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Federal State Crisis
Mississippi Governor Ross R. Barnett defied the federal government in impassioned speech on statewide radio-television hookup, saying he would interpose the authority of the state between the University of Mississippi and federal judges who had ordered the admission of James H. Meredith. Barnett
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
13
1962
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
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
Sponsored by Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts
Jan
16
1941
Norma Merrick Sklarek, the first licensed woman
Norma Merrick Sklarek, the first licensed woman architect in the U.S. and the first African American woman to become a fellow in the American Institute of Architects, born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Boston Professional Chapter
Apr
15
1928
Walter F. Craig
1986 Max Robinson
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1986
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
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
Baltimore Orioles manager Frank Robinson
Baltimore Orioles manager Frank Robinson is named assistant general manager of the club, the third African American to become as assistant GM.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Jun
4
1991
Cowboy Willie "Bill" Pickett dies
World famous African American cowboy Willie Bill Pickett died in Ponca, Oklahoma, hospital of injuries sustained after he was kicked in the head by a horse on the Millers Brothers Fabulous 101 Ranch.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Apr
2
1932
Gladys Ross dies
Gladys Merritt Ross, co-founder of Phi Delta Kappa sorority for African American teachers, dies in Stockton, California.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
May
6
1985
Joseph Haynes Rainey
Joseph Haynes Rainey, first African American representative in the U.S. House of Representatives where he will serve five terms, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
21
1832
Baseball Great Jackie Robinson born
In Cairo, Georgia on this date baseball great Jackie Robinson was born. The fifth African American to play major league baseball with a white team, Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, ending five decades of segregated baseball. At the time of his retirement in October 1972, Robinson is
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
Jan
31
1919
Hiram R. Revels elected to the U.S. Senate by the
Hiram R. Revels elected to the U.S. Senate by the Mississippi legislature, becoming the first Black US Senator in the US . He was elected to fill the unexpired term of Jefferson Davis. The term ended on March 3, 1871.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
3
1871
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
Robert N.C. Nix, first African American rep
Robert N.C. Nix, first African American representative from Pennsylvania and 11 term congressman, born
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Aug
9
1905
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
The first African American magazine, Mirror of Freedom, begins publication in Ne
The first African American magazine, Mirror of Freedom, begins publication in New York City.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
30
1838
Passing of Civil Rights Bill
U.S. Congress pass Civil Rights Bill banning racial discrimination in sale or rental of approximately 80 per cent of the nations housing.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Diversity In Action
Apr
10
1968
The first Black person admitted to the University of Mississippi, James Meredith
The first Black person admitted to the University of Mississippi, James Meredith, graduates from University of Mississippi, 1963
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Aug
18
1963
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
Violette Neatley Anderson
Violette Neatley Anderson is the first African American woman admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
29
1926
Oscar DePriest elected to Seventy-first Congress
Oscar DePriest elected to Seventy-first Congress from Illinois First Congressional District (Chicago). He was the first congressman from the North and the first Black in Congress since the departure of George H. White in 1901.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
6
1928
Charles Edward Anderson
In 1960, Charles Edward Anderson earned a Ph.D. in Meteorology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts. Charles Edward Anderson the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in Meteorology; died today.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
21
1994
Juanita Hall becomes the first African American
Juanita Hall becomes the first African American to win a Tony award for her role as Bloody Mary in the musical South Pacific.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
9
1950
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
Thaddeus Stevens (1792-1868).
Born in Danville, Vermont, in 1792, he graduated from Dartmouth in 1814, and moved to York, Pennsylvania. He was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Gettysburg, PA for fourteen
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
4
1861
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
President John F Kennedy sends federal troops in integration of University of Mi
President John F Kennedy sends federal troops in integration of University of Mississippi, 1962
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA)
Sep
29
1962
W Wilson Goode becomes the 1st African American mayor of Philadelphia
W Wilson Goode becomes the 1st African American mayor of Philadelphia
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
Oct
9
1984
Cheryl Adrienne Brown
Cheryl Adrienne Brown wins the Miss Iowa pageant and becomes the first African American to compete in the Miss America beauty pageant.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
14
1970
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