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Terry McMillan, novelist born
Terry McMillan
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
18
1951
premiere of "The Jeffersons"
The Jeffersons premiered on television, one of the first sitcoms about an African-American family. Formerly neighbors of the Bunkers on All in the Family, the Jeffersons moved to Manhattans East Side.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
Jan
18
1975
Alex Haley, renowned author, dies
American biographer, scriptwriter, author who became famous with the publication of the novel ROOTS, which traces his ancestry back to Africa and covers seven American generations as they are taken slaves to the United States. The book was adapted to television series, and woke up an interest in
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
10
1992
1st Non-voting Congressional Delegate
Rev. Walter Fauntroy, a former aide of Martin Luther King Jr., became the first nonvoting congressional delegate from the District of Columbia since the Reconstruction period.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by BARBinc
Mar
23
1968
Composer and violinist, Clarence C White, dies, 1880
Composer and violinist, Clarence C White, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
10
1880
Jefferson F. Long born
Jefferson F. Long, a merchant and tailor, was born in Knoxville, Georgia. He became the first African American from Georgia elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving two months and 9 days.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
3
1836
On this day, Lorraine Hansberry's 'A Raisin in the Sun'opened at the Ethel Bar
On this day, Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
11
1959
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
Bill Russell named head coach of the Boston Celtic
Bill Russell named head coach of the Boston Celtics, becoming the first African American to coach an NBA team.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Mar
28
1966
born 20 December 20, 1957, Detroit, Michigan, USA.Soul singer
born 20 December
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
20
1957
Ground is broken for the Harold Washington wing of the DuSable Museum in Chicago
Ground is broken for the Harold Washington wing of the DuSable Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by artist and poet Margaret T. Burroughs in 1961, the DuSable is one of the oldest African American museums in the U.S.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
17
1991
Death of George Washington Williams
Death of George Washington Williams (41), Blackpool, England. Williams served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1880 to 1881, during the 64th session of the General Assembly. He was the first African-American to serve in the Ohio Legislature.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
4
1891
Walter F.White, NAACP Pres.
Walter F. White named NAACP executive secretary. The NAACP has had many leaders since its beginning in 1910, but none was more determined and devoted than Walter F. White. This fair-skinned, blue-eyed man who wouldnt pass worked a lifetime to defeat the nations barriers to integration
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
9
1931
Edward Mitchell Bannister wins a bronze medal for his painting Under the Oaks at
Edward Mitchell Bannister wins a bronze medal for his painting Under the Oaks at the American Centennial Exposition, in Philadelphia. The award will cause controversy among whites who think African Americans incapable of artistic excellence.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
27
1876
Malcolm X born in Omaha, Nebraska
Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother, Louis Norton Little, was a homemaker occupied with the familys eight children. His father, Earl Little, was an outspoken Baptist minister and avid supporter of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Earls civil
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
19
1925
Roy deCarava, the first African American photographer to be awarded aGuggenhei
Roy deCarava, the first African American photographer to be awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship, is born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
9
1919
Cellular Phone Invented
Henry Sampson, an african-american, invented the cellular phone.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
6
1971
Sean "P.Diddy" Combs is born
Birthday of musician Sean P. Diddy Combs. Combs had early training working for record companies before setting off on his own with Bad Boy Entertainment. Together with the late rapper Notorious B.I.G., Combs (performing as Puff Daddy) popularized the east coast sound of American hip-hop.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Nov
4
1969
Miles Davis is born
Miles Davis, U.S. jazz trumpeter and composer, born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
25
1926
Richard Theodore Greener
Richard Theodore Greener becomes the first African American to graduate from Harvard University
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
30
1844
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
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
Otis J. Rene (born) and his brother Leon will establish Exclusive and Excelsior
Otis J. Rene (born) and his brother Leon will establish Exclusive and Excelsior Records in the 1930s. By the mid-1940s the brothers will be leading independent record producers whose artists will include Nat King Cole, Herb Jeffries, and Johnny Otis.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Intellitech
Oct
2
1898
Massacre in Mississippi
White Democrats killed seventy-five Republicans in massacre at Vicksburg, Mississippi.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
7
1874
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
Cowboy Willie "Bill" Pickett dies
World famous African American cowboy Willie Bill Pickett died in Ponca, Oklahoma, hospital of injuries sustained after he was kicked in the head by a horse on the Millers Brothers Fabulous 101 Ranch.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Apr
2
1932
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
WGPR BECOMES THE 1ST TELEVISION station owned by African Americans- given a pe
WGPR BECOMES THE 1ST TELEVISION station owned by African Americans- given a permit to operate.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
1
1973
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
George "Little Chocolate" Dixon betas Jack Skelly in New Orleans to win the worl
