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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
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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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
21
1881
Max Robinson, first African American news anchor for a major television network
Max Robinson, first African American news anchor for a major television network died today.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
20
1988
Joseph Haynes Rainey
Joseph Haynes Rainey, first African American representative in the U.S. House of Representatives where he will serve five terms, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
21
1832
Debbye Turner is crowned Miss America. She is the third African American to win
Debbye Turner is crowned Miss America. She is the third African American to win the crown since the inception of the pageant in 1921.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
16
1989
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
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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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAP) Boston Chapter
Sep
19
1868
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
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
Juanita Hall becomes the first African American
Juanita Hall becomes the first African American to win a Tony award for her role as Bloody Mary in the musical South Pacific.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
9
1950
Major General Frederick E. Davidson
Major General Frederick E. Davidson first African American to lead an Army division
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
25
1972
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
Rebellion Collapsed/People Killed in the Struggles
White Democrats seized statehouse in Louisiana coup detat. President Grant ordered the revolutionaries to disperse, and the rebellion collapsed. Twenty-seven persons (sixteen whites and eleven Blacks) were killed in battles between Democrats and Republicans.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
14
1874
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
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
Former Saint Louis Cardinals first baseman Bill White is named president of the
Former Saint Louis Cardinals first baseman Bill White is named president of the National League. He is the first African American to head a major sports league.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by NSBE Boston
Feb
3
1989
Kappa Alpha Psi, Fraternity founded
At Indiana University, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. was founded by Elder W. Diggs, Byron K. Armstrong, John M. Lee, Harvey T. Asher, Marcus P. Blakemore, Guy L. Grant, Paul Caine, George W. Edmonds, Ezra D. Alexander and Edward
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA)
Jan
5
1911
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
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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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
9
1905
Writer Wallace Thurman's play Harlem opens in NYC.
Writer Wallace Thurmans play Harlem opens in NYC. It is the first successful play by an African American playwright.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Feb
20
1929
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
Army Brig. Gen. Sherian Grace CAdoria born.
Birthday of Army Brig. Gen. Sherian Grace Cadoria, in Marksville, Louisiana. A graduate of Southern University, Gen. Cadoria was the highest ranking African American woman officer in the US Armed Forces at the end of 1990.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
26
1940
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
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
African American Jordan Freeman dies after killing Major William Montgomery in t
African American Jordan Freeman dies after killing Major William Montgomery in the Battle of Groton Heights
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Sep
6
1781
Oscar DePriest elected to Seventy-first Congress
Oscar DePriest elected to Seventy-first Congress from Illinois First Congressional District (Chicago). He was the first congressman from the North and the first Black in Congress since the departure of George H. White in 1901.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
6
1928
First African American, William Tucker, born
First African American, William Tucker, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
3
1621
Arthur Ashe, first African American American Davis
Arthur Ashe, first African American American Davis Cup team member, first African American to win the U.S. Open and the mens singles title at Wimbledon in 1975, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
10
1943
Ground is broken for the Harold Washington wing of the DuSable Museum in Chicago
Ground is broken for the Harold Washington wing of the DuSable Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by artist and poet Margaret T. Burroughs in 1961, the DuSable is one of the oldest African American museums in the U.S.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
17
1991
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
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