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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
A black jockey, "Monk" Overton, won six straight horse races at the Washington P
A black jockey, Monk Overton, won six straight horse races at the Washington Park race track in Chicago. In 1907, another black jockey, Jimmy Lee, also won six straight races at Churchill Downs in Louisville. Prior to 1907, only two other jockeys had equalled the achievements of Overton and
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Jul
10
1891
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
Alex Haley receives a special Pulitzer Prize
Alex Haley receives a special Pulitzer Prize for Roots.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
19
1977
Leander Jay Shaw, Jr., justice of the Florida State Supreme Court (1983), first
Leander Jay Shaw, Jr., justice of the Florida State Supreme Court (1983), first African American chief justice (1990) in Florida, the second African American chief justice in any state supreme court, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
6
1930
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
Richard Parsons
Richard Parsons, CEO of Dime Savings Bank, the first African American CEO of a large non minority U.S. savings institution, born.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
4
1942
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
Colin L. Powell
Colin L. Powell was the first African American to hold the highest U.S. Military post. In August 1989 he was named chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
0
1989
Defense Department limited electronic surveilance
Defense Department limited electronic surveilance after disclosure of civil disturbance information collection plan which directed the gathering of information on civil rights groups.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) Boston Professional Chapter
Mar
1
1971
Death of Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey
Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey, founder of gospel music died in Chicago, Illinois. He was a prolific composer, performer and recording artist. His signature songs Take my Hand Precious Lord and Peace in the Valley have become gospel music traditionals that have been recorded by many
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
23
1993
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
Gwendolyn Brooks, poet, first Black awarded a Pulitzer Prize (poetry) in 1950.
Gwendolyn Brooks, poet, first Black awarded a Pulitzer Prize (poetry) in 1950. Brooks was born in Topeka, Kansas but grew up in Chicago. She is a witty poet who satirizes blacks and whites and attacks racial discrimination. She uses black language and rituals to proclaim black solidarity.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
1
1950
John B. McLendon
John B. McLendon becomes the first African American coach in the ABA when he signs a two year contract with the Denver Nuggets.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA)
May
14
1969
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
Committee on the Participation of Negroes in the
Committee on the Participation of Negroes in the National Defense Program met with President Roosevelt. National Newspaper Publishers Association founded. Spingarn Medal presented to Dr. Louis T. Wright for his civil rights leadership and his contributions as a surgeon.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Oct
25
1940
W Wilson Goode becomes the 1st African American mayor of Philadelphia
W Wilson Goode becomes the 1st African American mayor of Philadelphia
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
Oct
9
1984
Miss America
Vanessa Williams is the 1st African American Miss America to be crowned.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Sep
17
1983
The Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical
The Charles R. Drew Postgraduate Medical School (later Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science) is chartered in Los Angeles. It is the only African American focused medical school west of the Mississippi
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Aug
2
1966
A Black Holocaust In America
The Tulsa Riot of 1921
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
31
1921
Ambassador
Clifton Wharton is sworn in as ambassador to Norway. Clifton Wharton was the 1st Black person to earn a PhD in economics from University of Chicago in as well as the first Black president of Michigan State, predominantly White university.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
9
1961
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
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
Rafer Johnson won the Olympic Decathlon
On Sept. 6, 1960 Rafer Johnson won the Olympic Decathlon--the first for an African American
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
6
1960
Many people assume thatFebruary is the shortest monthof the whole year to be
Many people assume that February is the shortest month of the whole year to be entitled of Black History Month. But, did you know that is celebrates the birthday of Fredrick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln?
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Greater Boston Veterans Collaborative
Feb
0
1998
Cowboy Willie "Bill" Pickett dies
World famous African American cowboy Willie Bill Pickett died in Ponca, Oklahoma, hospital of injuries sustained after he was kicked in the head by a horse on the Millers Brothers Fabulous 101 Ranch.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Apr
2
1932
White mob prevented enrollment of students
White mob prevented enrollment of students at Mansfield High School, Mansfield, Texas.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Aug
30
1956
Lewis Franklin Powell confirmed as Supreme Court
Lewis Franklin Powell confirmed as Supreme Court justice despite opposition of civil rights organizations.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
6
1971
Selma Burke
Scupltor and educator Selma Burke was born on this day in Mooresville, North Carolina. She is commissioned to create a profile of President Franklin D. Roosevelt after a national competition sponsored by the Fine Arts Commission in Washington, D.C.; the completed project, a plaque, is unveiled and
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
Dec
31
1900
The 99th Pursuit Squadron, an all African American
The 99th Pursuit Squadron, an all African American unit is formed and the Tuskegee Training Program is established, the 99th will fly more than 500 missions and more than 3,700 sorties during one year of combat before being combined with the 332nd Fighter Group.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts
Jan
16
1941
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