1 FOREWARD Today in Black History ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Parts of this file had been appearing weekly in the SOCIETY.AFRICAN.AMERICAN Newsgroup on Usenet. Posts were by Charles Isbell. The Normandeau Newswire which is a "Conference" on the Invention Factory BBS 212-274-8110 asked Charles to send the entire list via Internet Email which he did. Therefore this file is through the courtesy of Charles Isbell of SOCIETY.AFRICAN.AMERICAN Newsgroup on Usenet. Original compilation is by a High School mentioned as one of the events. January 1 Kwanzaa Ends Emancipation Proclamation 1863 African Benevolent Society (Education) 1808 Haiti Independence Act 1804 New Year's Day January 2 William Lloyd Garrison began publishing _The Liberator_, Abolitionist newspaper, in Boston Mass 1831 John Hope Franklin, historian, born 1915 January 3 William Tucker, first Black child born in America, baptized in Jamestown 1624 January 4 The first Black baseball league, National Negro Baseball League, organized 1920 January 5 George Washington Carver, scientist, died (1864 - 1943) January 6 January 7 W.B. Purvis patented the fountain pen 1890 Marian Anderson, first Black person to appear in Metropolitan Opera in Verdi's Masked Ball 1955 January 8 Fannie M. Jackson, pioneer and educator, first Black woman college graduate in US born (1836 - 1913) January 9 January 10 James Varicick, first A.M.E. Zion Bishop, born 1768 Edward Brooke, Mass. Senator takes office 1967 Lincoln declared Blcks should be educated in D.C. January 11 January 12 Congressional Black Caucus organized in 1971 Mordecai W Johnson, educator, born (1890 - 1976) January 13 Convention of the Colored National Labor Union, the first Black labor convention, 1869 January 14 John Oliver Killens, novelist, born 1916 Ernest Just, a Black biologist, served as V.P. of American Zoologists, 1930 [My mom, Jacqueline Isbell, born this date] January 15 Martin Luther King, Jr., civil rights leader, born, 1929 - 1968 January 16 Lucius D. Amerson sworn in as first Black sheriff of the South in the 20th century (Macon County, Ala.) January 17 Paul Cuffee, merchant, shipbuilder and Black nationalist, born 1759 January 18 Dr Daniel H. William performed first successful open hear operation, born 1856 Robert C. Weaver became first Black presidential cabinet member when sworn in as Secretary of Housing and Urban Affairs, 1966 (Johnson Administration) January 19 January 20 W.R. Pettiford, Founder of Alabama Penny Savings Bank, born 1847 January 21 Martin Luther King Jr. holiday Freedom Journal, first Black paper 1827 January 22 Nat Turner born 1800 January 23 Dr. Daniel Hale Williams founded Provident Hospital in Chicago, 1889 Paul Robeson, athlete, lawyer, singer, died in Philadelphia 1976 January 24 Martin Delaney, ethnologist, died 1812-1885 Jackie Robinson, first Black elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, 1962 January 25 Sojourner Truth addressed the first Black Women's Rights Convention, Akron Ohio, 1851 January 26 54th Regiment (Black) infantry formed 1863 Executive Order 9981, to end segregation in US Armed Forces signed by President Harry Truman, 1948 January 27 January 28 John Brown organized raid on Arsenal at Harper's Ferry, 1858 Philadelphia's Free Africa Society organized, 1787 January 29 Francis L. Cardoza elected State Treasurer of South Carolina, 1872 January 30 William Wells Brown published first Black drama, "Leap to Freedom" 1858 January 31 February 1 Black college students staged a sit-in at a segregated lunch counter in Greensboro, N. C., 1960 Langston Hughes, poet and author, born 1902-1967 February 2 February 3 Geraldine McCullough wins Widener Gold Medal for Sculpture, 1965 15th Amendment (Black suffrage) passed 1870 February 4 24th Amendment abolished Poll tax, 1864 February 5 February 6 First organized emigration of U.S. Blacks back to Africa, from New York to Sierra Leone, 1820 Peabody Fund established to promote Black education in South, 1867 February 7 President Truman appointed Irwin C. Mollison judge of the US Customs