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First Black of graduate college in America
It is widely accepted that John Brown Russwurm was the first Black to graduate college in America on September 6, 1826 at Bowdoin College. However, just 14 days before Edward Jones graduated Amherst College in Massachusetts.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
6
1826
National Guard mobilized to restore order in
National Guard mobilized to restore order in Boston school busing crisis.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
15
1974
Forty-eighth Congress (1883-85) convened, Two
Forty-eighth Congress (1883-85) convened, Two Blacks representatives, James E. OHara, North Carolina; Robert Smalls, South Carolina. George L. Ruffin appointed city judge in Boston. Fifty-three Blacks reported lynched in 1883.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Dec
3
1883
Lewis Franklin Powell confirmed as Supreme Court
Lewis Franklin Powell confirmed as Supreme Court justice despite opposition of civil rights organizations.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
6
1971
Darkie Tooth Paste Changed
After 62 years, the Colgate-Palmolive Co. redesigned packaging for its Darkie tooth paste made and sold only in Asia. The nickname for Darkie tooth paste was renamed Darlie and the blackface sambo like character was changed into a non-racially offensive silhouette.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
28
1989
The First Fugitive Slave Case
Capture of George Latimer in Boston led to first of the fugitive slave cases which embittered North and South. Boston abolitionists raised money to purchase Latimer from his slaveholder.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
17
1842
Ntozke Shange is born
Born Paulette Williams, she graduated from Barnard College in 1970, and later earned an MA from the University of Southern California. It was there she changed her name to the Zulu “Ntozke” meaning “she who comes with her own things” and “Shange” meaning
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Oct
18
1948
Louisiana governor conferred with president on KKK
Louisiana governor conferred with president on KKK violence in his state.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
20
1922
John Mercer Langston, born
Congressman, attorney, diplomat, dean of the law school and president of Howard University, John Mercer Langston was born, 1829
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
14
1829
Spingarn Medal: Clarence Mitchell Jr.
Clarence Mitchell Jr., director of the Washington Bureau of the NAACP, awarded the Spingarn Medal for the pivotal role he....played in enactment of civil rights
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Dec
4
1969
Slavery
All blacks and Native Americans who live with or are servants of the English settlers in Massachusetts are required to undergo militar training due to an every present Indian danger.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1652
Henry Ossian Flipper, the first African American graduate of the U.S. Military A
Henry Ossian Flipper, the first African American graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, was born in Thomasville, Georgia. Enduring heavy racism during his schooling, Flipper went on to establish a military career. This was ended however after he was falsely accused of embezzling
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Mar
31
1856
Civil Rights March in Alabama
Through the 25th, Alabama state troopers and sheriffs deputies dispersed Selma-to-Montgomery civil rights march with tear gas and billy clubs, Three white Unitarian ministers, including Rev. James J. Reeb, attacked on streets of Selma, Alabama. Reeb, who was participating in civil rights
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
7
1965
William R. "Cozy" Cole, jazz drummer, dies.
William R. Cozy Cole, jazz drummer, dies. His recording of Topsy became the only drum solo to sell more than one million records
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Jan
29
1981
Killings in Civil Rights demonstrations
Jonathan M. Daniels, white Episcopal seminary student from Massachusetts, killed and Richard F. Morrisroe, white Roman Catholic priest from Chicago, seriously wounded by shotgun blasts fired by white special deputy sheriff in Hayneville, Alabama. They were participating in civil rights
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
12
1965
Slaves Petition for Freedom
Massachusetts slaves petitioned the state legislature for freedom. A bill was drawn and passed by the Mass. legislature. But the governor witheld approval and the measure never became law.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
25
1773
Lewis Temple of Massachusetts invents the toggleharpoon wich becomes the stand
Lewis Temple of Massachusetts invents the toggle harpoon wich becomes the standard harpoon of the New England Whaling industry; he never receives a patent for his invention and dies penniless.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Boston Metropolitan Chapter
Jan
0
1848
New York City Council passes bill prohibiting racial discrimination
New York City Council passed bill prohibiting racial discrimination in city-assisted housing developments.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Boston Professional Chapter
Feb
16
1951
August 27, 1998, civil rights marchers gathered in Washington D.C. on the eve of
August 27, 1998, civil rights marchers gathered in Washington D.C. on the eve of the 25th anniversary of Martin Luther Kings I Have a Dream speech.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
27
1998
Executive Order 9808
In the aftermath of World War II, mob violence and lynching of Black Americans, in conjunction with the continuing controversy about segregation in American society, led President Harry S. Truman to issue Executive Order 9808 on this day which set up a committee to study the protection of civil
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
5
1946
Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the
Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1957, the first federal civil rights legislation since 1875. The bill established a civil rights commission and a civil rights division in the Justice Department. It also gave the Justice Department authority to seek injunctions against voting rights
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by NSBE Boston
Aug
29
1957
Pres. Kennedy barred racial discrimination
President Kennedy issued executive order barring racial discrimination in federally financed housing.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Boston Metropolitan Chapter
Nov
20
1962
Desmond Tutu Defys Apartheid Law
Defying apartheid laws, Bishop Desmond Tutu walks alone on a South African beach, 1989
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
19
1989
Charles Edward Anderson
In 1960, Charles Edward Anderson earned a Ph.D. in Meteorology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts. Charles Edward Anderson the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in Meteorology; died today.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
21
1994
1st Black Interstate organization
Boston Masons, led by Prince Hall, established first Black interstate organization, creating lodges in Philadelphia and Providence, Rhode Island.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
30
1797
Slavery
Two Massachusetts slave merchants raid an African village, killing 100 persons; two blacks are brought to Massachusetts and sold; a local magistrate indicts the merchants for murder and man-stealing and orders that the slaves be returned to their Guinea home.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Boston Professional Chapter
Jan
0
1645
NAACP petition on racism, "An Appeal to the
NAACP petition on racism, An Appeal to the World, presented to United Nations at Lake Success.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA)
Oct
23
1947
Fontella Bass is Born
Fontella Bass, rhythm and blues singer noted for her recording of Rescue Me, is born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
3
1940
Merlie Evers-Williams born.
3/1/1933: On this day Merlie Evers-Williams , who will become a civil rights activist and the first woman to head the NAACP, is born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts
Mar
1
1933
Activist Floyd H. McKissick born
In Asheville, North Carolina, civil rights activist Floyd H. McKissick was born. A lawyer, newspaper columnist and business executive, McKissick attended Morehouse College, the University of North Carolina, and North Carolina Central University.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Mar
9
1922
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