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Lou Brock/baseball
Lou Brock stole a record of 935th bases and became the all-time major league record holder.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by BARBinc
Sep
23
1979
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
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
The first African American performers
The first African American performers, the Worlds Fair Colored Opera Company, appear at Carnegie Hall.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
13
1892
Arthur Ashe, first African American American Davis
Arthur Ashe, first African American American Davis Cup team member, first African American to win the U.S. Open and the mens singles title at Wimbledon in 1975, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
10
1943
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
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson appears on the cover of Life magazine; first time an African American is featured on the cover in the magazines 13 year history
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
10
1950
Noble Johnson
George and Noble Johnson founded the Lincoln Motion Picture Company in 1916. It was the first black-owned production company, it produced films exclusively for African
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1916
Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexanderbecomes the first African American to earn a P
Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander becomes the first African American to earn a Ph.D in economics is born in Philadelphia ,PA.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
2
1898
Henry Ossian Flipper, the first African American graduate of the U.S. Military A
Henry Ossian Flipper, the first African American graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was born in Thomasville, Georgia. Enduring heavy racism during his schooling, Flipper went on to establish a military career. This was ended however after he was falsely accused of embezzling
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Mar
31
1856
Congressman William Gray
Congressman William Gray is elected Democratic Whip of the House of Representatives, the highest ranking leadership position ever held by an African American in Congress.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
14
1989
Bill Russell named head coach of the Boston Celtic
Bill Russell named head coach of the Boston Celtics, becoming the first African American to coach an NBA team.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Mar
28
1966
Samuel L. Gravely is born
Samuel Gravely was appointed captain of the Navy Destroyer Escort, U.S.S. Falgout, the first African American to command a United States warship. He later received the rand of Rear Admiral, a first for an African American navyman.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
4
1922
'This Far By Faith'
On this date in 1999, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America released This Far By Faith: An African American Resource for Worship, which compiles hymns of liturgies of Lutheran African Americans.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
8
1999
Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm became the first African American Presidential nominee, with 151 votes from the delegates polled.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
13
1972
Mary J. Blige, QUEEN OF HIP HOP SOUL born
Performer Mary J. Blige born. Birthplace: Bronx, New York Born January 11, 1971 Music History Whats the 411? (1992) Whats the 411? Remix (1993) My Life (1994) Share My World (1997)
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Jan
11
1971
Harvey B. Gantt born
Harve B. Gantt, the first African American student to enroll at Clemson University in Charleston, South Carolina. Gantt became mayor pro tem of Charleston in 1983 and later served as mayor of Charlotte from 1983 to 1987.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
14
1943
White terrorists attacked Black Republicans
White terrorists attacked Black Republicans in Hamburg, S.C., killing five.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
8
1876
Zora Neale Hurston, writer/anthropologist born
Zora Neale Hurston
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Jan
7
1891
Richard Parsons
Richard Parsons, CEO of Dime Savings Bank, the first African American CEO of a large non minority U.S. savings institution, born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
4
1942
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
Debi Thomas 1st Black to win winter Olympic medal
Figure skater Debi Thomas becomes the first African American to win a medal (bronze) at the winter Olympic Games.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
Feb
27
1988
Network news anchor
Max Robinson is the first African American to anchor network news. The network is ABC.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
19
1978
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
Sponsored by Intellitech
Oct
2
2002
The First Black Psychic!
Shirley Ajayi was the first African American given a part on a television show as a psychic! The show lasted for about one year[actually six months] in Chicago, Illinois since the show was seasonal! Shirley started her career the minute her predictions came true! She was renamed Aura and hired to
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
28
1986
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
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Jan
31
1934
Andre Ware of the University of Houston becomes the first African American quart
Andre Ware of the University of Houston becomes the first African American quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Dec
2
1989
Our Nig by Harriet Wilson, the first novel published in the U.S. by an African A
Our Nig by Harriet Wilson, the first novel published in the U.S. by an African American woman, is published. It was lost for years until reprinted with a critical essay by African American scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in 1983.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Sep
5
1859
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
Congressman William H. Gray is elected chairman
Congressman William H. Gray is elected chairman of the House Budget Committee, the highest congressional post held by an African American.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Jan
4
1985
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Jesse Williams' Speech (BET Awards 2016)

National Trust for Historic Preservation