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Smith, Charles Z. (1927-2016)
On July 18, 1988, Charles Z. Smith became the first African American to serve on the Washington Supreme Court.  He was appointed to the court by Washington’s then Governor Booth Gardner and was subsequently elected to his position on the court for a two-year term in 1988.  Justice Smith was elected
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Source: Black Past
National Equal Rights League (1864–1921)
Founded in Syracuse, New York in 1864, the National Equal Rights League (NERL) promoted full and immediate citizenship for African Americans. Created during the Civil War, the League based its call for full citizenship as compensation for military service in the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. They
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Source: Black Past
Political Upset
Lt. Gov. Mervyn Dymally defeated in California election. Senator Edward W. Brooke defeated in Massachusetts election.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
7
1978
The Black National Anthem
Lift Every Voice and Sing
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Source: Black Past
Satcher, David (1941- )
David Satcher, physician, educator, and administrator, was born in Anniston, Alabama, on March 2, 1941 to Wilmer and Anne Satcher.   In 1963 Satcher graduated from Morehouse College in Atlanta.  He earned a M.D. and Ph.D. in cytogenetics from Case Western Reserve University in
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Source: Black Past
Mar
2
1941
Maxine Waters birth
Maxine Waters was born this day. Congresswoman Waters is a Democrat fromCalifornia.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
15
1938
Mensah, Raphael Abraham Frank (1924-1990s)
Raphael Abraham Frank Mensah (1924-1990s), a schoolmaster and theologian, played a foundational role in bringing Mormonism to Ghana. Born in 1924 in Winneba, Gold Coast, as the British colony of Ghana was then called, he was the eldest of five children, three sons and two daughters.  Mensah
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Source: Black Past
Johnnie Cochran
Johnnie Cochran was a lawyer, who handled several high profile celebrity cases. He was born on October 2, 1937 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He received his Bachelors’ degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, in 1959. Initially selling insurance policies for a living, Cochran soon began
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Source: Black History Resources
Sponsored by Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Boston Professional Chapter
Mar
29
2005
Baird, Harry (1931-2005)
The physical presence that black British actor Harry Baird brought to the movie screen was largely a consequence of the United Kingdom going through the birthing pain of racism during the 1950s and 1960s.  Born in Guyana, this premier black actor was no Paul Robeson, but Harry Baird carried with
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Source: Black Past
Documentary Films on Blackpast.org - African American LGBTQ History in the West - Director
Films - By Director | Films - By Title | Films by Year | Films - By Subject | Entire Site Bibliography
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Source: Black Past
Jordan, Barbara (1936-1996)
Barbara Charline Jordan was born in Houston Texas’s Fifth Ward on February 21, 1936. She received her education in public schools in Texas and graduated from Texas Southern University in 1956 with a B.A. in political science and history. Jordan then received her LL.B. from Boston University School
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Source: Black Past
Jan
17
1996
Dinkins, David N. (1927- )
In 1989, David N. Dinkins defeated his challenger, former federal prosecutor Rudolph (Rudy) Giuliani, to become the first African American mayor of New York
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Source: Black Past
Dash, Julie (1952- )
Filmmaker Julie Dash was born on October 22, 1952 in Queens, New York. She received her B.A. in film production from City College of New York in 1974 and went on to earn a two-year fellowship to the Center for Advanced Film Studies at the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles.  At AFI, Dash
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Source: Black Past
Oct
22
1952
Wilson Riles elected superintendent of Public
Wilson Riles elected superintendent of Public instruction in California. Richard Austin elected secretary of state in Michigan.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by NSBE Boston
Nov
3
1970
Hotel Robinson (1897-1921)
The Hotel Robinson, built in 1897, was one of the first businesses in San Diego County, California to be owned and operated by an African American, and the oldest continuously operated hotel in Southern California. The hotel is now a part of the National Register of Historic Places and is a Point
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Source: Black Past
Jun
10
1915
Dollarhide, Douglas (1923-2008)
Douglas Dollarhide was the first African American mayor of the city of Compton, California, and a pioneer and role model for future black politicians across the state of
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Source: Black Past
Jun
28
2008
LeBron James
LeBron James is an American basketball superstar who currently plays for the National Basketball Association (NBA) team “Cleveland Cavaliers”. He is six feet, eight inches tall and weighs 250 pounds. He was born to a 16 year old single mother named Gloria Marie James on December
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Source: Black History Resources
Mercer, Mabel Alice Wadham (1900-1984)
Mabel Mercer was one of the most important jazz cabaret singers of the 20th Century. Her personal singing style emphasizing interpretation, diction, lyrics, and projection over vocal proficiency influenced numerous leading singers including Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Nat
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Source: Black Past
Elston Howard: dies
Elston Howard was a major League Baseball Player. Outstanding Catcher for the Yankees during the 1950s and 1960s. Nine time All-Star. First Black player to play for the Yankees.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA)
Dec
14
1980
Fort Lawton (Seattle) “Riot” and POW Lynching, 1944
On August 14, 1944, African American soldiers “rioted” against Italian prisoners of war at Seattle’s Fort Lawton, an Army staging area for combat in the Pacific. American officers and POWs under their guard were severely beaten. The next morning one of the POWs, Guglielmo Olivotto, was
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Source: Black Past
Aug
14
1944
G. Chandler Vaughan, Dallas, Texas
Carrying forward  the vision of Dr. Carter G. Woodson, BlackPast.org presents the magnificence and complexity of African-American civilization for those seeking understanding and context - the pillars of authentic
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Source: Black Past
Michael Jordan
Born: 2/17/1963 Brooklyn, New YorkMichael Jeffrey Jordan, also known by his initials, MJ, is an American former professional basketball player. He is also a businessman, and principal owner and chairman of the Charlotte Hornets.Business / Schooling: Awards / Achievements:
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Elgin Baylor announces his retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers. After 14 yea
Elgin Baylor announces his retirement from the Los Angeles Lakers. After 14 years in the NBA, Baylor had scored 23,149 points, the third highest in the league, and was the fifth highest career rebounder.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
4
1971
Black Panther Party Emerges
Huey Newton and Bobby Seale students at a California college create theBlack Panther Party for Self Defense.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
30
1966
Bill Russell
Bill Russell named coach of the Boston Celtics basketball team and became the first Black to coach an established team in professional athletics.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
18
1955
George Gervin
Born on April 27, 1952 in Detroit, Michigan, George Gervin is a retired professional basketball player who is known to be one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA
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Source: Black History Resources
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Apr
27
1952
Jim Beckwourth, Afro-American Pioneer
on this day Jim Beckwourth discovered a path through the Sierra Nevada Mountains that now bear his name. Beckwourth Pass on U.S. Alt 40 between Reno, Nevada and Sacramento, California made overland travel to the gold fields of California possible.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Apr
26
1844
Spingarn Medal: Wilson C. Riles
Spingarn Medal presented to Wilson C. Riles, superintendent of public instruction, California, in recognition of the stature he has attained as a national leader in the field of education.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Boston Metropolitan Chapter
Nov
6
1973
Otis Redding
Otis Reddings career came to a tragic end when the twin engine plane carrying him to a concert date in Wisconsin crashed in Lake Monoma.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
10
1967
Zhou Enlai's African "Safari" (1963-1964)
Zhou Enlai’s first tour of Africa, popularly known as Zhou’s “Safari,” was a series of state visits to ten independent African countries, undertaken between December 1963 and February 1964 by the Chinese Premier. These visits, which occurred during a period when many countries were
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Source: Black Past
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