Our History

August 15, 1888 – Granville T. Woods patented electromechanical brake. August 16, 1922 – Author Louis E. Lomax was born. August 17, 1849 – Lawyer- activist Archibald Henry Grimké, who challenged the segregation policies of President Woodrow Wilson, was born. August 18, 1859 – Harriet Wilson’s Our Nig was the first novel published by a black writer. August 19, … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – August 8, 2024

August 8, 1865 – Polar explorer Matthew Henson was born. August 9, 1936 – Jesse Owens won fourth gold medal at Summer Olympics in Berlin. August 10, 1989 – General Colin Powell was nominated chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the first African American to hold the post. August 11, 1921 – Alex Haley, author of Roots, was born. August 12, 1977 – Steven Biko, leader … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – August 8, 2024

August 1, 1879 – Mary Eliza Mahoney graduated from the New England Hospital for Women and Children, becoming the first black professional nurse in America. August 2, 1924 – James Baldwin, author of Go Tell It On The Mountain, The Fire Next Time, and Another Country, was born. August 3, 1800 – Gabriel Prosser led slave revolt in Richmond, VA. August 4, 1810 – … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – August 1, 2024

July 25, 1916 – Garrett Morgan, inventor of the gas mask, rescued six people from gas-filled tunnel in Cleveland, OH. July 26, 1948 – President Harry S. Truman issued Executive Order 9981, ending segregation in the U.S. armed forces. July 27, 1880 – Alexander P. Ashbourne patented process for refining coconut oil. July 28, 1868 – 14th Amendment that granted blacks … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – July 25, 2024

July 18, 1939 – Saxophonist Coleman Hawkins recorded “Body and Soul,” one of the classics of jazz. July 19, 1925 – Josephine Baker, entertainer, activist and humanitarian, made her debut in Paris. July 20, 1950 – First U.S. victory in Korea won by black troops of the 24th Infantry Regiment. July 21, 1896 – Mary Church Terrell elected first president of the … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – July 18, 2024

July 11, 1905 – W.E.B. DuBois and William Monroe Trotter organized the Niagara Movement, which demanded abolition of all race distinctions. July 12, 1949 – Frederick M. Jones patented air-conditioning unit used in food transportation vehicles. July 13, 1965 – Thurgood Marshall became first African American appointed U.S. Solicitor General. July 14, 1955 – The George … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – July 11, 2024

July 4, 1900 – Trumpeter Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, jazz pioneer, was born. July 5, 1892 – Andrew J. Beard patented rotary engine. July 6, 1957 – Althea Gibson won women’s singles title at Wimbledon, becoming first African American to win tennis’s most prestigious award. July 7, 1948 – Cleveland Indians signed pitcher Leroy “Satchel” Paige. July 8, 1943 – Faye … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – July 4, 2024

June 27, 1991 – Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall announced his retirement. June 28, 1864 – Fugitive Slave Laws repealed by Congress. June 29, 1886 – Photographer James Van Der Zee was born. June 30, 1921 – Charles S. Gilping awarded Spingarn Medal for his performance in Eugene O’Neill's play "Emperor Jones." July 1, 1889 – Frederick Douglass named U.S. … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – June 27, 2024

June 20, 1953 – Albert W. Dent of Dillard University elected president of the National Health Council. June 21, 1945 – Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr., became first African American to command a U.S. Army Air Corps base. June 22, 1897 – William Barry patented the postmarking and canceling machine. June 23, 1940 – Sprinter Wilma Rudolph, winner of three gold medals at … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – June 20, 2024