Court, 1945 Eubie Blake, famed pianist, born in Baltimore 1883-1983 Freedman's Aid Society, founded to promote education among Blacks February 8 February 9 Paul Lawrence Dunbar, 1st poet to use Black dialect in his verse, died 1872-1906 Leroy "Satchel" Paige elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, 1971 February 10 Southern Christian Leadership Conference founded, 1957 Andrew Brimmer, the first Black person to serve on the Federal Reserve Board, [born?] 1966 Leontyne Price, world renowned soprano, born 1927 February 11 Nelson Mandela, leader of movement for democracy in South Africa, released from prison after 27 years, 1990 Clifford Alexander, Jr. first Black Secretary of State, confirmed 1977 February 12 Lincoln's birthday NAACP founded after riot in Springfield, Ill., 1909 February 13 First Black pro Basketball team, "The Renaissance," organized 1923 February 14 Frederick Douglass, Abolitionist, born 1817 - 1895 Morhouse College, founded in Atlanta, 1867 February 15 February 16 February 17 February 18 February 19 First Pan-African Congress organized in Paris by WEB DuBois, 1919 February 20 February 21 Malcolm X assassinated, 1925 - 1965 February 22 February 23 WEB DuBois, author and historian, born 1868-1963 February 24 Bishop Daniel A Payne, reformer and educator of AME Church, born 1811 February 25 Hiram R. Revels, first Black US Senator, took oath of office 1870 February 26 February 27 Marion Anderson, singer, born in Philadelphia 1902 Charlotte Ray, first Black woman lawyer, graduated Harvard U, 1872 February 28 Phillis Wheatly, poetess, died 1753-1784 March 1 Howard University, Washington DC, charted, 1867 March 2 Freedman's Bureau founded for Black Education, 1865 March 3 Richard Allen founded AME Church, 1794 Garrett Morgan, inventor, born 1877 - 1963 March 4 Crispus Attucks died, 1723 - 1770 March 5 March 6 Dred Scott decision (Blacks are not citizens of the U.S.), 1857 March 7 March 8 March 9 Harriet Tubman, "engineer" of the Underground Railroad died, 1821 - 1913 March 10 March 11 Benjamin Banneker with L'Enfant began to lay out Washington in the District of Columbia, 1789 March 12 Jeanne Baptiste Pointe de Sable founded settlement now known as Chicago, Ill, 1773 March 13 Eli Whitney patented the cotton gin, based on the ideas and plans of a slave, 1794 Fanie Lou Hamer, freedom fighter, died 1977 Absalom Jones ordained first Black priest in Episcopal Church March 14 African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church founded, 1821, New York March 15 Freedom's Journal, first Black newspaper, published by John Russwurm and Samuel Cornish, 1827 March 16 Norbert Rillieux, inventor of sugar refining, born 1806-1894 March 17 The Phoenix Society founded 1833, New York March 18 March 19 Jan Matzeliger invented the first machine to manufacture entire shoe, 1883 March 20 Patience Singleton friend of compiler of most of these facts born March 21 Nambia gained its independence, 1990 Alonzo Pietro, pilot, sailed with Columbus, 1492 Selma Freedom March, 1965 March 22 March 23 March 24 March 25 Scottsboro Boys arrested, Point Rock, Alabama, 1931 March 26 Thomas J Martin awarded patent for fire extinguisher, 1872 William Hastie, first Black federal judge, appointed 1937 Richard Allen, AME Church Bishop, (born? died?) 1760 - 1831 March 27 March 28 New York State abolished slavery, 1799 Ohio passed law restricting the movement of Blacks, 1804 March 29 March 30 15th amendment gave Blacks the right to vote, 1870 [Hah!] March 31 April 1 Dr Charles Richard Drew, scientist, discovered blood plasma. North Caroline Mutual opened doors for business, 1899 April 2 April 3 Dr Matthew Ricketts, first Black man elected to Nebraska State Legislature (from Omaha), born 1858 [actually, this may be 1958--anyone have any info?] April 4 Dr Martin Luther King Jr, civil rights leader, assassinated 1929 - 1968 April 5 Booker T Washington, educator and founder of Tuskegee Institute, born 1856 - 1915 April 6 Matthew Henson explorer in expedition of six to reach North Pole, 1909 April 7 Billie Holiday, blues