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Poitier, Sidney (1927 - )
After two years in the Army, Poitier decided on an impulse to audition at the American Negro Theatre.  Although he was initially rejected, Poitier was now determined to become an actor.  He worked on getting rid of his Bahamian accent and improving his theatre performance for six months.  On his
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) Boston Professional Chapter
Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston was a notable twentieth century African-American boxer. He was known for his punching power and intimidating appearance in the boxing ring. Liston earned the World Heavyweight Championship in 1962 when he knocked out his opponent Floyd
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Source: Black History Resources
Free African Society
Richard Allen and Absalom Jones organized Philadelphias Free African Society which Du Bois called the first wavering step of a people toward a more organized social life.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
12
1787
After the Underground Railroad: Finding the African North Americans who Returned from Canada
The Underground Railroad which fugitive slaves followed from the antebellum South to Canada is now a well-known story. But what of those who returned?  In his ongoing research, University of Texas at El Paso historian Adam Arenson explores this little-known aspect of nineteenth- century African
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Source: Black Past
Williams, Camilla (1919-2012)
Professional opera singer Camilla Williams was born October 18, 1919 in Danville, Virginia to Fannie Carey Williams and Cornelius Booker Williams. The youngest of four siblings, Williams began singing at a young age and was performing at her local church by age eight. At age 12, she began taking
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Source: Black Past
Jan
29
2012
Robert L. Johnson
Best Known
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Source: Fact Monster - Black History
The Black Laws of Oregon, 1844-1857
Oregon passed exclusion laws against African Americans twice during the 1840s, considered another law in the 1850s, and in 1857 approved an exclusion clause as part of its constitution. Exclusion laws were also passed in Indiana and Illinois and considered in Ohio, but Oregon was the only free
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
The first NBA Black Assistant Coach and first Black chief scout, Earl Lloyd, bec
The first NBA Black Assistant Coach and first Black chief scout, Earl Lloyd, becomes the first Black person to play in an NBA game (beating out Charles Cooper and Nat Clifton by a day), 1950
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Diversity In Action
Oct
21
1950
Progressive party convention
Progressive party convention, meeting in Philadelphia, nominated Henry Wallace for President. New Party made major effort to attract Blacks. Approximately 150 Black delegates and alternates attended the convention. The keynote speaker was Charles P. Howard, and attorney, publisher and former
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
23
1948
Miller, Thomas E. (1849-1938)
Politician and educator, Thomas E. Miller was born in Ferrebeeville, Beaufort County, South Carolina on June 17, 1849.  Miller was the son of free black parents, and moved with them to Charleston, South Carolina in 1851 where he attended the all-black schools in the city.  After the Civil
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Source: Black Past
Apr
8
1938
Wilt Chamberlain
Born: 8/2/936 Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDied: 0/2/999 Los Angeles, CaliforniaWilt Chamberlain was an American basketball player. He played for the Philadelphia/San Francisco Warriors, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA); he played for the
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Antislavery petition from free Blacks
Antislavery petition from free Blacks of Philadelphia presented to Congress.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
2
1800
Greener, Richard T. (1844-1922)
The son of a sailor, Richard Theodore Greener, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania became the first African American to graduate from Harvard College.  He later was assigned to serve the United States in diplomatic posts in India and
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Source: Black Past
Philadelphia held the First National Negro Convention, 1830
Philadelphia held the First National Negro Convention, 1830
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Sep
15
1830
William "Willie the Pro" Thrower (1930-2002)
William ‘Willie the Pro” Thrower was the first African American to play as a quarterback in the National Football League (NFL). Thrower was born on March 22, 1930, in New Kensington, Pennsylvania. Although his statistics as a college and high school football player are good, and his pro
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Source: Black Past
Mar
22
1930
White, Joseph Silvestre (1835–1918)
Composer and violinist Jose Silvestre White was born in Matansas, Cuba in 1835 to Don Carlos White and an Afro-Cuban mother. His father gave White his first instruction in violin, and he later studied with Jose Miguel Roman and Pedro Lecerff. In 1854, at eighteen, he gave his first concert
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Source: Black Past
On this day
On this day, while competing for Ohio State University (Columbus) in a Western Conference (Big Ten) track-and-field meet at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), JAMES CLEVELAND OWENS equaled the world record for the 100-yard dash (9.4 s) and broke the world records for the 220-yard dash
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
25
1935
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood (better known as Brandy) is a Grammy award winning singer, actress and model. She was born in McComb, Mississippi, in 1979 and was the eldest child of a church pastor named William Ray Norwood Sr. and his wife Sonja Norwood. Her younger brother Ray J is also a singer and
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Source: Famous African Americans
Frances Watkins Harper, writer born
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
24
1825
Oakwood University [Huntsville] (1896- )
Oakwood College is a private, four-year coeducational historically black liberal arts university located in Huntsville, Alabama; the small urban campus is five minutes from downtown. Sitting on 1,185 acres, Oakwood University is one of the historical landmarks of Huntsville.  It is the only
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Source: Black Past
Olajuwon, Hakeem
Olajuwon, Hakeem | FactMonster
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Source: Fact Monster - Black History
Basketball star Moses "The Mailman" Malone born
National Basketball Association star, Moses The Mailman Malone is born in Petersburg, Virginia.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Mar
23
1954
Renowned attorney Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander dies in Philadelphia
Renowned attorney Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander dies in Philadelphia
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
6
1989
Prosper, Pierre-Richard (1963– )
Pierre-Richard Prosper is an attorney and diplomat who turned his passion for the rule of law into a global pursuit for justice for victims of the worst crimes of humanity, and accountability for the perpetrators of those
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Source: Black Past
Sep
11
2001
Michael Jordan leads Chicago to 1st NBA Title
Michael Jordan lead Chicago Bulls in win over L.A. Lakers in five games to capture his first NBA Championship.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
12
1991
Walker, George Theophilus (1922- )
Winning the Pulitzer Prize for Music is one of the multitude of richly deserved tributes to composer, pianist, and educator George TheophilusWalker. His prolific career continues into his 90s with his commissioned SinfoniaNo. 4 (Strands), premiered in 2012 by the New Jersey Symphony
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts
Jun
27
1922
Bo Diddley is born.
Bo Diddley was born Ellas Bates on Sunday December 30th 1928 on a small farm near the town of McComb, Mississippi, USA, in rural Pike County, close to the Louisiana border, the only child of Ethel Wilson and Eugene Bates. He had 3 half-brothers and
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Diversity In Action
Dec
30
1928
Patricia Louise Holte is born
Patricia Louise Holte is born in Philadelphia, Pa. She will be better known as Patti LaBelle, organizer and lead singer of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells in 1960. In the 1970s she will reconfigure the group and later reteam with Nona Hendryx and Sara Dash as LaBelle. In 1976, LaBelle will pursue
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
24
1944
Thomas L. Jennings
Thomas L. Jennings - Mr. Jennings was the first African-American to have patented an invention. In 821, Mr. Jennings was issued a patent for a dry-cleaning process known as dry scouring. An activist for the rights of African Americans, he served as Assistant Secretary of the first annual Convention
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Boston Metropolitan Chapter
Mar
3
1821
More than one hundred delegates from six states
More than one hundred delegates from six states held a Black convention in Philadelphia. John Mercer Langston, one of the first Blacks to win public office, elected clerk of Brownhelm Township, Lorain County, Ohio. In 1856 he was elected clerk of the township of Russia, near Oberlin. In 1857 he was
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
16
1855
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