You may also like

President Lincoln's Promise
President Lincoln, in preliminary Emancipation Proclamation warned South that he would free slaves in all states in rebellion on January 1, 1863.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by NSBE Boston
Jan
1
1863
Anti-Lynching Bill proposed
Black Congressman George H. White, North Carolina, introduced a bill to make lynching of Americans a federal offense. The bill died in committee. One report contends that in 1900, 105 Africans were lynched in the United States.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
20
1773
Death of Lincoln
Death of Abraham Lincoln, Washington.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
15
1865
Soldier & patriot James Robinson is born. When he won a medal for bravery at th
Soldier & patriot James Robinson is born. When he won a medal for bravery at the Battle of Yorktown, he was promised his freedom for fighting with the Americans. After the war, he was sold back into slavery.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
28
1753
Rhode Island enacts the first law against slavery inNorth America; slavery is
Rhode Island enacts the first law against slavery in North America; slavery is limited to 10 years.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1652
Cinque kidnapped
Cinque, origially Senghbe, the son of a Mende king, along with several other Africans, is kidnapped and sold into slavery in Cuba. Cinque and his companions will later carry out the famous successful revolt upon the slave ship Amistad.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
28
1839
Death of Thaddeus Stevens
Death of Thaddeus Stevens (76), architect of the Radical Reconstruction program, in Washington.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
11
1868
The Brooklyn Excelsiors is the first black baseballteam to tour the United Sta
The Brooklyn Excelsiors is the first black baseball team to tour the United States.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1860
White supremacist John King sentenced to death
White supremacist John King, one of three white men accused of chaining James Byrd to a pickup and dragging him along a Texas road until he was decapitated, was sentenced to death by lethal injection. If his death penalty is carried out, he will be the first white Texan executed for killing a black
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Diversity In Action
Feb
25
1999
African Americans Replaces Reluctant Whites
African Americans Replaces Reluctant Whites: By 1777, losses on the field of battle and rising White desertions had reduced the Continental Armys ranks of men. Northern colonies began to accept African Americans, free and slave, because these colonies could not fill their quotas with White man. In
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
5
2002
Congress refused to accept the first recorded
Congress refused to accept the first recorded petitions from American Blacks.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Jan
30
1797
First Black elected to Congress
First Black elected to Congress John W. Menard, defeated a white candidate, 5,107 to 2,833, in an election in Louisianas Second Congressional District to fill an unexpired term in the Fortieth Congress. U.S. Grant elected president with Black voters in the South providing the decisive margin. Grant
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
3
1868
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
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Intellitech
Oct
2
2002
First black CPA
Jesse B. Blayton became the first black certified public accountant in the United States.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Jan
0
2000
Governor Powell Clayton
Arkansas Governor Powell Clayton declared martial law in ten counties and mobilized the state militia in Ku Klux Klan crisis.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
9
1868
Black Man Founds the City of Centerville
Virginian George Washington, having traveled cross country in the company of foster parents and settlied in Washinton Territory a quarter of a century earlier, founded the city of Centerville. Washington, a successful businessman, was revered because of his willingness to help his neighbors. He is
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAP) Boston Chapter
Jan
8
1875
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
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
May
20
1868
Segregation Movements
Tennessee started modern segregation movement with Jim Crow railroad car and was followed by Florida (1887), Mississippi (1888), Texas (1889), Louisiana (1890), Alabama, Kentucky, Arkansas and Georgia (1891), South Carolina (1898), North Carolina (1899), Virginia (1900), Maryland (1904), Oklahoma
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
24
1881
Council of general officers decided to bar slaves
Council of general officers decided to bar slaves and free Blacks from Continental Army.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
8
1775
Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed Missouri Compromise
Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed Missouri Compromise and opened Northern territory to slavery.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts
May
30
1854
John Fitzgerald Kennedy Assassinated
John Fitzgerald Kennedy (46), thirty-fifth president of the United States, assassinated in Dallas, Texas.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Nov
22
1963
The National Council of Negro Women sponsors its first Black Family Reunion at t
The National Council of Negro Women sponsors its first Black Family Reunion at the National Mall in Washington.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
12
1986
First Formal Protest Against Slavery
