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Rafer Johnson won the Olympic Decathlon
On Sept. 6, 1960 Rafer Johnson won the Olympic Decathlon--the first for an African American
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
6
1960
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
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
1st Non-voting Congressional Delegate
Rev. Walter Fauntroy, a former aide of Martin Luther King Jr., became the first nonvoting congressional delegate from the District of Columbia since the Reconstruction period.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by BARBinc
Mar
23
1968
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
Delegates and observers a convention
Two thousand delegates and observers attended Congress of African Peoples convention in Atlanta. (8/3-7).
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
3
1970
Mansu Musa
Mansa Musa I was considered the Mandingo Empire of Malis greatest king. Ruling an area at one time comparable in size to all of Western Europe, Mansa Musas empire was one of considerable wealth. Along with natural resources such as silver, gold, copper, and salt, it cultivated crops such as
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Jan
0
1315
Willie D. Burton
Willie D. Burton becomes the first African American to win the Oscar for sound, for the movie Bird.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Apr
11
1988
Wally "Famous" Amos's signature panama hat and embroidered shirt are donated to
Wally Famous Amoss signature panama hat and embroidered shirt are donated to the National Museum of American Historys Business Americana collection. It is the first memorabilia added to the collection by An African American entrepreneur and recognizes the achievement of Amos who built his company
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Intellitech
Nov
18
1980
Graduation
In 1955, Martin Luther King Jr. is awarded his doctorate from Boston University.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
Jun
5
1955
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
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
A commemorative stamp of Martin Luther King, Jr. is issued by the U.S. Postal Se
A commemorative stamp of Martin Luther King, Jr. is issued by the U.S. Postal Service as part of its Black Heritage USA commemorative series. The stamp of the slain civil rights leader is the second in the series.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
13
1979
The first black post office open, Atlanta GA, 1955
The first black post office open, Atlanta GA, 1955
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Boston Metropolitan Chapter
Oct
22
1955
Cellular Phone Invented
Henry Sampson, an african-american, invented the cellular phone.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
6
1971
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
Shirley Franklin is sworn in
Shirley Franklin is sworn in as the first African American Mayor of Atlanta and the only African American female mayor of a major American city.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
Jan
7
2002
Spingarn Medal Given to Carl Murphy
Carl Murphy, publisher of the Baltimore Afro-American, awarded Spingarn Medal for his contributions as a publisher and civil rights leader.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
Dec
5
1955
Jimmy Winkfield wins his second Kentucky Derby
Jimmy Winkfield wins his second Kentucky Derby in a row. African American jockeys have won 15 of 28 Derby races.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
May
1
1902
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
August 27, 1998, civil rights marchers gathered in Washington D.C. on the eve of
August 27, 1998, civil rights marchers gathered in Washington D.C. on the eve of the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther Kings I Have a Dream speech.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
27
1998
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
Committee on the Participation of Negroes in the
Committee on the Participation of Negroes in the National Defense Program met with President Roosevelt. National Newspaper Publishers Association founded. Spingarn Medal presented to Dr. Louis T. Wright for his civil rights leadership and his contributions as a surgeon.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Oct
25
1940
Events After Martin Luther King Jr's Death
Martin Luther King Jr. buried after funeral services at Ebenezer Baptist Church and memorial services at Morehouse College, Atlanta. More than 300,000 persons marched behind the coffin of the slain leader which was carried through streets of Atlanta on farm wagon pulled by two Georgia
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Boston Professional Chapter
Apr
9
1968
Gwendolyn Brooks, poet, first Black awarded a Pulitzer Prize (poetry) in 1950.
Gwendolyn Brooks, poet, first Black awarded a Pulitzer Prize (poetry) in 1950. Brooks was born in Topeka, Kansas but grew up in Chicago. She is a witty poet who satirizes blacks and whites and attacks racial discrimination. She uses black language and rituals to proclaim black solidarity.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
1
1950
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
U.S. Government grants Atlanta $1 million
U.S. government granted Atlanta some $1 million to finance mental health and social programs in the wake of a mysterious series of abductions and slayings involving at least twenty two Black youths.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
5
1981
William A. Harper
William A. Harper, student of Henry O. Tanner at the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the most gifted African American artist of the early 20th century, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
27
1873
Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church
Atlantas Ebenezer Baptist Church , the nearby crypt containing the remains of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his boyhood home are dedicated as part of a memorial to be known as the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Change.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Jan
15
1970
Maynard Jackson, three term mayor of Atlanta dies at age 65.
Maynard Jackson, three term mayor of Atlanta dies at age 65.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
23
2003
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