Did You Know That In...

The Zong Massacre (1781)

The slave ship Zong departed the coast of Africa on 6 September 1781 with 470 slaves. Since this human chattel was such a valuable commodity at that time, many captains took on more slaves than their ships could accommodate in order to maximize profits. The Zong’s captain, Luke

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Source: Black Past

Dawson, William Levi (1898-1990)

William Levi Dawson was an African Americancomposer, choir director, and professor specializing in black religious folkmusic. He was born on September 26,1899, in Anniston, Alabama to Eliza Starkey and George Dawson, thefirst of their seven children. His father, a former slave, was an

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Source: Black Past

May

2

1990

Countee Cullen, born

Born in 1903 in New York City, Countee Cullen was raised in a Methodist

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Source: Blackfacts.com

May

30

1903

"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

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

(1899) Lucy Craft Laney, “The Burden of the Educated Colored Woman”

Lucy Craft Laney was born in Macon, Georgia, in 1854, into a family of ten children. Taught to read and write by her mother, a domestic worker, she graduated from Macons Lewis High School and entered Atlanta University at the age of fifteen and graduated in 1873. Laney taught in the Georgia public

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Source: Black Past

Long, Jefferson Franklin (1836-1907)

Jefferson Franklin Long, a Republican who represented Georgia in the 41st Congress, was the first black member to speak on the floor of the House of Representatives, and was the only black representative from Georgia for just over a century. Long was born a slave in Knoxville, Georgia on March

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Source: Black Past

Feb

1

1871

N.Y. against racial discrimination

New York became the first city to legislate against racial or religious discrimination in housing market with adoption of Fair Housing Practices Law.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Dec

5

1957

Willie Mays, born

Baseball great Willie Howard Mays was born in Westfield, Alabama. Mays played with both the New York and San Francisco Giants. He was National League batting champion four times and twice the leagues Most Valuable Player.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

May

6

1931

“The Yellow Rose of Texas”: The Ironic Origins of a Popular Song

While many Americans are familiar with the song, The Yellow Rose of Texas, few know the story of Emily West, the African American woman who was the inspiration for its creation. In the excerpt below from a longer article that first appeared in 1996, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

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Source: Black Past

Slave conspiracies and fires cause Hysteria

Succession of suspicious fires and reports of slave conspiracies created hysteria in New York in March and April. Thirty-one slaves and five whites were executed.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Mar

31

1741

Dancer Bojangles dies

Tap dancer Bill Bojangles Robinson dies in New York city.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Nov

28

1949

Laurence Fishburne

Laurence Fishburne is an American actor, writer, director and producer. He was born on July 30, 1961 in Augusta, Georgia to Hattie Bell and Laurence John Fishburne, Jr. His parents divorced when he was very young and he moved to Brooklyn, New York with his mother while visiting his father once

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Source: Black History Resources

Jul

30

1961

(1880) P.B.S. Pinchback, “Campaign Speech for GOP Presidential Candidate James G. Garfield."

Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback, the son of a white Mississippi planter and a former slave, was the first African American to serve as governor of a state when after the governor of Louisiana was impeached, he as Lt. Governor completed the 34 days left in his term (December 9, 1872 to January

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Source: Black Past

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

Did You Know That In...

1780 - Two blacks aid in the capture of British spy, Major John Andre, in New York.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

0

1780

Fair Employment Practices Commission.

On March 12, 1945, New York was the first state to established a Fair Employment Practices Commission.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Mar

12

1945

Hubert Harrison: The Voice of Early 20th Century Harlem Radicalism

In the article below independent historian Jeffrey Perry discusses his 2008 book on early 20th Century Harlem activist Hubert

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Source: Black Past

Betty Shabazz

Betty Shabazz was the wife of Malcolm X, a prominent leader of the Nation of Islam. Her exact date of birth is not known, but it is believed to be May 28, 1934. She was born in Georgia to unwed teenage parents named Ollie Mae Sanders and Shelman Sandlin, and raised in Detroit. By some accounts, her

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Source: Black History Resources

Arthur Ashe is born

Arthur Ashe, Born July 10, 1943 in

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jul

10

1943

Harry Belafonte born

Singer/Actor Harry Belafonte is born in New York.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Mar

1

1927

Howard Beach Incident

White teens in Howard Beach chased Michael Griffith, an African-American youth, onto a freeway where he was hit by a motorist. Griffith died from his injuries setting off a wave of protests and racial tensions in New York.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

7

1986

William "Bill" Richmond is taken by General Earl Percy,commander of the Britis

William Bill Richmond is taken by General Earl Percy, commander of the British forces occupying New York, to England to box against British soldiers.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

0

1777

Fax, Elton (1909-1993)

Elton Clay Fax, a prolific African-American cartoonist, author, and illustrator, was born on October 9, 1909, in Baltimore, Maryland. His parents were Mark Oakland Fax, a clerk, and Willie Estelle Fax, a seamstress. Elton’s younger brother, Mark, was a music prodigy who worked as a composer later

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Source: Black Past

May

13

1993

Williams, Camilla (1919-2012)

Professional opera singer Camilla Williams was born October 18, 1919 in Danville, Virginia to Fannie Carey Williams and Cornelius Booker Williams. The youngest of four siblings, Williams began singing at a young age and was performing at her local church by age eight. At age 12, she began taking

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Source: Black Past

Jan

29

2012

Dinkins, David N. (1927- )

In 1989, David N. Dinkins defeated his challenger, former federal prosecutor Rudolph (Rudy) Giuliani, to become the first African American mayor of New York

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Source: Black Past

Mason, Bridget "Biddy" (1818 - 1891)

Bridget “Biddy” Mason, born a slave in Mississippi in 1818, achieved financial success that enabled her to support her extended family for generations despite the fact that she was illiterate. In a landmark case she sued her master for their freedom, saved her earnings, invested in real

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Source: Black Past

Jan

19

1856

Sojourner Truth

Sojourner Truth, born November 26, 1797 was an African American abolitionist and women’s right activist. She was born as Isabella to James who was an African captured from the Gold Coast and Elizabeth Baumfree. James and Elizabeth were bought by Colonel Hardenbergh from slave

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Source: Black History Resources

Nov

26

1797

Zora Neale Hurston

Zora Neale Hurston was an American author and anthropologist of the 19th century. She was born on January 7, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama. Her parents John and Lucy Ann Hurston were former slaves. John Hurston was a pastor and he moved his family to Florida when Zora was still a young child. He

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Source: Black History Resources

Jan

7

1891

LeMelle, Wilbert J., Sr. (1931-2003)

Wilbert J. LeMelle, Sr., was a scholar, development specialist, and ambassador to Kenya and the Republic of Seychelles between 1977 and 1980. In both his academic and diplomatic work, LeMelle urged the United States to become more engaged in Africa, focusing on economic development and human

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Source: Black Past

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