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1st Governor
P.B.S Pinchback became the 1st African American governor of an American state, Louisiana
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Dec
11
1872
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
Lonnie McLucas, a Black Panther activist
Lonnie McLucas, a Black Panther activist, convicted in New Haven, Conn., court of conspiracy to murder Alex Rackley, and alleged FBI informant. Charges against other defendants in the case were later dismissed.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
31
1970
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
Larry Doby
Larry Doby is born. He will become the first African American in baseballs American League, playing for the Cleveland Indians. He will be the 1954 RBI leader.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
13
1924
Jimmy Winkfield wins his second Kentucky Derby
Jimmy Winkfield wins his second Kentucky Derby in a row. African American jockeys have won 15 of 28 Derby races.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
May
1
1902
Pioneer African Baptist church organized
Pioneer African Baptist church organized in Savannah, Ga., with Andrew Bryan as pastor.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
20
1788
Captured Black Soliders
Surrounded by a superior rebel force, First Kansas Colored Volunteers smashed through rebel lines and sustained heavy casualties in an engagement at Poison Spring, Arkansas. Captured Black soldiers were murdered by the Confederate troops.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Intellitech
Apr
18
1864
First Kansas Colored Volunteers repulsed and drove
First Kansas Colored Volunteers repulsed and drove off superior force of rebels at Island Mound, Missouri. This was the first engagement for Black troops.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
28
1862
First Slave revolt in America
The first slave revolt in America actually occurred 93 years
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1526
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
TV Premiere
Sansford and Son TV Premiere Jan 14, 1972. NBC sitcom which gained immediate popularity depicting an African-American Father and son engaged in the junkyard business. Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin developed the comedy series based on the British Steptoe and Son. The name Sanford came from John
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
14
1972
Network news anchor
Max Robinson is the first African American to anchor network news. The network is ABC.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
19
1978
Doris A. Davis of Compton, California becom
Doris A. Davis of Compton, California becomes the first African American woman to govern a metropolitan city.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
5
1973
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
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
5
1946
Harry Belafonte wins an Emmy
Harry Belafonte wins an Emmy for his variety special Tonight with Harry Belafonte. It is the first Emmy awarded to an African American.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
20
1960
Shirley Franklin is sworn in
Shirley Franklin is sworn in as the first African American Mayor of Atlanta and the only African American female mayor of a major American city.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
Jan
7
2002
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
The Flip Wilson Show premieres on NBC. It is the first prime time variety show
The Flip Wilson Show premieres on NBC. It is the first prime time variety show starring an African American male since the Nat King Cole Show.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by BARBinc
Sep
17
1970
Cellular Phone Invented
Henry Sampson, an african-american, invented the cellular phone.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
6
1971
Dr. Ralph Bunche receives the Nobel Peace Prize
Dr. Ralph Bunche receives the Nobel Peace Prize for his work as a mediator in the Palestine crisis. He is the first African American to be so honored.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
20
1950
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
Bernard Harris, astronaut
Bernard Harris, African-American astronaut, takes space walk.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
9
1995
Death of Richard Allen
Death of Richard Allen (71), who was nominated by author Vernon Loggins for the title Father of the
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
26
1831
Charles Chesnutt Born
Charles Chesnutt, one of the first African-Americans to gain a national audience, is born in Cleveland Ohio.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
20
1858
Congressman William Gray
Congressman William Gray is elected Democratic Whip of the House of Representatives, the highest ranking leadership position ever held by an African American in Congress.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
14
1989
Samuel David Ferguson
Samuel David Ferguson consecrated bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church and named bishop of Liberia. He was the first Black American with full membership in the House of Bishops.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
24
1885
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
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
The Chip Woman's Fortune by Willis Richardson
The Chip Womans Fortune by Willis Richardson, the first dramatic work by an African American playwright to be mounted on Broadway, opens at the Frazee Theatre on Broadway
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
May
15
1923
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