First formal protest against slavery by organized white body in English America made by Germantown (Pa.) Quakers at monthly meeting. The historic Germantown Protest denounced slavery and the slave trade.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
18
1688
Draft Act Passed
During the height of the Civil War, Congress passed this act which mandated military service for all men between the ages of twenty and forty five.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
3
1863
Abolitionist Society Organized
First abolitionist society in United States organized in Philadelphia.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Apr
14
1775
Blanche Kelso Bruce sworn in as a U.S. Senator.
Blanche Kelso Bruce was a US Senator from Mississippi; the first black man to serve a full term in the senate, and the first person born into slavery to preside over the senate. While serving in the senate, he was an advocate for civil rights for blacks, native Americans, Chinese immigrants and
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
May
21
1881
Anthony Burns, celebrated fugitive slave, arrested
Anthony Burns, celebrated fugitive slave, arrested by United States Deputy marshals in Boston. Two thousand United States troops escorted him through the streets of Boston when he was returned to the South on June 3.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
May
24
1854
Virginia statue provides that baptism will not affectthe bondage of slaves.
Virginia statue provides that baptism will not affect the bondage of slaves.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Jan
0
1667
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.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
4
1922
Amanda Berry Smith, born into slavery
Amanda Berry Smith, born into slavery, becomes an independent missionary and travels the U.S. and three other continents.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
23
1837
More from Black Then
October 19: Today in 1944, The U.S. Navy Began Allowing Black Women to Serve as Ranking Officers
October 19: Today in 1870, the First Blacks Ever Were Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives
Poem: Praise Song For The Day by Poet Elizabeth Alexander
University of Maryland Building a Monument to Frederick Douglass
On this day in 1920, Black History Was Made
Lawson Andrew Scruggs: One of the First Three Black Doctors Licensed by the State of North Carolina
Joshua “Josh” Gibson: Negro League Baseball Hitter; Catcher Known as the “Black Babe Ruth”
Minister Solomon Seay Sr: “Spiritual Father” of the Civil Rights Movement
Beulah Rucker Oliver: Established a School to Educate and Inspire Young Black Children
Dana A. Dorsey: First Black Millionaire of Miami
Poem: “Lesson” by Poet & Psychologist Forrest Hamer
Unable To Find Employment, Will Cook Formed His Own Publishing Company and Composed The First All-Black Show To Play In A Prestigious Broadway House
Henry Kirklin: Former Slave to Prize-Winning Gardener & Horticulturalist
Before Bob Marley Made It Cool, Joseph Nathaniel Hibbert Was A Pioneering Teacher Of The Rastafarian Movement
Flash Black Photo: African Americans @ War, World War II
Lorenzo C. Wright: “The One Man Track”
Considered The Greatest Lightweight Boxer Of All Time, Joe Gans Was First African American To Win World Boxing Championship
Carol Moseley Braunm Became the First and Only Black Woman Elected to the U.S. Senate Today in 1992
November 3: On This Day in 1981, Thirman Milner Became New England's First Black Mayor
Video: Celebrating the Lives of James Earl Green & Phillip Lafayette Gibbs (Jackson State University)
Bob Mants: Civil Rights Activist & SNCC Field Secretary
Meet Lillian Allen: Leading International Exponent of Dub Poetry
November 4: Hulan Jack Became Manhattan, NY's President Today in 1953
The Dossier: “Nigeria’s Most Dangerous” Lawrence Anini
Irwin Holmes: First African-American Graduate at North Carolina State University [Video]
Happy Birthday to Dr. Patricia Bath, Inventor of the Laserphaco Probe for Cataracts
November 4: Barack Obama Was Elected as the 44th U.S. President Today in 2008
Happy Birthday to the Beautiful Berlinda Tolbert, Best Known as Actress From 'The Jeffersons'
132 Living Africans Murdered by Being Thrown Overboard Slave Ships
November 5: Shirley Chisholm Became the First Black American Woman Elected to Congress in 1968
“Racial Cleansing” that Drove 1,100 Black Residents Out Of Forsyth County, Ga.
Today in 1917, the Supreme Court Ruled Against KY Discrimination Law in Buchanan v. Warley
“The Empress Of the Blues”: How Bessie Smith Became One Of The Highest Paid Black Performers Of Her Time (Video)
Happy Birthday to Victoria J.G. Adams, a Key Pioneer of the Civil Rights Movement
Tom Bass: Made Mexico, Missouri, the “Saddle Horse Capital of the World”
February 10: Happy Birthday Leontyne Price
Andrew Goodman: Participant in the Freedom Summer Movement of 1964
Arthur “Blind” Blake: Renowned Blues and Ragtime Singer, Guitarist [VIDEO]
Schooled by Youtube: Heads of Hate #10: John Tyler
The Ole Miss Riot of 1962
National Association of Colored Women's Clubs: Oldest Black American Organization In Existence
Poem: “People Equal by Jamaican Poet James Berry
Meta Vaux Warrick Fuller: Sculptor Notable for Celebrating Afrocentric Themes
Dr. Beth A. Brown: First Black Woman to Receive Ph.D. in Astronomy from the University of Michigan      
Sam Carr: Pioneering Delta Blues Drummer
Black To The Future: Kanye West Tops The Time's List Of 100 Most Influential People
Modern Response to 1966 Ebony Edition “Are Negro Girls Getting Prettier”
Slide Guitar Legend: Robert Nighthawk
Poem: The Good Life by Tracy K. Smith
Alyene Quin: Civil Rights Activist Affectionately Called by SNCC Workers “Mama Quin”

Education Facts

Martin Luther King Jr. Facts

Democratic Party Facts

I have a Dream - MLK