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Our Nig by Harriet Wilson, the first novel published in the U.S. by an African A
Our Nig by Harriet Wilson, the first novel published in the U.S. by an African American woman, is published. It was lost for years until reprinted with a critical essay by African American scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr. in 1983.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Sep
5
1859
African American Captures British General
African American Captures British General Prescott: African Americans continued to serve in the colonial militias, and some, like Prince, an African American man in Lieutenant Colonel Bartons Rhode island army, showed great daring and bravery. Early in August 1777, Colonel Barton conceived a plan
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
3
2002
Howard Beach Incident
White teens in Howard Beach chased Michael Griffith, an African-American youth, onto a freeway where he was hit by a motorist. Griffith died from his injuries setting off a wave of protests and racial tensions in New York.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
7
1986
Spingarn Medal: James Weldon Johnson
Spingarn Medal awarded to James Weldon Johnson, former U.S. consul in Venezuela and Nicaragua and NAACP executive secretary, for his work as an author, diplomat and leader.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Diversity In Action
Nov
11
1925
Baseball Great Jackie Robinson born
In Cairo, Georgia on this date baseball great Jackie Robinson was born. The fifth African American to play major league baseball with a white team, Robinson joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, ending five decades of segregated baseball. At the time of his retirement in October 1972, Robinson is
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
Jan
31
1919
Patricia Roberts Harris (1924-1985).
Patricia Roberts Harris, lawyer and diplomat, was the first black woman ambassador appointed to an overseas post under President Lydon B. Johnson administration.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Jan
0
1924
White terrorists attacked Black Republicans
White terrorists attacked Black Republicans in Hamburg, S.C., killing five.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
8
1876
Miles Vandehurst Lynk,
Miles Vandehurst Lynk, founder of the first African American medical journal and organizer of the National Medical Association, born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
3
1871
Ex-slave left millions in will
The Georgia State Supreme Court sustained the will of the late David Dickson, thus making Amanda Eubanks the wealthiest Negro in America. Dickson, a former slaveholder, willed more than half a million dollars to Eubanks. White relatives of Dickson, a bachelor, had contested the will on the grounds
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
12
1886
Fifty-fifth Congress (1897-99) Convened
Fifty-fifth Congress (1897-99) convened. One Black congressman: George H. White, North Carolina.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
15
1911
Lt. Gen. Frank E. Petersen (1932-).
On June 6, 1950, Frank Petersen enlisted in the Navy. At the age of 20, he was the first Afro-American to be named a naval aviator in the Marine Corp. He was also the first African American to command a fighter squadon, a fighter air group, an air wing, and a major
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
6
1950
Rebecca Lee graduates from the New England
Rebecca Lee graduates from the New England Female Medical College. She along with Rebecca Cole and Susan Mc Kinney is one of the first African American female physicians.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Intellitech
Mar
1
1864
Jewel Plummer Cobb, cancer research biologist
Jewel Plummer Cobb, cancer research biologist, President of California State University, Fullerton, the first African American to hold such as position in the CSU system, born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) Boston Professional Chapter
Jan
17
1924
The first Kentucky Derby
The first Kentucky Derby is won by African American jockey Oliver Lewis riding the horse Aristides. 14 of the 15 jockeys in the race are African Americans.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
17
1875
Norma Merrick Sklarek, the first licensed woman
Norma Merrick Sklarek, the first licensed woman architect in the U.S. and the first African American woman to become a fellow in the American Institute of Architects, born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Boston Professional Chapter
Apr
15
1928
Beginning of the Atlantic Slave Trade
In order to encourage Spanish emigration to the Americas, Bishop Bartolomeo de las Casas, conquistador, persuades the Spanish Crown to allow each Spanish settler to import 12 enslaved Africans to the Americas; this is the formal beginning of the Atlantic slave trade; when Bishop las Casas dies in
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1517
John Mercer Langston, born
Congressman, attorney, diplomat, dean of the law school and president of Howard University, John Mercer Langston was born, 1829
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
14
1829
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
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
Columbia University graduate and Harvard University law student Barack Obama bec
Columbia University graduate and Harvard University law student Barack Obama became the first African American named president of the Harvard Law Review.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Feb
5
1990
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
Chicago's first African American mayor, Harold Washington, was born.
Chicagos first African American mayor, Harold Washington, was born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Apr
15
1922
William Levi Dawson
William Levi Dawson is born, first African American representative to chair a committee in Congress.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Apr
26
1883
Zora Neale Hurston, writer/anthropologist born
Zora Neale Hurston
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Jan
7
1891
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
John Lee, becomes first black commissioned officer
John Lee, first black commissioned officer in the U.S. Navy is assigned to
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
13
1957
Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, is consecrated at the first African American auxiliary bi
Eugene A. Marino, SSJ, is consecrated at the first African American auxiliary bishop in the U.S. He is assigned to Washington, D.C.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
12
1974
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
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
Tom Molineaux, a native born American fights Tom Cribbin a controversial bosin
Tom Molineaux, a native born American fights Tom Cribb in a controversial bosing match, Copthall Common, England; a referee allows Cribb two minutes to revive after he is knocked down, and Cribb eventually wins the match after 43 rounds.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1810
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