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Jan Earnest Matzeliger
Jan Earnest Matzeliger was born on September 15, 1852 in
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
15
1852
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
The shoe-lasting machine invented by Jan Matzeliger not only revolutionized the
The shoe-lasting machine invented by Jan Matzeliger not only revolutionized the shoe industry but also made Lynn, Massachusetts, the shoe capital of the
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Mar
19
1883
Henry Lewis
On this day Henry Lewis becomes the first African American to lead a symphony orchestra in the United States.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
15
1968
Rev. George Leile
Rev. George Leile was the first African American to be ordained a Baptist minister in America. He was an early pastor of the First African Baptist Church of Silver Bluf, South Carolina. Curiously, he supported the British during the American Revolutionary war because of the Britishs promise to free
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1770
First African American Intercollegiate football
Livingstone and Biddle College (now Johnson C. Smith) play the first African American intercollegiate football game
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
27
1892
George Alcorn patents fabrication of spectrometer
Patent # 4,618,380
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
21
1986
Slavery
Great Britain enters the Atlantic slave trade after Sir John Hawkins carries enslaved Africans from Portugese Africa to Latin America and sells them to Spanish planters.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1562
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
Wally "Famous" Amos's signature panama hat and embroidered shirt are donated to
Wally Famous Amoss signature panama hat and embroidered shirt are donated to the National Museum of American Historys Business Americana collection. It is the first memorabilia added to the collection by An African American entrepreneur and recognizes the achievement of Amos who built his company
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Intellitech
Nov
18
1980
Combat Mission
Ninety-ninth Pursuit Squadron flew first combat mission, strafing enemy positions on the heavily fortified Italian Island of Pantelleria.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
2
1943
Dr
Dr. John E. W. Thompson, graduate of the Yale University Medical School, named minister to Haiti.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
7
1885
Richard Parsons
Richard Parsons, CEO of Dime Savings Bank, the first African American CEO of a large non minority U.S. savings institution, born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
4
1942
First Black minister to serve for a White congregation, Lemuel Haynes was born,
First Black minister to serve for a White congregation, Lemuel Haynes was born, 1753
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
18
1753
Rafer Johnson won the Olympic Decathlon
On Sept. 6, 1960 Rafer Johnson won the Olympic Decathlon--the first for an African American
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
6
1960
William T. Coleman is named Secretary of Transpor
William T. Coleman is named Secretary of Transportation by President Gerald R. Ford. He is the second African American to hold a Cabinet level position
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
14
1975
Jonathan A. Rodgers becomes president of CBS's television stations division, the
Jonathan A. Rodgers becomes president of CBSs television stations division, the highest ranking African American in network television. Rodgers had been general manager of WBBM-TV, CBSs Chicago Station
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
3
1990
White mob prevented enrollment of students
White mob prevented enrollment of students at Mansfield High School, Mansfield, Texas.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Aug
30
1956
Arthur Ashe, the first winner of the U.S.Open
Arthur Ashe became the first winner of the U.S. Open Tennis Championship, defeating Tom Okker of the Netherlands at Forest Hills Stadium, New York.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
9
1968
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
Jump Start premieres in 40 newspapers in the U.S. It is created by 26 year old R
Jump Start premieres in 40 newspapers in the U.S. It is created by 26 year old Robb Armstrong, the youngest African American to have a syndicated comic strip. He follows in the footsteps of Morrie Turner, the creator of Wee Pals, the first African American syndicated comic strip.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by NSBE Boston
Oct
2
1989
Time, Inc. agrees to sell NYT Cable for $420
Time, Inc. agrees to sell NYT Cable for $420 million, to a group led by J. Bruce Llewellyn, the largest cable TV acquisition by an African American
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
9
1989
Colonization of Africa organized
Colonization of Africa organized at international conference in Berlin, November 15, February 26.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
15
1884
Pulitzer Prize and Spingarn Medal given
Charles Gordone awarded Pulitzer Prize for his play, No Place To Go. Painter Jacob Lawrence awarded Spingarn Medal in tribute to the compelling power of his work which has opened to the world...a window on the Negros condition in the United States and in salute to his unswerving commitment to the
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
26
1970
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
George 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
Dec
17
2001
Entertainment
The first black to perform with an American opera company was Caterina Jarboro, who was featured in a Chicago Opera Company production of Aida at the New York Hippodrome on July 22, 1933. She also sang the title role of the opera in Milan, Italy, in May, 1930. La Julia Rhea sang the role of Aida in
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
9
2001
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
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
Mar
27
2002
The 99th Pursuit Squadron, an all African American
The 99th Pursuit Squadron, an all African American unit is formed and the Tuskegee Training Program is established, the 99th will fly more than 500 missions and more than 3,700 sorties during one year of combat before being combined with the 332nd Fighter Group.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts
Jan
16
1941
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
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