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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
Congressman Thaddeus Stevens offered an amendment
Congressman Thaddeus Stevens offered an amendment to Freedmens Bureau bill authorizing the distribution of public land and confiscated land to freedmen and loyal refugees in forty acre lots. The measure was defeated in the House by a vote of 126 to 37. A Black delegation, led by Frederick Douglas
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
5
1866
Doris A. Davis of Compton, California becom
Doris A. Davis of Compton, California becomes the first African American woman to govern a metropolitan city.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
5
1973
John C. Freemont
John C. Fremont issued proclamation freeing slaves of Missouri rebels. Lincoln revoked the proclamation.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
30
1854
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
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
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
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
Sissieretta Jones 1869-1933-Opera Singer
Sissieretta Jones born Matilda Joyner, enrolled in Providence Academy of Music at age fourteen and reported tohave completed training at New England Conservatory of Music in Boston. With her rich soprano voice she was applauded as the first Negro prima donna. She was compared to Adelina Pattie an
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1869
Civil Rights Movement
On this day the African American community of Montgomery, Alabama voted unanimously to end its 385 day bus-boycott.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Boston Metropolitan Chapter
Dec
20
1956
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
Possible birthday of Frederick Douglass
Possible birthday of Frederick Douglass, abolitionist and orator. Born into slavery as Frederick Baile, Douglass purchased his freedom in 1845 and went on to become the greatest abolitionist of his time.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
14
1817
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
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
Virginia statue holds servants who run away with slavesliable for the loss of
Virginia statue holds servants who run away with slaves liable for the loss of any slaves.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Jan
0
1660
North Carolina Mutual and Provident Insurance
North Carolina Mutual and Provident Insurance Company founded by John Merrick and associates in Durham, North Carolina as the first African American owned insurance company.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
20
1898
Jump Start premieres in 40 newspapers in the U.S. It is created by 26 year old R
Jump Start premieres in 40 newspapers in the U.S. It is created by 26 year old Robb Armstrong, the youngest African American to have a syndicated comic strip. He follows in the footsteps of Morrie Turner, the creator of Wee Pals, the first African American syndicated comic strip.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by NSBE Boston
Oct
2
1989
President Lincoln signed Emancipation Proclamation
President Lincoln signed Emancipation Proclamation which freed slaves in rebel states with exception of thirteen parishes (including New Orleans) in Louisiana, forty-eight countries in West Virginia, seven countries (including Norfolk) in Eastern Virginia. Proclamation did not apply to slaves in
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
1
1863
Bacon's Rebellion
African Americans fought in the first armed rebellion against British authority in the colonies, Bacons Rebellion, in 1676. Nathaniel Bacon was a member of the rising generation of colonial planters who resented British rule and, particularly, the British protection of Indian lands that lay just
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
26
2002
Did You Know That In...
1751 - A South Carolina law prohibits slaves from learning about poisons and other medicines, it also prohibits them from becoming doctors.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Jan
0
1751
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
Sponsored by BARBinc
Sep
17
1970
Moneta Sleet becomes the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for his
Moneta Sleet becomes the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for his photograph of Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. and her daughter at her husbands funeral
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
5
1969
Lawrence Douglas Wilder of Virginia is inaugurated as the first African American
Lawrence Douglas Wilder of Virginia is inaugurated as the first African American to be elected governor in the U.S. Wilder won the election in Virginia by a mere 7,00 votes in a state once the heart of the Confederacy.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by BARBinc
Jan
13
1990
Death of Emperor Haile Selassie
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia died in 1975 at the age of 83. During his reign, Selassies main ambitions included the modernization of Ethiopia, international recognition for his nation, the abolishment of slavery, expanded eduacation and the elimination of foreign intervention. In 1936, a year
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
27
1975
George "Little Chocolate" Dixon betas Jack Skelly in New Orleans to win the worl
George Little Chocolate Dixon betas Jack Skelly in New Orleans to win the world featherweight title. While some African American citizens celebrate for two days, the New Orleans Times-Democrat says, It is a mistake to match a Negro and a white man ...to bring the races together on any terms of
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
6
1892
Republican National Convention, meeting in
Republican National Convention, meeting in Chicago, nominated U.S. Grant for the presidency. Convention marked the national debut of Black politicians. P.B.S. Pinchback of Louisiana and James J. Harris were delegates to the convention. Harris was named to the committee which informed Grant of his
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
May
20
1868
Republican William McKinley defeated William Bryan
Republican William McKinley defeated William Bryan in presidential elections.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
6
1900
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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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
9
1905
White mob prevented enrollment of students
White mob prevented enrollment of students at Mansfield High School, Mansfield, Texas.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Aug
30
1956
Henry Lewis
On this day Henry Lewis becomes the first African American to lead a symphony orchestra in the United States.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
15
1968
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