Blackfacts - Just the Facts!

426 Black Facts in Topic 'Democratic Party'

Ron Brown elected Chairman of the Democratic Party

Attorney Ronald Brown was elected national chairman of the Democratic Party and became the first African American to hold the post. Brown was later appointed Secretary of Commerce under the Clinton administration in 1994. He served in this capacity until he was killed in 1996 when he and 32 others

Source: Blackfacts.com

Feb

10

1989

Timeline of African-American history

Timeline of African-American history - Wikipedia

Source: BlackHistory.com

Holder, Eric H. (1951- )

Eric H. Holder, Jr., U.S. Attorney General since 2009, was born on January 21, 1951 in the Bronx, New York to parents of Barbadian descent, Eric, a real estate agent and Miriam Holder, a telephone operator. Holder was raised in East Elmhurst, Queens, a community which included a number of famous

Source: Black Past

Mitchell, Arthur Wergs (1883-1968)

In 1934, Arthur Wergs Mitchell became the first African American Democrat elected to Congress from any state. Mitchell served four terms as a Representative in Congress for the state of Illinois (1935-1943). Mitchell was born near Lafayette Alabama on December 22, 1883 and was educated at

Source: Black Past

Dec

22

1883

Wineberry, Jesse Calvin (1955- )

Former Washington State Legislator and current internet business entrepreneur, Jesse Calvin Wineberry was born in 1955 in Sedro Woolley, Washington, and adopted by parents Peter and Mary Wineberry. Wineberry grew up in Seattle’s Central District and attended Queen Anne High School. He earned

Source: Black Past

Richardson, Laura (1962- )

Born in Los Angeles on April 14, 1962, to a black father and white mother, Laura Richardson is currently congresswoman for the 37th congressional district, serving her first term. Her mother, Maryann Richardson, who was a member of the Teamsters labor union, raised Richardson by

Source: Black Past

Apr

14

1962

Payne, Donald Milford (1934-2012)

Donald Payne, a Democrat, was the first African American elected to Congress from the State of New Jersey. Payne was born in Newark, New Jersey on July 16, 1934. He earned a B.A. degree in social studies from Seton Hall University in 1957 and also has honorary doctorates from Chicago State

Source: Black Past

Mar

6

2012

Republican William McKinley

Republican William McKinley defeated Democratic candidate William J. Bryan in presidential race.

Source: Blackfacts.com

Nov

3

1896

Democratic convention opened in Miami Beach

Democratic convention opened in Miami Beach, Florida. Blacks constituted 15 per cent of the delegates. The convention nominated Sen. George S. McGovern for president. Rep. Shirley Chisholm received 151.95 of 2,000-plus ballots on the first roll call.

Source: Blackfacts.com

Jul

10

1972

Walls, Josiah Thomas (1832–1905)

First elected to the Congress in 1870, Josiah T. Walls became Florida’s first elected African American Congressman. Walls was born a slave in Winchester, Virginia on December 30, 1842. He was conscripted by the Confederate Army and captured in Yorktown by Union forces in 1862. Walls then enlisted

Source: Black Past

Dec

30

1842

(1984) Rev. Jesse Jackson, “The Rainbow Coalition”

In 1984 Rev. Jesse Jackson campaigned for the Democratic nomination for the Presidency. Although he entered the Democratic convention at San Francisco with little hope of winning, his appeals on behalf of the dispossessed of America whom he characterized as the Rainbow Coalition, ensured that his

Source: Black Past

Murray, George Washington (1853–1926)

South Carolina Congressman George Washington Murray was born near Rembert, Sumter County, South Carolina, on September 22, 1853 to slave parents. He attended public schools, the University of South Carolina, and the State Normal Institute at Columbia, where he graduated in 1876. After

Source: Black Past

African-American History Timeline: 1880 to 1889

During the 1880s, many of the liberties that African-Americans enjoyed as citizens were rapidly taken away by the U.S. Supreme Court, state legislatures and everyday people who did not believe that African-Americans should be able to participate in the political

Source: ThoughtCo

Lawrence, Brenda (1954– )

Brenda L. Lawrence is a well-known and high-profile Democratic Party politician from Michigan who currently serves as the U.S. Representative for the state’s Fourteenth Congressional District. Before her election to Congress, Lawrence served as the mayor of Southfield, Michigan, from 2001 to

Source: Black Past

Mikal E. Belicove

Home › About Us - Staff Biographies

Source: Black Past

Jesse Jackson Jr.

Jesse Jackson Jr. is a former African-American Democratic Congressman. From 1995 to 2012, he represented Illinois’s 2nd congressional district in the United States House of Representatives. Moreover, his father was an eminent political figure who was a former presidential

Source: Black History Resources

Mar

11

1965

Rangel, Charles Bernard (1930- )

Democratic representative of New York City, Charles Bernard Rangel, first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1970, is now one of the longest serving members of Congress. Rangel was born in Brooklyn, New York City in 1930. He attended De Witt Clinton High School but dropped out in 1948

Source: Black Past

(1976) Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, “Who, Then, Will Speak for the Common Good?”