George Little Chocolate Dixon betas Jack Skelly in New Orleans to win the world featherweight title. While some African American citizens celebrate for two days, the New Orleans Times-Democrat says, It is a mistake to match a Negro and a white man ...to bring the races together on any terms of
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
6
1892
More from Chicago Tribune
Report: Structural racism — from segregated housing to limited job opportunities — responsible for high rate of COVID-19 deaths among African Americans
Recruiting notes: North Chicago’s Vondarious Gordon turns to cousin Melvin’s Gordon’s former coach and follows Michael Turner’s path to Northern Illinois
Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Officials report 192 deaths from COVID-19, the highest total in a 24-hour period
Column: Maybe African American youths would listen to Mayor Lightfoot if she listened to them
Evanston names new African American heritage sites to mark local history - African American News Today - EIN News
Coronavirus disparity, George Floyd protests spotlight chronic economic racial gap: Black Americans have 10 cents in wealth for every $1 whites own - African American News Today - EIN News
Asked about police killing Black Americans, Trump bristles at question and says, ‘so are white people’ - African American News Today - EIN News
Kevin Young on curating 250 years of African American poetry: ‘So vital and rich that it can barely be contained.’ - African American News Today - EIN News
Column: Coalitions urge blood donations, specifically among African Americans, to fight sickle cell disease - African American News Today - EIN News
Pope elevates 13 new cardinals, including Wilton Gregory, the Catholic church’s first Black American cardinal
$1 million grant to establish Chicago center named for first African American Catholic priest - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
African American Museum of Performing Arts on Chicago's South Side - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
First-time candidate hopes to bridge communication gap in school board, becomes first African American to be elected to position in Highland - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
Coronavirus in Illinois updates: 9,277 new cases and 126 more deaths reported; Chicago using COVID-19 tests that FDA warns may give false negatives - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
Landmarks: Glenwood’s Annie Lee, a trendsetting artist and creator of ‘Black Americana,’ left a national legacy. Now she may get a local one too - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
Tribune’s 1st local Black writer also covered Mussolini’s execution, interviewed Pope Pius XII: ‘Roi was a pioneer’ - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
Op-ed: What 50 young African American men told me about the carjacking problem - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
Survey about COVID-19 vaccine finds 45% of African Americans, 35% of Latinos in Cook County have doubts about vaccination, prompting campaign to encourage people to get the shot - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
In Mississippi, 73,000 coronavirus vaccine slots and few takers: ‘It’s time to do the heavy lifting needed to overcome the hesitancy’ - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
Just Food Initiative, African American Men of Unity join in program for students on ‘growing organic, nutritious food’ - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
DuSable Museum of African American History announces Juneteenth reopening - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
The first African American valedictorian is the last at Clark High School in Hammond, which is closing after 89 years - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
Black Americans rejoice after Juneteenth made a federal holiday, some say more work ahead - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
Congressional leaders urge FCC to perform equity audit to examine how policy decisions disparately harmed Black Americans and other communities of color - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
Remembering Dianne Durham, the gymnast from Gary who just missed her shot at Olympic medals in 1984 - African American News Today - EIN Presswire
COVID forcing Waukegan council back to virtual meetings; alderman suggests using cannabis-sales revenue for reparations to African Americans
36 Black women who changed American history
Landmarks: Long misused and overlooked, the Little Calumet River captures the world’s attention with links to African American history
Column: Yes, Mitch McConnell, African Americans are Americans too
Column: In honor of Black History Month, Fox Valley Park District presenting play about five African-American Aurora leaders
Talk of the County reader opinion: Biden ‘never did mention reparations for African Americans, and I was really disappointed in that’
Clarence Page: A ban on menthol cigarettes? It’s about time.
Adcock, Coyne say those trying to kill their appointments to Naperville boards want to ‘silence’ opposition views
As Whole Foods ventures to Englewood, many eyes on Detroit store
Column: Don’t blame African Americans for fearing the COVID-19 vaccine. Blame America.
Black firefighters still make up only 15% of the Chicago Fire Department. ‘I don’t want to talk about racism. What are we going to do to change it?’
Column: African Americans know Meghan Markle is black. Yet many whites want to call her something else.
Justice Thomas' story deserves more in-depth telling at African-American museum
Nooses found at 2 local schools, slayings of 10 African Americans at Buffalo grocery store spark anti-racism rally in downtown Evanston
Column: If Chicago is a black political mecca, why are African-Americans leaving the city in droves?
Column: Is ‘Auntie’ a term of endearment for African-American women or does it promote an ‘Aunt Jemima’ stereotype?
What's the best corned beef in Chicago? 17 sandwiches, ranked
Church's historic mural whitewashed, to dismay of preservationists
Willie Wilson selling up-by-the-bootstraps story in Chicago mayor race
20 years after Ricky Byrdsong was murdered, the Race Against Hate continues in Evanston: ‘It’s a living demonstration of the power of love over hate’
Column: Right or wrong, Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s discriminatory interview policy was not racist
With 500 homicides in Chicago, time for African-Americans to get tough on crime
An 1853 law gave Black people 10 days to leave Illinois: You were never taught this history and a Northwestern project hopes to change that
Flashback: Chicago’s first black alderman sat as the lone African-American voice on the city’s council — and then, Congress

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