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African American Jordan Freeman dies after killing Major William Montgomery in t
African American Jordan Freeman dies after killing Major William Montgomery in the Battle of Groton Heights
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Sep
6
1781
Writer Wallace Thurman's play Harlem opens in NYC.
Writer Wallace Thurmans play Harlem opens in NYC. It is the first successful play by an African American playwright.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Feb
20
1929
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
Walter F.White, NAACP Pres.
Walter F. White named NAACP executive secretary. The NAACP has had many leaders since its beginning in 1910, but none was more determined and devoted than Walter F. White. This fair-skinned, blue-eyed man who wouldnt pass worked a lifetime to defeat the nations barriers to integration
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
9
1931
Ground is broken for the Harold Washington wing of the DuSable Museum in Chicago
Ground is broken for the Harold Washington wing of the DuSable Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by artist and poet Margaret T. Burroughs in 1961, the DuSable is one of the oldest African American museums in the U.S.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
17
1991
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
White Democrats attacked Republicans at Yazoo
White Democrats attacked Republicans at Yazoo City, Mississippi. One white and three Blacks were killed.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
1
1875
Howard Beach Incident
White teens in Howard Beach chased Michael Griffith, an African-American youth, onto a freeway where he was hit by a motorist. Griffith died from his injuries setting off a wave of protests and racial tensions in New York.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
7
1986
Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe makes history by becoming the first African American male to win the mens single title at Wimbledon, defeating Jimmy Connors.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
5
1975
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
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
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
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
African American Women College Presidents
On July 1, 1987, for the first time in history, there were three African American women serving as Presidents of Four Year Colleges and Universities in America.They were - Dr. Niara Sudarkasa- President of Lincoln University in Pennslyvania; Dr. Johnetta Cole, President of Spelman College in
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
1
1987
Rafer Johnson, is born
Born August 18, 1935, Hillsboro, Texas One of the greatest all-around track athletes in history. On Sept. 6, 1960, he won the Olymic Decathlon, the first for an African American.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
18
1935
Laurence Fishburne, Jr. Born
Actor Laurence Fishburne, Jr. was born on this day in Augusta, GA. Fishburne , nicknamed Fish will start his theatrical career at the young age of 10. He will become the son of the first African American family featured on a daytime drama at the age of 11. He will continue his rise to fame starring
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Jul
31
1961
93rd Infantry
93rd Infantry activated and assigned to combat in the South Pacific; the first African American division formed during World War II
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
May
15
1942
First Prizefighter Bill Richmond born
Bill Richmond, son of a slave, became the first African American to distinguish himself as a prizefighter. On this date, Richmond knocked out Jack Holmes in England.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) Boston Professional Chapter
Jul
8
1805
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
Actress, Writer
Born on this day in Winston-Salem, N.C., USA. Pamala Suzette Grier is one of the most important African American actresses of the 1970s
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
26
1949
World renowed opera singer, Shirley Verrett, makes her debut in New York City, 1
World renowed opera singer, Shirley Verrett, makes her debut in New York City, 1958
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
Nov
4
1958
Death of George H. White
Death of George H. White (66) last of the post Reconstruction congressman, Philadelphia.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Dec
28
1918
Fifty-fifth Congress (1897-99) Convened
Fifty-fifth Congress (1897-99) convened. One Black congressman: George H. White, North Carolina.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
15
1911
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
Through the 3 White Democrats and police attacked
Through the 3 White Democrats and police attacked freedmen and their white allies in Memphis, Tennessee. Forty-six Blacks and two white liberals were killed. More than seventy were wounded. Ninety homes, twelve schools and four churches were burned.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
1
1866
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
Massachusetts bars blacks and Native Americans from military service becauseco
Massachusetts bars blacks and Native Americans from military service because colonists fear black and Native American uprisings.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1656
Wellington Webb is elected mayor
City Auditor Wellington Webb is elected mayor of Denver, Colo. He is the first African American to hold the post.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
18
1991
Frank Mingo, one of the pioneering advertising executives who specialized in tar
Frank Mingo, one of the pioneering advertising executives who specialized in targeting African American consumers, dies
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by BARBinc
Oct
30
1989
Col Frederick D Gregory becomes the first African American to lead a space missi
Col Frederick D Gregory becomes the first African American to lead a space mission.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
22
1989
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