March 24,

1837 Canada gives Blacks the right to vote.

1865 Black troops are mustered into Confederate service.

1926 The Carnegie Foundation presents the Arthur Schomburg collection of Black History to the N.Y. Public Library.

1941 Richard Wright's "Native Son," opens on Broadway at the St. James Theater, starring Canada Lee and directed by Orson Wells.

1961 Malcolm X debates Walter Carrington of the NAACP at a Harvard Law School forum entitled "The American Negro: Problems and Solutions."

1969 Joseph Kasavubu, former President of the Congo dies.

1997 Harold Melvin, 56, leader of the R&B group, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, dies in Philadelphia after a stroke. The group, which featured Teddy Pendergrass, had hits such as If You Don't Know Me By Now and Wake Up Everybody.