You may also like

Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen, USMC (Ret.)
Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen, was born 1932 in Topeka, Kansas. At the age of 20, he was the first Afro-American to be named a naval aviator
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
28
2001
Governor Barnett Found Guilty
Governor Barnett found guilty of civil contempt of the federal court. United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ordered Barnett to purge himself of contempt or face arrest and a fine of $10,000 a day.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
28
1962
Death of P.B.S. Pinchback
Death of P.B.S. Pinchback (84), major Reconstruction politician, Washington, D.C.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
21
1921
Robert N.C. Nix, first African American rep
Robert N.C. Nix, first African American representative from Pennsylvania and 11 term congressman, born
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
9
1905
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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
4
1891
Congress Fight For Blacks Freedom
Congress authorized president to accept Blacks for military service. Congress passed the Second Confiscation Act, which freed the slaves of all rebels.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts
Jul
17
1862
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.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by NSBE Boston
Oct
2
1989
Death of Ida B.Wells-Barnett
Ida Bell Wells-Barnett
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
16
1862
Samuel L. Gravely is born
Samuel Gravely was appointed captain of the Navy Destroyer Escort, U.S.S. Falgout, the first African American to command a United States warship. He later received the rand of Rear Admiral, a first for an African American navyman.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
4
1922
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.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
9
1961
France abolishes slavery.
France abolishes slavery. The nation will have a lukewarm commitment to abolition and will, under Napoleon, reestablish slavery in 1802 along with the reinstitution of the Code noir, prohibiting blacks, mulattoes and other people of color from entering French colonial territory or intermarrying
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
4
1794
March for jobs and freedom
A. Philip Randolph helped plan a march on Washington(Lincoln Memorial) to demonstrate to the government the strengh and commitment of black people to civil rights. A. Philip Randolph fought for justice and for the advancement of African Americans.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA)
Aug
28
1963
Charles Wesley
Charles Wesley, historian, educator, and administrator, was born on this day. His published works included, Neglected History, Collapse of the Confederacy, Negro Labor in the United States, and 1850-1925: A Study of American Economic History.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
2
1895
Cardiss R. Collins
Cardiss R. Collins of Chicago elected to Congress. She succeeded her late husband.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
5
1973
Grammy Awards
On this day at the Grammy Awards ceremony, African-American musicians won awards in several categories. Lionel Richies Cant Slow Down won best album of 1984. Tina Turners Whats Love Got to Do With It took the best record slot and earned her the title Best Female Pop Vocalist. The Pointer Sisters
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Feb
26
1985
Did You Know That In...
1669 - A Virginia act rules that slave owners will not be held liable for killing their slaves.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1669
Howard University,in Washington, D.C. named for General Oliver O. Howard, opened
Howard University,in Washington, D.C. named for General Oliver O. Howard, opened.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
May
1
1867
Republican National Convention, meeting in
Republican National Convention, meeting in Chicago, nominated U.S. Grant for the presidency. Convention marked the national debut of Black politicians. P.B.S. Pinchback of Louisiana and James J. Harris were delegates to the convention. Harris was named to the committee which informed Grant of his
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
May
20
1868
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.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Jan
14
1990
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.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
2
1867
Rebecca J. Cole--2nd Black Female Physician
Born: March 16, 1846
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA)
Aug
14
1922
Maj
Maj. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler declared slaves contraband of war.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
