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Shirley Chisholm
Shirley Chisholm became the first African American Presidential nominee, with 151 votes from the delegates polled.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
13
1972
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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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Mar
28
1966
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
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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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
18
1852
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
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.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
4
1922
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
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
Free Africa Society organized
January 28, 1787 - Free Africa Society organized in Philadelphia.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
28
1787
COINTELPRO Memorandum
A memorandum sent to field offices of the FBI set goals for what was termed as a new counterintelligence program against African American Nationalist groups. The objective was to block attempts by targeted groups to coalesce, grow and exist. The agencey believed unity was the first step toward
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
3
1968
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.
Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. becomes the first African American general in the U.S. Air Force. His father was the first African American general in the U.S. Army
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
22
1959
Z. Alexander Looby
Z. Alexander Looby the first African American to serve on the Nashville City Council dies
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts
Mar
24
1972
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
A commemorative stamp is issued by the U.S. Postal Service to honor Henry Ossawa
A commemorative stamp is issued by the U.S. Postal Service to honor Henry Ossawa Tanner, the first African American artist elected to the National Academy of Design
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
10
1973
Askia Muhammad Toure
Askia Muhammad Touré (1493-1528), established the Askia dynasty of
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
0
Representatives from 27 African nations, the Caribbean nations, four South Ameri
Representatives from 27 African nations, the Caribbean nations, four South American countries, Australia, and the U.S. meet in Atlanta for the first Congress of African People.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
3
1970
Martin Luther King Jr
Martin Luther King Jr. stabbed in chest by a deranged Black woman while he was autographing books in a Harlem department store. Woman was placed under mental observation.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Sep
20
1958
The first African American magazine, Mirror of Freedom, begins publication in Ne
The first African American magazine, Mirror of Freedom, begins publication in New York City.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
30
1838
Naval Frigate named after African American
The Navy frigate USS Jesse L. Brown was commissioned. The ship was named for Ensign Jesse L. Brown, the first African American naval aviator killed in combat over Korea.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
17
1973
Patricia Roberts Harris
Patricia Roberts Harris, the first African American U.S. Ambassador is named permanent chairman of the Democratic National Convention. She will later be appointed Secretary of Health and Human Services and Secretary of Housing and Urban development
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
27
1972
Wellington Webb is elected mayor
City Auditor Wellington Webb is elected mayor of Denver, Colo. He is the first African American to hold the post.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
18
1991
Dorothy Dandridge, actress born
Dorothy Dandrige
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
9
1922
Opera singer Marian Anderson born
Opera singer Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Anderson was entered in the New York Philharmonic Competition at age 17 by her music teacher, and placed first over 299 other singers. Awarded a Rosenwald Fellowship in 1930, Anderson went to Europe for a year of study. She
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAP) Boston Chapter
Feb
27
1902
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
Evelyn Boyd Granville is born
Evelyn Boyd Granville, Born May 1, 1924 in Washington, D.C. and attended Dunbar High School, a segregated high school at the time. Her interest in mathematics was encouraged by two mathematics teachers. Granville worked with Einar Hille, a distinguished mathematician in the field of functional
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
May
1
1924
John Singleton, Director
John Singleton,the first African American director to be nominated for the Academy Award is nominated for best director and best screenplay for his first film Boyz N the Hood.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
19
1992
Anti-lynching Bill Proposed
African American Congressman George H. White,R-North Carolina, introduced a bill to make lynching of Americans a federal offense. The bill died in committee. In 1900, 105 African Americans were lynched in the United States.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Greater Boston Veterans Collaborative
Jan
20
1900
David Ruggles
David Ruggles dies in Northampton, Mass. Often called the first African American bookseller for his bookstore established in 1834, Ruggles was an abolitionist, and a conductor on the Underground Railroad
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
26
1849
Marlene Nourbese Philip
Marlene Nourbese Philip is the winner of the 1988 Casa de las Americas prize for poetry. She is a writer, poet, university lecturer and lawyer who lives in Canada but who hails from Tobago. Her published works include the novel Harriets Daughter and three collections of poetry including
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
3
1947
Jonathan A. Rodgers becomes president of CBS's television stations division, the
Jonathan A. Rodgers becomes president of CBSs television stations division, the highest ranking African American in network television. Rodgers had been general manager of WBBM-TV, CBSs Chicago Station
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
3
1990
More from Northwestern University and Evanston's Only Daily News Source Since 1881
E. Patrick Johnson named School of Communication dean; first African American in that position
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Ebenezer AME Church’s original home at 1813 Benson Ave. named new African American heritage site
House of Edwin B. Jourdain Jr., city’s first black alderman, designated new African American heritage site
Butler Livery Stable’s original location at 914 Davis St. named new African American heritage site
First black Evanston resident’s home named heritage site
William Twiggs’s barbershop and print shop honored as an African American heritage site
Butler Residence and Express Service named new African American heritage site
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Seasonal affective disorder adds to stress of online classes, pandemic
Professors discuss institutional and gendered Islamophobia
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African American History, Genealogy Group provides history education
African American Studies department announces comedian Ziwe Fumudoh as keynote speaker for 50th anniversary celebration African American Studies announces comedian Ziwe Fumudoh as keynote speaker
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Former Northwestern Prof. Debra Thompson talks new memoir
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African American Studies department to change name to Black Studies African American Studies department to change name to Black Studies
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‘1619: The Journey of A People’ takes audience through intense, beautiful journey of African Americans
Pulitzer finalist discusses new book on the Reconstruction era
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