singer, born 1917 in E. Baltimore April 8 April 9 Paul Robeson, actor, scholar, singer, born 1898 - 1976 April 10 April 11 Spelman College founded 1881 Percy L Julian, chemist whose research helped create drugs for treatment of arthritis, born 1899 April 12 Civil War began at Fort Sumter, Charleston SC 1861 April 13 April 14 April 15 April 16 Congress passed bill ending slavery in Washington, DC, 1862 soc.culture.african.american on Internet begins, 1990 (Internet can be accessed on Invention Factory BBS in NYC, NY) April 17 April 18 Alex Haley, author of _Roots_, awarded Pultizer Prize, 1977 April 19 Cheyney State University founded, 1837 April 20 Harriet Tubman starts Underground Railroad, 1853 April 21 April 22 First slave revolt occurs in South Carolina, 1526 April 23 National Urban League founded, 1913 Granville T Woods, inventor of automatic air-brake and over 40 other inventions, [born? died?] 1856 - 1910 April 24 United Negro College Fund established, 1944 April 25 April 26 April 27 April 28 George B Vashon, first Black to enter NY State Bar, 1847 Samuel Lee Gravely appointed first Black admiral in US Naval history, 1971 April 29 Col Frederick Gregory, first Black astronaut, piloted space shuttle Challenger, 1985 [is this right?] Macon B. Allen and Robert Morris Jr, first Blacks to practice law, open practice, 1845 Duke Ellington, musician and jazz composer, born 1899-1975 First day of LA riots, sparked by acquittal of four white cops in the beating of Rodney King, which would result in at least 50 deaths, thousands injured and estimates of up to $1 billion in property damage, 1992 April 30 May 1 Gwendolyn Brooks, first Black awarded a Pulitzer Prize (poetry), 1950 Howard University chartered, 1867 May 2 First game of National Negro Baseball League played in Indianapolis, 1920 Elijah McCoy, inventor, held over 50 patents, born 1844-1929 May 3 May 4 CORE begins freedom rides from Washington, DC to force desegregation of southern bus terminals, 1961 May 5 Robert S. Abbott published first issue of the newspaper "Chicago Defender" 1905 May 6 First Black Masonic Lodge founded Prince Hall, Boston, 1787 May 7 William Penn began monthly meetings for Blacks advocating emancipation, 1700 The Liberty Ship George Washington Carver, named after the scientist, launched 1943 May 8 May 9 John Brown, abolitionist, born 1800 May 10 Smith v Allwright (excluding Blacks from primary voting is illegal), 1944 May 11 Ira Aldridge, Great 19th century Black actor, famous throughout the world, born 1807-1867 May 12 Segregated street cars integrated in Louisville, Ky., following sit-in staged by a Black teenager, 1871 May 13 Slavery abolished in Brazil, 1888 Joe Louis, world heavyweight boxing champion (1937-1949), born 1914 May 14 May 15 May 16 Sammy Davis, Jr, entertainer, dies (1925-1990) Denmark abolishes slave trade, 1792 May 17 School desegregation law, Brown v Board of education, 1957 May 18 May 19 Malcolm X, political and religious activist, born 1925-1965 May 20 Elias Neau founded school for slaves in New York, 1704 May 21 Leo Pinckney, the first American draft[ed?] during World War I, 1917 (Thomas) Fast Waller, Jazz pianist and composer, born 1904-1943 May 22 Claude McKay, Novelist and Poet, died 1948 Langston Hughes, poet laureate, died 1957 May 23 May 24 Lincoln University, Penn, the first Black college in the US founded by Prebyts, 1854 May 25 Henry O. Tanner, artist, died 1859-1937 Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, dancer and entertainer, born in Richmond VA, 1878 May 26 May 27 Blind Tom Bethune, pianist and composer, born 1849 Victoria E Matthews, educator, born in New York, 1861 - 1898 May 28 Eliza Ann Gardner, underground railway conductor, born 1831 May 29 May 30 Countee Cullen, poet, born in Baltimore, 1903 May 31 National Negro Committee (now NAACP) held first conference, New York, 1909 June 1 Sojourner Truth begins travel as abolitionist speaker, 1843 Slavery abolished in all US possessions, 1862 June 2 Harriet Tubman led Union Army guerillas into Maryland, freeing more than 700 