May
24
1861
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
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
Dec
31
1900
Did You Know That In...
1751 - A South Carolina law prohibits slaves from learning about poisons and other medicines, it also prohibits them from becoming doctors.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Jan
0
1751
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.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Jan
31
1934
First black CPA
Jesse B. Blayton became the first black certified public accountant in the United States.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Jan
0
2000
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
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
5
1946
Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe makes history by becoming the first African American male to win the mens single title at Wimbledon, defeating Jimmy Connors.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
5
1975
Grover Cleveland Wins Election
Grover Cleveland won election and became the first Democratic president of the United States since the Civil War.
Read more
Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
Nov
4
1884
More from Afro | The Black Media Authority-0
COVID-19 means fewer condoms in Zimbabwe | Afro
Test your news knowledge with Zenger: May 18 | Afro
Migrant street vendors band together in Spain | Afro
VIDEO: Truckers in 21-mile traffic jam for COVID-19 testing without food or water at Kenya/Uganda border | Afro
Nation’s smallest small businesses get left behind during COVID-19 | Afro
Former pastor gives Atlanta’s homeless a place to wash their hands | Afro
Ahmaud Arbery shooting weighs heavily on black legal professionals | Afro
Tear Gas Flies as Minneapolis Rioters Protest Death of George Floyd in Police Custody | Afro
THE WAY WE LIVE NOW: Minneapolis Burning As Race Relations Flare | Afro
Arrests In DC As Activists Take To The Streets To Support Minneapolis Protesters | Afro
VIDEO: Chaos as police clash with George Floyd protesters at White House | Afro
Violence, Arrests in New York City Amid Wave of Protests | Afro
VIDEO: Donald Trump Jr. set his sights on big tech months before his father’s feud with Twitter | Afro
This one change to bankruptcy law could help small businesses | Afro
VIDEO: Police use water cannons and tear gas to break up Nepal pandemic protest | Afro
Zimbabwean farmers get tech savvy to stay in business | Afro
Why Nintendo’s sales are skyrocketing during the global pandemic | Afro
Ancient mammoths found at Mexican airport site feed archaeologists’ studies | Afro
Illegal cigarette sales booming in South Africa | Afro
Pandemic boosts profits for Big Tech | Afro
Amazon rainforest faces fire threat—again | Afro
Guitar hero: 1960s proto-punk rocker Wayne Kramer brings music workshops to prisons | Afro
Joyful Juneteenth Marchers Brave D.C Rain As America Enters A Civil Rights Summer | Afro
VIDEO: Endangered Maine senator calls for focusing coronavirus relief on small businesses
Motorbike mission: Activist delivers sunscreen to Ugandans with albinism
From smoker to marathon woman: Brazil woman completes six of the world’s biggest races
Spanish archaeologists dig up dozens of mysterious tiny human figures | Afro
Cops salute murdered officer who was shot with his own gun | Afro
Separate celebration: Formerly conjoined twins turn 2 after surgeries | Afro
Fight breaks out over food shortage as refugees go hungry | Afro
Test Your News Knowledge With Zenger: A Royal Birthday Celebration | Afro
African Americans die more frequently from Covid-19, but MIT researchers say poverty isn’t why | Afro
Driveway drag shows and backyard violins: Business takes off for performers who deliver | Afro
Test your news knowledge with Zenger: Another statue taken down | Afro
16-year-old girl ‘sold’ to Kenyan man | Afro
Movie review: ‘The King of Staten Island’ | Afro
VIDEO: Endangered Maine senator calls for focusing coronavirus relief on small businesses | Afro
‘Avoid being bitten’: Virus-carrying Asian tiger mosquitoes likely reach UK | Afro
Hissing tips off inspector to 5 cobras in water bottles | Afro
From staying at home to cycling to Tibet | Afro
From smoker to marathon woman: Brazil woman completes six of the world’s biggest races | Afro
Motorbike mission: Activist delivers sunscreen to Ugandans with albinism | Afro
Judge orders 10-day delay after Virginia governor says Confederate monument to Robert E. Lee must come down | Afro
After being refused or ignored by seven ports, 180 migrants enter Italy | Afro
Test your news knowledge with Zenger: A case of the plague | Afro
Space rocks found after Japan fireball | Afro
Supreme Court ruling could overturn convictions in Oklahoma | Afro
Abandoned, emaciated pets rescued from apartment in Germany | Afro
An assist of another kind by Shaq | Afro
Firefighters rescue crashed paraglider from ravine | Afro

Washington DC Facts

Women Facts