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Beatrice Foods is acquired by Reginald Lewis.
Beatrice Foods is acquired by Reginald Lewis. It is the largest business acquisition ever by an African American.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
9
1987
Bill Russell named head coach of the Boston Celtic
Bill Russell named head coach of the Boston Celtics, becoming the first African American to coach an NBA team.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Mar
28
1966
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. becomes the first African American general in the U.S. Air Force. His father was the first African American general in the U.S. Army
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
22
1959
White Democrats attacked demonstrators
White Democrats attacked demonstrators, who were marching from Albany to Camilla, Ga., and killed nine Blacks. Several whites were wounded.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAP) Boston Chapter
Sep
19
1868
Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, is consecrated at the first African American auxiliary bi
Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, is consecrated at the first African American auxiliary bishop in the U.S. He is assigned to Washington, D.C.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
12
1974
Hattie McDaniel
On this day, Hattie McDaniel known for her supporting roles became the first African American to win the Oscar Award for her role as Mammyin the movie Gone With The Wind. Not only was she the first African American to receive this award, but the was the only woman to have received it until Whoopi
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Feb
29
1940
William Levi Dawson
William Levi Dawson is born, first African American representative to chair a committee in Congress.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Apr
26
1883
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
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
Rebellion Collapsed/People Killed in the Struggles
White Democrats seized statehouse in Louisiana coup detat. President Grant ordered the revolutionaries to disperse, and the rebellion collapsed. Twenty-seven persons (sixteen whites and eleven Blacks) were killed in battles between Democrats and Republicans.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
14
1874
Two infanty regiments
Two infanty regiments, First and Second South Carolina Volunteers, captured and occupied Jacksonville, Fla., causing panic along Southern seaboard.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
10
1863
Harvey B. Gantt born
Harve B. Gantt, the first African American student to enroll at Clemson University in Charleston, South Carolina. Gantt became mayor pro tem of Charleston in 1983 and later served as mayor of Charlotte from 1983 to 1987.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
14
1943
The first Kentucky Derby
The first Kentucky Derby is won by African American jockey Oliver Lewis riding the horse Aristides. 14 of the 15 jockeys in the race are African Americans.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
17
1875
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
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
Dr. Ralph Bunche receives the Nobel Peace Prize
Dr. Ralph Bunche receives the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as a mediator in the Palestine crisis. He is the first African American to be so honored.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
20
1950
Noble Johnson
George and Noble Johnson founded the Lincoln Motion Picture Company in 1916. It was the first black-owned production company, it produced films exclusively for African
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1916
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
Naval Frigate named after African American
The Navy frigate USS Jesse L. Brown was commissioned. The ship was named for Ensign Jesse L. Brown, the first African American naval aviator killed in combat over Korea.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
17
1973
Barney L. Ford, Gold Miner, born
Early Colorado gold miner, hotel magnate and entreprenuer, former slave Barney L. Ford, was born in Stafford Court House, Virginia. Through a number of business dealings, Ford became a wealthy man but was dogged by a series of tragic accidents. The restaurants and hotels he owned in
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Diversity In Action
Jan
22
1822
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
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
Arthur Ashe
22 year old Arthur Ashe becomes the first African American to make the U.S. Davis Cup tennis team.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
14
1963
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
Debbye Turner is crowned Miss America. She is the third African American to win
Debbye Turner is crowned Miss America. She is the third African American to win the crown since the inception of the pageant in 1921.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
16
1989
James Weldon Johnson, born
Author, lyricist, poet and educator James Weldon Johnson, also the first Black executive of the NAACP, is born in Jacksonville, Florida.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Jun
17
1871
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
Patricia Roberts Harris
Patricia Roberts Harris, the first African American U.S. Ambassador is named permanent chairman of the Democratic National Convention. She will later be appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Housing and Urban development
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
27
1972
James Weldon Johnson resigned
James Weldon Johnson resigned as executive secretary of the NAACP, citing health reasons.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Dec
19
1930
Declared State of Emergency
Governor James A. Rhodes declared state of emergency in Cleveland and dispatched National Guard troops to riot-torn Hough district.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
19
1966
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