slaves, 1863 James Augustine Healey became the first Black Catholic Bishop in the US, 1875 June 3 Dr Charles Richard Drew, pioneer of blood plasma research, born, 1904-1950 Poor Peoples March on Washington, 1968 June 4 Mississippi Valley State University founded 1951 June 5 June 6 First annual convention of "people of color" held in Philadelphia 1831 Stokely Carmichael launched "Black Power" movement, 1966 June 7 Gwendolyn Brooks, poet, born 1917 Mary Church Terrell wins struggle to end segregation in Washington DC restaurants, 1953 June 8 Homer A Plessy refused to move to segregated railroad coach in New Orleans, initiating Plessy v Ferguson, 1892 First Civil Rights Act passed, 1886 June 9 June 10 Richard Allen founded the Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Philadelphia, 1794 Hattie McDaniel, first Black person ever to win an Oscar (Best Supporting Actress, Gone With The Wind, in 1940), born 1898-1952 June 11 June 12 Medgar Evers, civil rights activist, assassinated 1926-1963 June 13 Oscar J Dunn elected Lieutenant Governor of Louisiana, 1868 Thurgood Marshall appointed to the Supreme Court, 1967 June 14 Harriet Beecher Stowe, White abolitionist and author of Uncle Tom's Cabin, born 1811-1896 Congress ruled that Black soldiers must receive equal pay, 1864 June 15 Henry O Flippea became the first Black graduate of West Point, 1877 Congress of racial Equality (CORE), founded 1943 Josiah Henson, abolitionist [born? died?] 1789-1883 June 16 Denamrk Vessy led slave rebellion in South Carolina, 1822 June 17 James Weldon Johnson, writer poet, first Black admitted to Florida Bar, co-author of "Lift Every Voice And Sing" (Black National Anthem), born 1871-1938 June 18 Slave revolt leaders Denmark Vesey and Peter Poyas arrested in Charleston, SC, 1822 Nannie Burroughs founded national training School for Women, 1909 June 19 Tennessee University opened as Tennessee A and L State College, 1912 June 20 Dr Lloyd A Hall, pioneer in food chemistry, born Illinois, 1894 June 21 Henry O Tanner, artist, born 1859-1937 June 22 WEB DuBois becomes first Black member of National Institute of Letters, 1943 June 23 Wilma Rudolph, former polio victim who became the world famous track star, winning three gold medals in the Olympic Games, born 1940. June 24 June 25 Fair Employment Practices Commission established 1941 Abraham Lincoln signed bill providing schools for Black children [no date given] June 26 Blacks and Whites riot over racial segregation in ST Augustine 1964 June 27 Paul Lawrence Dunbar, poet and novelist, born 1872-1906 June 28 Supreme Court handed down Bakke decision, affecting racial quotas in education and industry, 1978 June 29 Carter Woodson wins Springarn Medal for his research of Black history, 1926 June 30 July 1 July 2 Vermont became the first US territory to abolish slavery, 1777 Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, born in Baltimore 1908 Civil Rights Act passed, 1964 July 3 July 4 Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong, trumpet king, born 1900 Booker T Washington opened Tuskegee Institute in Alabama 1881 July 5 July 6 July 7 Althea Gibsaon won women's single tennis championship at Wimbledon, 1957 July 8 July 9 Dr Daniel Hale Williams (1858-1931) performed first successful open heart surgery at Provident Hospital in Chicago, 1893 July 10 Mary McLeod Bethune, educator, born 1875-1955 July 11 Niagra Movement founded by WEB DuBois, 1905 July 12 George Washington Carver, noted scientist, born 1864 July 13 Congress outlawed slavery in Northwest Territory, 1787 July 14 July 15 Public schools for Blacks open in Philadelphia, 1822 July 16 V.A. Johnson, first Black female to practice before US Supreme Court, born 1882 July 17 July 18 Lemuel Haynes, first Black to serve as minister to a White congregation, born 1753 July 19 July 20 July 21 National Association of Colored Women founded by Mary Church Terrell in Washington DC, 1896 July 22 President Lincoln read first draft of Emancipation Proclamation to Cabinet, 1861 July 23 Louis Tompkins Wright, physician, born 1891 - 1952 July 24 July 25 Charles Cordone won Pulitzer Prize for his play "No Place to Be Somebody" 1970 First warship named for a Black person, the SS Leonard Roy Harmon, launched in Quincy Mass, 1943 July 26 July 27 July 28 The 14th Amendment, making Blacks American citizens, adopted 1868 July 29 First National Convention of Black Women held in Boston Mass, 1895 July 30 July 31 Whitney Young, former Executive Director of the National Urban League, born 1921 Father Patrick Francis Healy, first Black man to receive a PhD, named President of Georgetown University, 1874 August 1 Slavery declared unlawful in British Empire, 1834 Benjamin E Mays [highschool of compiler of most of these facts], educator and former President of Morehouse college, born 1895 August 2 James Baldwin, writer, born NY 1924 Marcus Garvey presented his "Back To Africa" program in New York City, 1920 August 3 August 4 Dr Daniel H Williams, pioneer in surgery, died 1931 Henry A Rucker appointed Collector of Internal Revenue for Georgia 1897 August 5 James A Healy, first Black bishop in America, born 1830 August 6 Voting Rights Bill signed by President Lyndon Johnsom 1965 August 7 Ralph J Bunche, diplomat and winner of Nobel Peace Prize, born 1904-1971 August 8 August 9 Mattheco Henson, first Black to reach North Pole, born 1866 Jesse Owens wins four gold medals in Berlin, 1936 August 10 Ira Aldridge, famed Shakespearean actor, dies 1867 August 11 J Rosamond Johnson, author, actor and co-composer (with his James Weldon Johnson) of "Lift Every Voice And Sing", born in Jacksonville FL, 1873-1954 Watts Riots in Southeast LA, 1965 August 12 Dedication of Frederick Douglas' home in Washington DC as national shrine, 1922 August 13 First issue of Baltimore Afro-American Newspaper, 1892 August 14 Ernest E Just, biologist and pioneer of cell division, born 1883-1941 August 15 Freed American slaves established country of Liberia, on the West coast of Africa, 1824 August 16 Louis E Lomax, author, born 1922-1970 August 17 WB Purvis patented the electric railway switch, 1897 Marcus Garvey, Black Nationalist, born 1887-1940 August 18 August 19 Benjamin Banneker published his first Almanac, 1791 NAACP Youth Council begins sit-ins at lunch counters, Oklahoma City, 1963 August 20 Wilberforce University established in Ohio, 1856 First Black slaves brought by the Dutch to the colony of Jamestown, 1619 August 21 William Count Basie, jazz pianist, big band and orchestra leader, born in Red Bank NJ, 1904 Nat Turner began revolt in Southampton, VA, 1831 August 22 Fisk University established, 1867 August 23 National Negro Business League, founded 1900 August 24 Edith Sampson, first Black delegate to United Nations appointed by President Harry S. Truman, 1950 August 25 Althea Gibson, tennis champion, born in South Carolina, 1927 National Association of Colored Nurses, founded 1908 August 26 August 27 W. E. B. DuBois, editor author and civil rights leader dies in Ghana, 1963 August 28 Martin Luther King Jr makes "I Have A Dream" speech at Lincoln Memorial, 1963 March On Washington, 1963 August 29 Sheridan Broadcasting Corp purchases Mutual Black Network, making it the first completely Black owned radio network in the world, 1979 E. Franklin Frazier, sociologist, born 1894-1962 August 30 Roy Wilkins, 2nd Executive Director of NAACP, born 1901-1981 Gabriel Prosser's slave revolt is betrayed, Virginia, 1800 August 31 September 1 Robert T Freeman was the first Black to graduate from Harvard Dental School, 1867 September 2 September 3 Frederick Douglass escapes from slavery disguised as a sailor, 1838 September 4 Lewis H Latimer, inventor and engineer, born 1848-1928 September 5 John W Cromwell, Sec. American Negro Academy, born 1846 George Washington Murray elected to Congress from South Carolina, 1895 September 6 September 7 Integration began in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD public schools, 1954 September 8 Roy Wilkins, second Executive Director of NAACP, dies 1901-1981 September 9 Richard Wright, noted author of _Native Son_ and _Black Boy_, born 