clerk of Brownhelm Township, Lorain County, Ohio. In 1856 he was elected clerk of the township of Russia, near Oberlin. In 1857 he was
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
16
1855
Founder of Pro-Line
Comer Cottrell, founder and president of Pro-Line Corporation (1970), the largest African American owned business in the Southwest and the first African American to be part owner of a major league baseball team (1989), the Texas Rangers, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
7
1931
Miss America
Vanessa Williams is the 1st African American Miss America to be crowned.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Sep
17
1983
Cowboy Willie "Bill" Pickett dies
World famous African American cowboy Willie Bill Pickett died in Ponca, Oklahoma, hospital of injuries sustained after he was kicked in the head by a horse on the Millers Brothers Fabulous 101 Ranch.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Apr
2
1932
Henry Highland Garnet
Henry Highland Garnet, former abolitionist leader and Presbyterian minister, named minister to Liberia. He died in Monrovia shortly after his arrival.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
30
1881
W Wilson Goode becomes the 1st African American mayor of Philadelphia
W Wilson Goode becomes the 1st African American mayor of Philadelphia
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
Oct
9
1984
James B. Parsons, first African American ap
James B. Parsons, first African American appointed to a lifetime federal judgeship in the U.S. (1961) , born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
13
1911
Clifton R
Clifton R. Wharton Sr. confirmed as minister to Rumania. Career diplomat was the first Black to head a U.S. embassy in Europe.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Feb
5
1958
Rev. George Leile
Rev. George Leile was the first African American to be ordained a Baptist minister in America. He was an early pastor of the First African Baptist Church of Silver Bluf, South Carolina. Curiously, he supported the British during the American Revolutionary war because of the Britishs promise to free
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1770
Hattie McDaniel
On this day, Hattie McDaniel known for her supporting roles became the first African American to win the Oscar Award for her role as Mammyin the movie Gone With The Wind. Not only was she the first African American to receive this award, but the was the only woman to have received it until Whoopi
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Feb
29
1940
Massacre in Mississippi
White Democrats killed seventy-five Republicans in massacre at Vicksburg, Mississippi.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
7
1874
Shirley Franklin is sworn in
Shirley Franklin is sworn in as the first African American Mayor of Atlanta and the only African American female mayor of a major American city.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
Jan
7
2002
Lelia Smith Foley becomes the first African A
Lelia Smith Foley becomes the first African American woman to be elected mayor of a U.S. city (Taft, OK)
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
16
1973
First African American, William Tucker, born
First African American, William Tucker, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
3
1621
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell was the first African American to hold the highest U.S. Military post. In August 1989 he was named chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
0
1989
Ambassador
Clifton Wharton is sworn in as ambassador to Norway. Clifton Wharton was the 1st Black person to earn a PhD in economics from University of Chicago in as well as the first Black president of Michigan State, predominantly White university.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
9
1961
William Levi Dawson
William Levi Dawson is born, first African American representative to chair a committee in Congress.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Apr
26
1883
Early Sermon for Abolition
On this date in 1791, Jonathan Edwards Jr. (1745-1801) preached a strong anti-slavery sermon before the Connecticut Society for the Promotion of Freedom and for the Relief of Persons unlawfully holden in Bondage. Edwards was a Congregationalist minister, like his more famous father, and later
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
15
1791
James Gladden 1st certified orthopedic surgeon
January 22, 1949 - James Robert Gladden becomes first African American certified in orthopedic surgery.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
22
1949
Jewel Plummer Cobb, cancer research biologist
Jewel Plummer Cobb, cancer research biologist, President of California State University, Fullerton, the first African American to hold such as position in the CSU system, born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) Boston Professional Chapter
Jan
17
1924
Congress repeals the Enforcement Act
Congress repeals the Enforcement Act which makes it easier for some states to disenfranchise African American voters.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
8
1894
The Great Blacks in Wax Museum.
In 1983, Doctors Elmer and Joanne Martin opened a wax museum, the first of its kind in the nation, as well as, Baltimore, Maryland of African Americans leaders that were made of
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Jan
0
1983
Wally "Famous" Amos's signature panama hat and embroidered shirt are donated to
Wally Famous Amoss signature panama hat and embroidered shirt are donated to the National Museum of American Historys Business Americana collection. It is the first memorabilia added to the collection by An African American entrepreneur and recognizes the achievement of Amos who built his company
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Intellitech
Nov
18
1980
John B. McLendon
John B. McLendon becomes the first African American coach in the ABA when he signs a two year contract with the Denver Nuggets.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA)
May
14
1969
Larry Doby
Larry Doby is born. He will become the first African American in baseballs American League, playing for the Cleveland Indians. He will be the 1954 RBI leader.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
13
1924
Chicago's first African American mayor, Harold Washington, was born.
Chicagos first African American mayor, Harold Washington, was born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Apr
15
1922
Dr
Dr. John E. W. Thompson, graduate of the Yale University Medical School, named minister to Haiti.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
7
1885
Actress, Writer
Born on this day in Winston-Salem, N.C., USA. Pamala Suzette Grier is one of the most important African American actresses of the 1970s
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
26
1949
Cheryl Adrienne Brown
Cheryl Adrienne Brown wins the Miss Iowa pageant and becomes the first African American to compete in the Miss America beauty pageant.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
14
1970
Daniel Alexander Payne
On this date in 1893, Daniel A. Payne died. The sixth bishop of the American Methodist Episcopal Church, Payne was the first African American ordained by the Lutheran Church in 1837. In 1856, he founded Wilberforce University, where he became the first Black president of a college in America. Payne
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Feb
24
1811

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