In 1972 Barbara Charline Jordan became the first black member of Congress elected from Texas. Two years later this freshman Representative became a national figure because of her prominent role as a member of the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment hearings of President Richard

Source: Black Past

(1804) Ohio Black Codes

Section 1. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio , That from and after the first day of June next. no black or mulatto person shall be permitted to settle or reside in this state, unless he or she shall first produce a fair certificate from some court within the United

Source: Black Past

Definition of Gerrymander

To gerrymander is to draw the boundaries of electoral districts in an irregular way so as to create an unfair advantage for a particular political party or

Source: ThoughtCo

Mar

27

1812

Al Sharpton is a religious leader and political activist. He was born on October 3, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York. His father left the family and Sharpton was raised by his mother. They had to move to the public housing projects, where his mother worked as a maid and supported the family on her

Source: Black History Resources

Oct

3

1954

Gibbs, Jonathan (1827-1874)

Born a freeman in Pennsylvania in 1827, Jonathan Gibbs was the son of Maria Jackson and the Methodist minister, Jonathan

Source: Black Past

Congressman Denny Heck, Olympia, Washington

On November 6th, 2012, the residents of Washington’s new 10th Congressional District elected Denny Heck to be the district’s first member of the United States House of Representatives. Since taking office, Congressman Hecks top priorities have been creating jobs, growing our economy and keeping the

Source: Black Past

Collins, Seaborn J. (1852- ? )

Seaborn J. Collins was born and raised in Georgia. He migrated to Seattle, Washington with his wife Alzada and son William in 1885, where he worked as a mechanic and a carpenter. Collins also invested in local real estate. In 1888 Collins bought property in the Yesler neighborhood, and built

Source: Black Past

Thomas, Clarence (1948- )

Clarence Thomas, the second African American to sit on the U.S. Supreme Court, was born in Pin Point, Georgia, a small community south of Savannah. His mother, Leola Williams, a single parent, raised Thomas until he was seven. He and his brother, Myers, were sent to Savannah where they were

Source: Black Past

Clay, William Lacy, Sr. (1931- )

Former Missouri Democratic Congressman William L. Clay Sr. was born in St. Louis, Missouri on April 30, 1931, one of seven children. Clay excelled in school and at the age of thirteen began working as a janitor in a clothing store. He later became the tailor for the store. Clay graduated from

Source: Black Past

Apr

30

1931

Dymally, Mervyn (1923- )

Mervyn Malcolm Dymally, an African American politician from Los Angeles, California who has served in the California Assembly, the State Senate and as a U.S. Congressman. He is also the first African American Lt. Governor of California. Dymally is now once again in the California

Source: Black Past

May

12

1923

DeLarge, Robert Carlos (1842-1874)

Robert Carlos DeLarge was born a slave in Aiken, South Carolina on March 15, 1842. Rare for that period, DeLarge graduated from Wood High school in Charleston and worked as a tailor and farmer before becoming involved in politics. He served as an agent for the Freedman’s Bureau and helped

Source: Black Past

Joseph, James A. (1935- )

James A. Joseph is a lifelong educator and public policy activist who served as the first African American U.S. ambassador to post-apartheid South Africa from 1996-1999. Joseph has worked to promote leadership opportunities in both the corporate world and through the Federal government. The

Source: Black Past

Caldwell, Elvin R., Sr. (1919-2004)

Politician Elvin R. Caldwell Sr. was born on April 11, 1919 in Denver, Colorado. Raised in Five Points, Denver’s predominantly black community, Caldwell was one of 12 children in his family. After graduating from Eastside High School in 1937, Caldwell earned a track scholarship to the University of

Source: Black Past

Philips, 1st Black nominated president

Rev. Channing E. Philips of Washington, D.C., became first Black nominated for president by a major national party. Philips was nominated as favorite son candidate by District of Columbia delegation at Democratic convention in Chicago and received 671/2 votes.