1908-1960 Association for the study of Negro Life and History founded by Carter G Woodson, 1915 September 10 Congressman John R Lynch presided over the Republican National Convention, 1884 September 11 "Duke" Ellington won Springarn Medal for his musical achievements, 1959 September 12 September 13 Lewis Latimer invented and patented an electric lamp with a carbon filament, 1881 Alain L Lovke, philosopher, born 1886-1954 September 14 President FD Roosevelt signed Selective Service Act, allowing Blacks to enter all branches of the US Military Service, 1940 September 15 The first National Negro Convention began in Philadelphia, 1830 September 16 Slavery abolished in all French territories, 1848 Claude A Barnett founded Associated Negro Press, born 1889 [very unclear which one of these two events occurred the way this is worded in my source] September 17 Hampton Institute founded, 1861 September 18 Congress passed Fugitive Slave Law as part of the Compromise of 1850 September 19 Atlanta University founded 1865 September 20 First Negro Convention of Free Men agreed to boycott slave-produced goods, 1830 September 21 Atlanta Life Insurance Co founded, 1905 September 22 Xavier University, first Black Catholic College in US, opened in New Orleans, LA, 1915 September 23 Mary Church Terrell, civil rights activist, born 1863-1954 September 24 Desegregation of Central High School, Little Rock Ark, 1957 September 25 Secretary of Navy authorized enlistment of slaves as Union sailors, 1861 September 26 Maggie L Walker, business and civic leader, first Black president in US, born 1867-1934 September 27 WC Handy published "Memphis Blues" the first Blues Song, 1912 September 28 September 29 WGPR-TV Detroit, first Black-owned station in US, began broadcasting in 1975 President JF Kennedy authorized use of federal troops in integration of University of Mississippi, 1962 September 30 October 1 James Meredith became first Black student at University of Mississippi--after 3000 federal troops quelled riots against his admission, 1962 Morgan State College founded in Maryland, 1872 October 2 Thurgood Marshall sworn in as the first Black Supreme Court Justice, 1967 Robert H Lawerence, astronaut, 1935-1967 October 3 Bethune-Cookman College opened in Daytona Beach FL, 1904 October 4 October 5 Autherine Lucy Foster born in 1929. Yvonne Braithwaite Burk born in 1932. October 6 Fannie Lou Hamer, freedom fighter, born 1917 October 7 William Sill, with The Underground Railroad, born 1821 - 1902 October 8 October 9 Frank Robinson became the first Black major league baseball manager (Cleveland Indians), 1974 October 10 October 11 A. Miles patented the elevator, 1887 NAACP organized the Legal Defense and Education Fund, 1939 October 12 Lincoln University founded, 1854 Rita Frazier Normandeau of NYC born 1946 Newport News, VA October 13 Garrett Morgan invented and patented the gas mask, 1914 Edith Sampson, first Black female US delegate to the United Nations, born 1901 Arna W Bontemps noted poet and librarian of Fisk University, born 1902 - 1973 October 14 Harry Blair received a patent for his corn planting machine, 1834 October 14 Martin Luther King Jr. is the youngest man to win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964. October 15 October 16 Harpers Ferry Insurrection, 1859 October 17 First bank for blacks organized: The Capital Savings of Washington, D.C. October 18 Paul Robeson won Spingarn Medal for his singing and acting achievements, 1945 October 19 US Navy opened to Black women, 1944 Henry O Tanner, painter, won Medal of Honor at Paris Exposition, 1900 Byrd Prillerman, co-founder of Virginia State College, born 1859 October 20 NC Mutual Life Insurance Company organized, 1898 October 21 October 22 October 23 October 24 October 25 Benjamin O Davis Dr became the first Black general in US Army, 1940 October 26 Mahalia Jackson, gospel singer, born 1911 - 1972 October 27 Ruby Dee born in 1927. October 28 October 29 Supreme Court ordered end to all school desegregation "at once", 1969 October 30 October 31 November 1 First issue