Miriam Makeba, Empress of African Song, born

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May

6

1985

William T. Coleman is named Secretary of Transpor

William T. Coleman is named Secretary of Transportation by President Gerald R. Ford. He is the second African American to hold a Cabinet level position

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

14

1975

The Flip Wilson Show premieres on NBC. It is the first prime time variety show

The Flip Wilson Show premieres on NBC. It is the first prime time variety show starring an African American male since the Nat King Cole Show.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Sep

17

1970

Black Regiment founded

The 38th and 41st Infantry regiments were joined and became the 24th Infantry Regiment, the third of four proposed African American regiments in teh U.S. Army. Following the Civil War the regiment was poted in Texas from 1869 to 1880.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Mar

3

1869

One-Man Show of Art

One-Man Show of Art by Negro, First of Kind Here, Opens Today, read the headline of a front-page article in The New York Times on this day. The article announced the opening of Archibald J. Motley, Jrs show at the New Gallery on Madison Avenue. This was the first time in History that an artist had

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Feb

25

1928

Etta Moten sings for President

Etta Moten sings for President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt at a White House Dinner. It is the first time an African American actress performs at the White House.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

31

1934

Ground is broken for the Harold Washington wing of the DuSable Museum in Chicago

Ground is broken for the Harold Washington wing of the DuSable Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by artist and poet Margaret T. Burroughs in 1961, the DuSable is one of the oldest African American museums in the U.S.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Sep

17

1991

The 99th Pursuit Squadron, an all African American

The 99th Pursuit Squadron, an all African American unit is formed and the Tuskegee Training Program is established, the 99th will fly more than 500 missions and more than 3,700 sorties during one year of combat before being combined with the 332nd Fighter Group.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

16

1941

Dr. Ralph Bunche receives the Nobel Peace Prize

Dr. Ralph Bunche receives the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as a mediator in the Palestine crisis. He is the first African American to be so honored.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Mar

20

1950

Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, is consecrated at the first African American auxiliary bi

Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, is consecrated at the first African American auxiliary bishop in the U.S. He is assigned to Washington, D.C.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Sep

12

1974

Absalom Jones, the first African American Episcopa

Absalom Jones, the first African American Episcopal priest ordained in the U.S. , dies.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Feb

13

1818

The Cotton Bag Fort

A African American Designs The Cotton Bag Fort: When Andrew Jackson assembled his force at New Orleans, his soldiers, many of whom were African American slaves, were outnumbered by the British forces ten to one. Faced with this disadvantage, Jackson consulted with men as to what was the best

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Oct

2

2002

Phyllis Mae Daley, first of four African American

Phyllis Mae Daley, first of four African American Navy nurses to serve active duty in WW II receives her commission as an ensign in the Navy Nurse Corps.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Mar

8

1945

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

Apr

15

1922

WGPR BECOMES THE 1ST TELEVISION station owned by African Americans- given a pe

WGPR BECOMES THE 1ST TELEVISION station owned by African Americans- given a permit to operate.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jun

1

1973

1st Governor

P.B.S Pinchback became the 1st African American governor of an American state, Louisiana

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Dec

11

1872

Bars Fight

Lucy Terry pens Bars Fight. The poem was written after an Indian ambush of two families in Deerfield, Massachusetts. This is hte first poem to be composed by an African -American.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Aug

25

1746

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

Apr

26

1883

Frank Mingo, one of the pioneering advertising executives who specialized in tar

Frank Mingo, one of the pioneering advertising executives who specialized in targeting African American consumers, dies

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Oct

30

1989

Delegates and observers a convention

Two thousand delegates and observers attended Congress of African Peoples convention in Atlanta. (8/3-7).

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Aug

3

1970

Bill Cosby

Bill Cosby becomes the first African American to receive an Emmy for best actor in a dramatic series, for his role in I Spy

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Source: Blackfacts.com

May

22

1966

Walter F. Craig

1986 Max Robinson

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

0

1986

Rev. Richard Allen organies a Society of Free Peopleof Color for Promoting the

Rev. Richard Allen organies a Society of Free People of Color for Promoting the Instruction and School Educationof Children of African Descent in Phildadelpia, PA.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

0

1804

Rafer Johnson, is born

Born August 18, 1935, Hillsboro, Texas One of the greatest all-around track athletes in history. On Sept. 6, 1960, he won the Olymic Decathlon, the first for an African American.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Aug

18

1935

Did You Know That In...

1675 - There are 100,000 African slaves in the West Indies, compared to 5,000 in the North American colonies.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

0

1675

Naval Frigate named after African American

The Navy frigate USS Jesse L. Brown was commissioned. The ship was named for Ensign Jesse L. Brown, the first African American naval aviator killed in combat over Korea.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Feb

17

1973

African National Congress founded

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

8

1912

Philip R. Cousin (1933-).

In 1984, Philip R. Cousin was the first black from a predominantly black denomination to preside over the National Council of Churches. This African Methodist Episcopal (AME) minister has served with destinction as bishop and college president.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

0

1984

MaliVai Washington

Former tennis pro MaliVai Washington was born on June 20, 1969 in Glen Cove, New

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jun

20

1969

Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams

Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams, the first African American quarterback to play in a Super Bowl game, is named MVP in Super Bowl XXII.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jan

31

1988

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Miriam Makeba, Empress of African Song, born

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