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Willie Mays, born
Baseball great Willie Howard Mays was born in Westfield, Alabama. Mays played with both the New York and San Francisco Giants. He was National League batting champion four times and twice the leagues Most Valuable Player.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
May
6
1931
Birthday
Carmen McRae Born April 8, 1920. After winning an amateur contest at Harlems legendary Apollo Theatre in her hometown New York City, McRae went on to become a noted jazz singer with Earl Hines, Mercer Duke Ellington and Benny Carter bands among others and recording more than 20 albums. She Died
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
8
1920
Wash., D.C. Slave Emancipation and Reparations
On April 16, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed a bill ending slavery in the District of Columbia. Passage of this act came
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Apr
16
1862
Slavery Abolishment
Vermont became the first American colony to abolish slavery. By 1783 slavery was prohibited in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Pennsylvania passed a gradual emancipation law in 1780. Connecticut and Rhode Island barred slavery in 1784 and were followed by New York (gradual emancipation) and New
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Jul
2
1777
Organization for Afro-American Unity
Organization for Afro-American Unity founded in New York by Malcolm X.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
28
1964
Death of poet Countee Cullen
Death of poet Countee Cullen (42), New York City.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
9
1946
Death of Florence Mills, dancer and singer,
Death of Florence Mills (32), dancer and singer, New York City.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
1
1927
Adam Clayton Powell, Jr., politician and civil rights activist was born in New Haven CT
Congressman Clayton Powell, Jr., politician and civil rights activist was born in New Haven, Conn.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
29
1908
The South Carolina Gazette reports that Cae
The South Carolina Gazette reports that Caesar, a South Carolina slave has been granted his freedom and a life time annuity in exchange for his cures for poison and rattlesnake bite. Caesar and the famous James Derham of New Orleans are two of the earliest know African American medical
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
May
9
1750
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.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
1
1867
African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church
African Methodist Episcopal Zion (AMEZ) Church formally organized at meeting in New York City.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Boston Metropolitan Chapter
Jun
21
1821
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
Pioneer
Black Senate Page Appointed on April 8, 1965. 16 year old Lawrene Bradford of New York City was the first Black Page appointed to the US Senate.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
8
1965
Baseball team
The first black professional baseball team, the Cuban Giants, was organized in 1895 by a group of New York waiters.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1895
Dorothy Dandridge, actress born
Dorothy Dandrige
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
9
1922
Col.B.O. Davis Jr.
Col. B.O. Davis Jr. Named commander of Godman Field (Ky.) and became the first Black to head an Army Air Force base in the United States.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
21
1945
Jack Johnson, boxer born
Born: Mar. 31, 1878
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Mar
31
1878
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
First African American Intercollegiate football
Livingstone and Biddle College (now Johnson C. Smith) play the first African American intercollegiate football game
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
27
1892
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
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
Summit Meeting of National Negro Leaders called
Summit Meeting of National Negro Leaders called for stepped up campaign against discrimination and desegregation. President Eisenhower was sharply criticized for a speech which, in effect, urged the leaders to be patient in seeking full citizenship rights.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
12
1958
Gladys Ross dies
Gladys Merritt Ross, co-founder of Phi Delta Kappa sorority for African American teachers, dies in Stockton, California.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
May
6
1985
Death of Ralph J. Bunche
Death of Ralph J. Bunche (67), Nobel Peace Prize winner and undersecretary of the UN from 1955 to his retirement in October, 1971, in New York City.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
9
1971
James Gladden 1st certified orthopedic surgeon
January 22, 1949 - James Robert Gladden becomes first African American certified in orthopedic surgery.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
22
1949
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
Arthur Ashe
Arthur Ashe makes history by becoming the first African American male to win the mens single title at Wimbledon, defeating Jimmy Connors.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
5
1975
Muhammad Ali Loses Boxing Championship Recognition
World Boxing Association and New York State Athletic Commission withdrew recognition of Muhammad Ali as world heavyweight boxing champion because of his refusal to serve in the U.S. armed forces.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Boston Professional Chapter
Apr
28
1967
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
Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson appears on the cover of Life magazine; first time an African American is featured on the cover in the magazines 13 year history
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
10
1950
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