of Ebony magazine published by John H Johnson, 1945 WEB DuBois began publication of NAACP monthly magazine, "Crisis", 1910 November 2 November 3 JH Hunter patented the portable weighing scales, 1896 November 4 T. Elkins patented the refrigerating apparatus, 1879 November 5 George Brown became first Black Lt. Governor in US (Colorado), 1974 Shirley Chisholm became first Black woman elected to Congress, representing Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY, 1968 Theo Wright becomes first Black to obtain Theology Degree in US, 1836 Negro History Week initiated by Carter G Woodson, 1926 November 6 November 7 L Douglas Wilder became first Black Governor in the US (Virginia), 1989 November 8 Edward W. Brooke elected first Black US Senator in 85 years (R-Mass), 1966 November 9 Benjamin Banneker, inventor, mathematician, astronomer, and one of the planners of Federal City (now Washington DC), born 1731-1806 Medical School at Howard University opened with eight (8) students, 1868 November 10 Granville T Woods patented the electric railway, 1891 November 11 D McCree patented the portable fire escape, 1890 Hanging of Nat Turner, leader of the Southampton VA Slave Revolt, 1831 November 12 November 13 Janet Collins, ballerina, first Black dancer to appear with the Metropolitan Opera Co. (in Verdi's Aida), 1951 Black Renaissance begins Harlem NY, 1922 [How the hell did they figure this out?] November 14 Booker T. Washington died, 1856 - 1915 November 15 Inventor Granville T Woods patented his Synchronous Multiplier Railway Telgraph, 1887 November 16 November 17 November 18 Klu Klux Klan member convicted of 1963 church bombing that killed four young Black girls in Birmingham, Ala November 19 November 20 Garrett Morgan invented and patented the traffic signal, 1923 Howard University founded in Washington DC, 1865 November 21 Shaw University founded in Raleigh NC, 1865 November 22 Black Muslim movement initiated in Detroit, 1930 November 23 Andrew J Beard invented the "jerry coupler," still used today to connect railroad cars, 1897 November 24 November 25 Segregation in buses and terminals banned by Interstate Commerce Commission, 1955 November 26 National Negro Medical Association founded, 1895 Sojourner Truth dies, 1883 November 27 November 28 Richard Wright, novelist and author of Native Son, dies, 1908 - 1960 November 29 Thurgood Marshall, first Black Supreme Court Judge, born 1908 November 30 December 1 Arthur Spingarn, founder of NAACP, born 1878 December 2 Charles Wesley, historian, [born? died?] 1891 December 3 December 4 Alpha Phi Alpha, first Black Greek Letter Fraternity, founded 1906 December 5 Montgomery Bus Boycott initiated by the actions of Rosa Parks, 1955 Phillis Wheatley, one of the first Black female poets in America, dies 1784 National Council of Negro Women founded by Mary McLeod Bethune, 1935 December 6 December 7 December 8 Sammy Davis, Jr, entertainer, born 1925 - 1990 December 9 December 10 Nobel Peace Prize awarded to Dr Martin Luther King Jr, 1964 December 11 December 12 National Negro Anthem, "Lift Every Voice and Sing," composed by James Weldon and James Rosamond Johnson, 1900 December 13 December 14 December 15 December 16 Negro Methodist Episcopal Church founded in Jackson, TN, 1890 Andrew Young named Ambassador and Chief US Delegate to the United Nations, 1976 December 17 December 18 Congress passed 13th Amendment abolishing slavery, 1865 December 19 Carter G Woodson, historian and father of Black History Month, born 1875-1950 December 20 Mother Matelda Beasley, nun, born 1834-1903 South Carolina secedes from the union, initiating the Civil War, 1860 December 21 December 22 Henry Highland Garnet, abolitionist, born 1815-1882 December 23 Alice H. Parker received a patent for the gas heating furnace, 1919 December 24 December 25 Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) organized by Rev Jesse Jackson, 1971 December 26 Kwanzaa begins December 27 December 28 December 29 December 30 Dr Miles V Lynk, physician, published the first Black medical journal, 1892 December 31