Source: Blackfacts.com

Aug

28

1968

The largest island of the West Indies group (equal in area to Pennsylvania), Cuba is also the westernmost—just west of Hispaniola (Haiti and the Dominican Republic), and 90 mi (145 km) south of Key West, Fla., at the entrance to the Gulf of Mexico. The island is mountainous in the southeast and

Source: Fact Monster - Black History

Crockett, George William, Jr. (1909-1997)

George William Crockett Jr. was born in Jacksonville, Florida, on August 10, 1909 to George William Crockett Sr., and Minnie Amelia Jenkins. His father was a Baptist minister and railroad carpenter and his mother was a Sunday School teacher and poet. Crockett grew up in Jacksonville, attending

Source: Black Past

(1995) Louis Farrakhan, “A Million Men Marching On"

In 1995 Minister Louis Farrakhan was the leader of the Nation of Islam. That year his organization became the driving force in the Million Man March, a call for African American men to come to Washington D.C. on October 17, 1995, in what was billed as “a day of atonement.” Although

Source: Black Past

Davis, Artur (1967- )

Former Alabama Congressman Artur Genestre Davis was born on October 9, 1967 in Montgomery, Alabama. He was raised by his mother and grandmotehr and graduated from Jefferson Davis High School in Montgomery in 1986. He received his degree Magna Cum Laude from Harvard University in 1990 and Cum Laude

Source: Black Past

Oct

9

1967

Belton, Sharon Sayles (1951- )

An activist, politician, and leader of her community, Sharon Sayles Belton was the first African American and first woman mayor of the city of Minneapolis, Minnesota. A St. Paul native, Belton was born on May 13, 1951. For most of her life she fought for racial equality, women, family and child

Source: Black Past

May

13

1951

Rainey, Joseph Hayne (1832-1887)

In 1870 Republican Joseph Hayne Rainey became the first African American to be elected to the United States House of Representatives and take his seat. Others were elected earlier but were not seated. Rainey was born in Georgetown, South Carolina, on June 21, 1832. His parents had been slaves but

Source: Black Past

Aug

2

1887

Perry, Cynthia Shepard (1928- )

Cynthia Shepard Perry, a Republican and 25 year career diplomat, has served three Republican presidents. President Ronald Reagan appointed her as Chief of Education and Human Resources of the U.S. Agency for International Development where she served from 1982 to 1986, and named her Ambassador to

Source: Black Past

Mar

21

1999

Black History Month 2014: 101 African American Firsts

Click Here For Previously Posted Annual Black History Month Projects on BlackPast.org

Source: ThoughtCo

The Black Past: Remembered and Reclaimed | An Online Reference Guide to African American History by Professor Quintard Taylor, University of Washington

Source: Black Past

Feb

14

1936

Hyman, John Adams (1840-1891)

John Adams Hyman was born into slavery on July 23, 1840 in Warren County, North Carolina. Hymans thirst for knowledge resulted in him being sold away from his family for attempting to read a spelling book that was given to him by a sympathetic white jeweler. He continued to seek knowledge at his

Source: Black Past

Sep

14

1891

Collins, Cardiss (1931- )

Cardiss Robertson Collins was born September 24, 1931 in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of Findley Robertson and Rosa Mae Robertson. At the age of 10 her family relocated to Detroit and she spent the rest of her childhood there, eventually graduating from the Detroit High School of

Source: Black Past

Jun

5

1973

Bray, Keve (1925--1972)

Seattle businessman and political activist Keve Bray played an essential role in the local civil rights movement and is especially notable for his role in the black power movement in the Central District. Bray was born on June 9, 1925. Very little is known about his childhood background. By the

Source: Black Past

Nov

17

1972

Dawson, Horace G. (1926- )

Horace G. Dawson, Jr. was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Botswana by President Jimmy Carter in 1979. After his confirmation by the U.S. Senate he served in that post until 1983. Dawson was born in Augusta, Georgia on January 30, 1926. He attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania where he earned

Source: Black Past

Jan

14

2004

Jackson, Jesse Louis

Jackson, Jesse Louis, 1941–, African-American political leader, clergyman, and civil-rights activist, b. Greenville, S.C. Raised in poverty, he attended the Chicago Theological Seminary (1963–65) and was ordained a Baptist minister in 1968. Active in the civil-rights movement, he became a close

Source: Fact Monster - Black History

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

Source: Black Past

Feb

1

1871

White, George Henry (1852-1918)

George H. White served as a member of the fifty-fifth and fifty-sixth United States Congresses (March 4, 1897-March 3, 1901) from North Carolina’s Second Congressional District during what historian Rayford Logan has termed the nadir in race relations for the post-Reconstruction South. Born in

Source: Black Past

List of African-American Republicans

Houston A.P. Bassett (1857–1920), member of the Texas House of Representatives

Source: ThoughtCo

Hawkins, Augustus (1907–2007)

Thegrandson of a British explorer and the son of a pharmacist, Augustus Freeman “Gus”Hawkins was born in Shreveport, Louisianabut moved with his family to Los Angeles, Californiain 1918. He earned a degree in economicsfrom the University of California at Los Angeles in 1931 and later

Source: Black Past

Nov

10

2007

Ballance, Frank W., Jr. (1942 - )

Frank W. Ballance, Jr., was a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from 2003 to 2004, representing the 1st Congressional District in North Carolina. Prior to his tenure as a member of Congress, Ballance served in the North Carolina State House of Representatives as well as its

Source: Black Past

No more facts

Blackfacts BETA RELEASE 11.5.3
(Production Environment)