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George H. White
George H. White, the only African American member of the U.S. House of Representatives, (1896) and the first to introduce an antilynching bill, born. He also founded Whitesboro, N,J, as a haven for African Americans escaping Southern racism.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
18
1852
Army Brig. Gen. Sherian Grace CAdoria born.
Birthday of Army Brig. Gen. Sherian Grace Cadoria, in Marksville, Louisiana. A graduate of Southern University, Gen. Cadoria was the highest ranking African American woman officer in the US Armed Forces at the end of 1990.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
26
1940
Solomon George Washington Dill killed
Solomon George Washington Dill, poor white ally of Black Republicans, assassinated in his home by white terrorists. Dill had allegedly made incendiary speeches to South Carolina Blacks.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) Boston Professional Chapter
Jun
1
1864
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
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
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
Patricia Roberts Harris
Patricia Roberts Harris, the first African American U.S. Ambassador is named permanent chairman of the Democratic National Convention. She will later be appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Housing and Urban development
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
27
1972
South Africa banned from Olympic Games
South Africa was banned from the Olympic Games because of its apartheid policies.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
18
1964
Blacks in Battle
In one of the decisive battles of the war, two brigades of Black troops helped crush one of the Souths finest armies at the Battle of Nashville. Black troops opened the battle on the first day and successfully engaged the right of the rebel line. On the second day Col. Charles R. Thompsons Black
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Greater Boston Veterans Collaborative
Dec
15
1864
Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen (1932-).
On June 6, 1950, Frank Petersen enlisted in the Navy. At the age of 20, he was the first Afro-American to be named a naval aviator in the Marine Corp. He was also the first African American to command a fighter squadon, a fighter air group, an air wing, and a major
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
6
1950
Ntozke Shange is born
Born Paulette Williams, she graduated from Barnard College in 1970, and later earned an MA from the University of Southern California. It was there she changed her name to the Zulu “Ntozke” meaning “she who comes with her own things” and “Shange” meaning
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Oct
18
1948
Richard Theodore Greener
Richard Theodore Greener becomes the first African American to graduate from Harvard University
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
30
1844
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
Actor Ira Aldridge born
Shakespearean actor Ira Aldridge is *believed* to have been born in Africa. Aldridge was an apprentice carpenter in Maryland, where he learned German and became interested in the theater. Aldridge played such roles as the Moorish Othello.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Jul
24
1904
Jonathan A. Rodgers becomes president of CBS's television stations division, the
Jonathan A. Rodgers becomes president of CBSs television stations division, the highest ranking African American in network television. Rodgers had been general manager of WBBM-TV, CBSs Chicago Station
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
3
1990
Nelson Mandela, now president of South Africa, and Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi he
Nelson Mandela, now president of South Africa, and Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi held the first talks for almost 30 years between predominantly Zulu Inkatha and the ethnically mixed African National Congress.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
29
1991
Composer and violinist, Clarence C White, dies, 1880
Composer and violinist, Clarence C White, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
10
1880
First Prizefighter Bill Richmond born
Bill Richmond, son of a slave, became the first African American to distinguish himself as a prizefighter. On this date, Richmond knocked out Jack Holmes in England.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) Boston Professional Chapter
Jul
8
1805
"Higher Education Act" Denies Student Aid
Injustice 101: Government Higher Education Act Denies Financial Aid to Students with Drug Convictions
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Jul
1
2000
David Ruggles
David Ruggles dies in Northampton, Mass. Often called the first African American bookseller for his bookstore established in 1834, Ruggles was an abolitionist, and a conductor on the Underground Railroad
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
26
1849
Lawrence Douglas Wilder assumes title as governor
In Richmond, Virginia former Lt. Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder took office as the first popularly elected African American governor of an American state.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Jan
14
1990
In Tuskegee, Alabama, the Rosenwald Fund made grants to the Alabama State Board
In Tuskegee, Alabama, the Rosenwald Fund made grants to the Alabama State Board of Health to help meet the cost of a sutdy of syphilis in African American men living in rural Georgia and Alabama. Thus would begin a four decade long study of syphilis without treatment. Over 400 men were allowed to
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
12
1930
Attorney General George Williams
Attorney General George Williams sent a telegram to Acting Governor Pinchback, saying that the Black politician was recognized by the President as the lawful executive of Louisiana.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Boston Professional Chapter
Dec
12
1872
Sigma Gamma Rho, Sorority Inc. founded
Seven black women in Indianopolis, Indiana founded Sigma Gamma Rho sorority based on a desire to raise the standards of teachers in normal and other schools. These individuals included Mary Lou Allison Little, Dorothy Hanley Whiteside, Vivian White Marbury, Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson, Hattie Mae
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
12
1922
Governor Patterson declared martial law in
Governor Patterson declared martial law in Montgomery and called out National Guard.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
May
21
1961
Bertram M. Lee and Peter C.B. Bynoe sign an agreement to purchase the National B
Bertram M. Lee and Peter C.B. Bynoe sign an agreement to purchase the National Basketball Associations Denver Nuggets for $54 million. They become the first African American owners of a professional basketball team.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
21
1989
African American Captures British General
African American Captures British General Prescott: African Americans continued to serve in the colonial militias, and some, like Prince, an African American man in Lieutenant Colonel Bartons Rhode island army, showed great daring and bravery. Early in August 1777, Colonel Barton conceived a plan
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
3
2002
Wm. Allison Davis born
Dr. Davis, a leading social anthropologist and educator, challenged the cultural bias of standardized intelligence tests. Dr. Davis argued that Blacks low scores were not the results of lower intelligence but the result of middle-class cultural bias posed in the questions.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
14
1902
Nigeria proclaimed independent
Nigeria proclaimed independent.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Oct
1
1960
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
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