Black History

June 19, 1865 – Blacks in Texas were notified of Emancipation Proclamation, issued in 1863. “Juneteenth,” marks the event. June 20, 1953 – Albert W. Dent of Dillard Universaity was 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 – … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – June 19, 2025

June 12, 1963 – Medgar W. Evers, civil rights leader, was assassinated in Jackson, MS. June 13, 1967 – Thurgood Marshall nominated to the U.S. Supreme Court by President Lyndon B. Johnson. June 14, 1864 – Congress ruled that African American soldiers must receive equal pay. June 15, 1913 – Dr. Effie O’Neal, first black woman to hold an executive position in the … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – June 12, 2025

June 5, 1987 – Dr. Mae C. Jemison became the first black female astronaut. June 6, 1831 – First annual “People of Color” convention held in Philadelphia. June 7, 1917 – Poetess Gwendolyn Brooks, first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize in Poetry (in 1950), was born. June 8, 1953 – Supreme Court ruling banned discrimination in Washington, DC restaurants. … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – June 6, 2025

May 29, 1901 – Granville T. Woods patented the overhead conducting system for the electric railway. May 30, 1965 – Vivian Malone became the first African American to graduate from the University of Alabama. May 31, 1870 – Congress passed the first Enforcement Act, providing stiff penalties for those who deprive others of their civil rights. June 1, 1968 – Henry … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – May 29, 2025

May 22, 1921 – "Shuffle Along," a musical featuring a score by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle, opened on Broadway. May 23, 1900 – Sgt. William H. Carney became the first African American awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for valor at Fort Wagner, SC, in 1863. May 24, 1854 – Lincoln University (PA), the first black college in the US, was founded. May 25, 1926 – … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – May 22, 2025

May 15, 1820 – U.S. Congress declared foreign slave trade an act of piracy, punishable by death. May 16, 1927 – William Harry Barnes became the first African American certified by any American surgical board. May 17, 1954 – U.S. Supreme Court declared segregation in public schools unconstitutional in Brown v. Board of Education decision. May 18, 1896 – In Plessy vs. … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – May 15, 2025

May 8, 1983 – Lena Horne was awarded the Spingarn Medal for distinguished career in the field of entertainment. May 9, 1899 – John Albert Burr patented lawn mower. May 10, 1950 – Boston Celtics selected Chuck Cooper, first black player drafted to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). May 11, 1895 – Composer William Grant Still, the first African … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – May 8, 2025

May 1, 1867 – The first four students entered Howard University. May 2, 1920 – Indianapolis ABCs defeated Chicago Giants in first Negro National League Game. May 3, 1964 – Frederick O’Neal became the 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, … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – May 1, 2025

April 24, 1944 – United Negro College Fund (UNCF) was founded and incorporated. April 25, 1918 – Ella Fitzgerald, “First Lady of Song”, was born. April 26, 1888 – Sarah Boone patented the ironing board. April 27, 1968 – Vincent Porter became the first African American certified in plastic surgery. April 28, 1839 – Joseph Cinque led a mutiny aboard the slave ship … [Read more...] about This Week In Black History – April 24, 2025