Our History

May 11, 1895 – Composer William Grant Still, the first African American to conduct a major American symphony orchestra, born. May 12, 1820 – The New York African Free School population reaches 500. May 13, 1872 – Matilda Arabella Evans, first African American woman to practice medicine in South Carolina, born. May 14, 1888 – Slavery abolished in Brazil. May 15, … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – May 11, 2023

May 4, 1961 – “Freedom Riders” begin protesting segregation of interstate bus travel in the South. May 5, 1988 – Eugene Marino, of Atlanta, GA becomes first African American installed as a Roman Catholic archbishop in the U.S. May 6, 1991 – The Smithsonian Institution approves the creation of the National African American Museum. May 7, 1878 – Joseph R. Winters patents … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History

April 27, 1968 – Vincent Porter becomes first African American certified in plastic surgery. April 28, 1839 – Cinque leads mutiny off the coast of Long Island, NY. April 29, 1899 – Duke Ellington, jazz musician and composer, born. April 30 1952 – Dr. Louis T. Wright honored by American Cancer Society for his contributions to cancer research. May 1, 1867 – First … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History

April 20, 1894 – Dr. Lloyd A. Hall, pioneering food chemist, born. April 21, 1966 – Pvt. Milton L. Olive, III, awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously for valor in Vietnam. April 22, 1922 – Jazz bassist and composer Charles Mingus born. April 23, 1895 – Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus patents photographic print wash. April 24, 1944 – United Negro College Fund was … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History

April 13, 1950 – Historian Carter G. Woodson, author of The Miseducation of the Negro, died. April 14, 1775 – First abolitionist society in U.S. is founded in Philadelphia. April 15, 1964 – Sidney Poitier becomes first black to win Academy Award for Best Actor for Lilies of the Field. April 16, 1862 – Slavery abolished in the District of Columbia. April 17, 1983 … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History

April 6, 1909 – Matthew A. Henson reaches the North Pole, 45 minutes before Commandeer Peary. April 7, 1885 – Granville T. Woods patents apparatus for transmission of messages by electricity. April 8, 1974 – Atlanta Braves slugger Hank Aaron hits 715 home run, surpassing Babe Ruth as the game’s all-time home-run leader. April 9, 1898 – Paul Robeson, actor, singer, … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History

March 30, 1870 – Fifteenth Amendment ratified, guaranteeing voting rights to African Americans. March 31, 1988 – Toni Morrison wins Pulitzer Prize for Beloved. April 1, 1950 – Charles R. Drew, who developed techniques for processing and preserving blood, died. April 2, 1984 – Georgetown coach John Thompson becomes first black coach to win NCAA basketball … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History

March 23, 1873 – Slavery abolished in Puerto Rico. March 24, 1837 – Canada gives African American citizens the right to vote. March 25, 1843 – Explorer Jacob Dodson sets out in search of the Northwest Passage. March 26, 1872 – Thomas J. Martin patents fire extinguisher. 1911 – William H. Lewis becomes U.S. assistant attorney general. March 27, 1930 – Of the 116,000 … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History

March 16, 1846 – Rebecca Cole, second black female physician in America, born. March 17, 1885 – William F. Cosgrove patents automatic stop plug for gas and oil pipes. 1890 – Charles B. Brooks patents street sweeper. March 18, 1822 – The Phoenix Society, a literary and educational group, founded by blacks in New York City. March 19, 1971 – Rev. Leon Sullivan elected to … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History

March 9, 1941 – Amistad mutineers freed by U.S. Supreme Court. March 10, 1913 – Harriet Tubman dies. March 11, 1959 – Lorraine Hansberry’s “A Raisin In the Sun” opens at Barrymore Theater, New York, the first play by a black woman to premier on Broadway. March 12, 1932 – Andrew Young, former U.N. ambassador and former mayor of Atlanta, born. March 13, 1773 – Jean … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History