Former U.S. Rep. Collins remembered as a 'diva with a servant's heart'

First Black elected to Congress

First Black elected to Congress John W. Menard, defeated a white candidate, 5,107 to 2,833, in an election in Louisianas Second Congressional District to fill an unexpired term in the Fortieth Congress. U.S. Grant elected president with Black voters in the South providing the decisive margin. Grant

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Nov

3

1868

Charles Edward Anderson

In 1960, Charles Edward Anderson earned a Ph.D. in Meteorology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts. Charles Edward Anderson the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in Meteorology; died today.

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Oct

21

1994

Founder of Pro-Line

Comer Cottrell, founder and president of Pro-Line Corporation (1970), the largest African American owned business in the Southwest and the first African American to be part owner of a major league baseball team (1989), the Texas Rangers, born

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Dec

7

1931

Draft Act Passed

During the height of the Civil War, Congress passed this act which mandated military service for all men between the ages of twenty and forty five.

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Mar

3

1863

White Democrats attacked demonstrators

White Democrats attacked demonstrators, who were marching from Albany to Camilla, Ga., and killed nine Blacks. Several whites were wounded.

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Sep

19

1868

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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Mar

3

1836

Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams

Washington Redskins quarterback Doug Williams, the first African American quarterback to play in a Super Bowl game, is named MVP in Super Bowl XXII.

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Jan

31

1988

Rev.Philip A. Potter

Rev. Philip A. Potter, a Black Methodist minister from Dominica, named general secretary of the World Council of Churches, general secretary of the World Council of Churches.

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Aug

16

1972

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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Nov

18

1980

Congress helped Blacks in the military

Congress passed bill equalizing pay, arms, equipment and medical services of Black troops.

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Jun

15

1864

George H. White

George H. White, the only African American member of the U.S. House of Representatives, (1896) and the first to introduce an antilynching bill, born. He also founded Whitesboro, N,J, as a haven for African Americans escaping Southern racism.

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Dec

18

1852

Dorothy Dandridge, actress born

Dorothy Dandrige

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Nov

9

1922

Robert N.C. Nix, first African American rep

Robert N.C. Nix, first African American representative from Pennsylvania and 11 term congressman, born

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Aug

9

1905

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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May

21

1881

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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Jan

14

1975

National Congress of Racial Equality organized

National Congress of Racial Equality organized.

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Jun

20

1943

Casket Lowering Device Invented

A. C. Richardson, a black inventor, invented the casket lowering device, patent#529,311

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Nov

13

1894

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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Sep

28

1986

African American Shakespearean actor Morgan Smith

African American Shakespearean actor Morgan Smith dies in Sheffield, England. Smith had emigrated to England in 1866.

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Mar

22

1882

On this day in 1874, Congressman Robert Brown Elliot deliveredone of the most

On this day in 1874, Congressman Robert Brown Elliot delivered

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Jan

6

1874

Journalist Ralph Waldo Tyler born

Birthday of Ralph Waldo Tyler, journalist, Auditor-General of the Navy and World War I foreign correspondent. Te oldest of 12 children, Tyler is believed to have been born in Ohio. He attended elementary and high schools in Columbus, Ohio, studied a year in Baldwin,Missouri, and began teaching

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Mar

18

1860

Arthur Ashe

22 year old Arthur Ashe becomes the first African American to make the U.S. Davis Cup tennis team.

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May

14

1963

Cardiss R. Collins

Cardiss R. Collins of Chicago elected to Congress. She succeeded her late husband.

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Jun

5

1973

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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Jul

5

1975

Time, Inc. agrees to sell NYT Cable for $420

Time, Inc. agrees to sell NYT Cable for $420 million, to a group led by J. Bruce Llewellyn, the largest cable TV acquisition by an African American

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Jan

9

1989

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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May

6

1985

As part of the Compromise of 1850, Congress passed the Fugitive Slave Law, 1850

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Sep

18

1850

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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May

19

1925

Violette Neatley Anderson

Violette Neatley Anderson is the first African American woman admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court

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Jan

29

1926

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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Mar

28

1966

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Former U.S. Rep. Collins remembered as a 'diva with a servant's heart'

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