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Thaddeus Stevens (1792-1868).
Born in Danville, Vermont, in 1792, he graduated from Dartmouth in 1814, and moved to York, Pennsylvania. He was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Gettysburg, PA for fourteen
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
4
1861
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
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
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
Congressman Thaddeus Stevens offered an amendment
Congressman Thaddeus Stevens offered an amendment to Freedmens Bureau bill authorizing the distribution of public land and confiscated land to freedmen and loyal refugees in forty acre lots. The measure was defeated in the House by a vote of 126 to 37. A Black delegation, led by Frederick Douglas
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
5
1866
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
Blacks Elected to Congress
Sixteen Blacks were elected to Congress. Andrew Young of Atlanta was the first Black elected to Congress from the Deep South since the Reconstruction era. Also elected for the first time were Barbara Jordan (Tex.) and Yvonne Brathwaite Burke (Calif.). Republican Senator Edward W. Brooke of
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
17
1972
Juanita Hall becomes the first African American
Juanita Hall becomes the first African American to win a Tony award for her role as Bloody Mary in the musical South Pacific.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
9
1950
52 nurses lead by Martha M. Franklin
52 nurses lead by Martha M. Franklin form the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, to improve the status of African American nurses
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
23
1908
First of a succession of Reconstruction acts
First of a succession of Reconstruction acts passed by Congress. The acts divided the former Confederate states into five military districts under the command of army generals.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
2
1867
Draft Act Passed
During the height of the Civil War, Congress passed this act which mandated military service for all men between the ages of twenty and forty five.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
3
1863
Lawrence Douglas Wilder assumes title as governor
In Richmond, Virginia former Lt. Governor Lawrence Douglas Wilder took office as the first popularly elected African American governor of an American state.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Jan
14
1990
Death of Mary McLeod Bethune, educator/activist
Death of Mary McLeod Bethune (79), educator and civil rights leader, Daytona
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
18
1955
Ambassador
Clifton Wharton is sworn in as ambassador to Norway. Clifton Wharton was the 1st Black person to earn a PhD in economics from University of Chicago in as well as the first Black president of Michigan State, predominantly White university.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
9
1961
Selma Burke
Scupltor and educator Selma Burke was born on this day in Mooresville, North Carolina. She is commissioned to create a profile of President Franklin D. Roosevelt after a national competition sponsored by the Fine Arts Commission in Washington, D.C.; the completed project, a plaque, is unveiled and
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
Dec
31
1900
The Cotton Bag Fort
A African American Designs The Cotton Bag Fort: When Andrew Jackson assembled his force at New Orleans, his soldiers, many of whom were African American slaves, were outnumbered by the British forces ten to one. Faced with this disadvantage, Jackson consulted with men as to what was the best
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Intellitech
Oct
2
2002
Congress passed the first Enforcement Act which
Congress passed the first Enforcement Act which provided stiff penalties for public officials and private citizens who deprived citizens of the suffrage and civil rights. The measure authorized the use of the U.S. Army to protect the rights of Blacks.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
May
31
1870
Blanche Kelso Bruce sworn in as a U.S. Senator.
Blanche Kelso Bruce was a US Senator from Mississippi; the first black man to serve a full term in the senate, and the first person born into slavery to preside over the senate. While serving in the senate, he was an advocate for civil rights for blacks, native Americans, Chinese immigrants and
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
21
1881
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
Barthelemy Boganda, President and foun
Barthelemy Boganda, President and founder of the Central African Republic, dies in a plane crash.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Boston Professional Chapter
Mar
29
1959
Texas As a Slave State
President John Tyler signed the joint resolution of Congress to admit Texas as a slave state.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
5
1845
Miss America
Vanessa Williams is the 1st African American Miss America to be crowned.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Sep
17
1983
Etta Moten sings for President
Etta Moten sings for President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt at a White House Dinner. It is the first time an African American actress performs at the White House.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Jan
31
1934
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
Compensation For States
President Lincoln, in message to Congress, recommended the use of federal bonds to provide compensation for states that abolished slavery before 1900.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
1
1862
Little Walter is born.
The influential rhythm & blues harmonica player and singer Little Walter is born Marion Walter Jacobs in Marksville, LA, USA. His most popular records include My Babe and Juke.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
May
1
1930
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
William A. Harper
William A. Harper, student of Henry O. Tanner at the Art Institute of Chicago, one of the most gifted African American artist of the early 20th century, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
27
1873
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
Joseph Hayne Rainey
Joseph Hayne Rainey was the first Black elected to Congress to represent South Carolina. He was sworn in on this day to fill an unexpired term.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
12
1870
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