May 2, 1920 – Indianapolis ABCs defeated Chicago Giants in first Negro National League Game.
May 3, 1964 – Frederick O’Neal became first black president of the Actor’s Equity Association.
May 4, 1961 – “Freedom Riders” began protesting segregation of interstate bus travel in the South.
May 5, 1988 – Eugene Marino became first African American installed as a Roman Catholic archbishop in the U.S.
May 6, 1991 – The Smithsonian Institution approved the creation of the National African American Museum.
May 7, 1878 – Joseph R. Winters patented first fire escape ladder.
May 8, 1983 – Lena Horne awarded the Spingarn Medal for distinguished career in the field of entertainment.
