History

Week of August 8-14 August 8 1865—Explorer Matthew Henson is born in Baltimore, Md. Henson would become the first person to reach the North Pole on April 6, 1909. However, it was his boss Robert E. Perry who would receive widespread public recognition and a presidential citation for the honor. But in later years, records […]

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — More than 78 years after civil rights worker Elbert Williams’ body was found in a Tennessee river, a district attorney announced Wednesday that he is reopening the investigation into the slaying. Haywood County DA Garry Brown said his office is launching an investigation into the death of the 32-year-old Black man, […]

Ongoing Literary Series Brings Authors and Audiences Together in an Intimate Setting for Enlightening Insights, Discussion and Book Signings Deeply researched biographies, greatly anticipated...

SAN FRANCISCO (AP)—Elbert “Big Man” Howard, a co-founder of the Black Panther Party who served as newspaper editor, information officer and logistics genius behind the group’s popular social programs, has died at age 80. His wife, Carole Hyams, says Howard died Monday in Santa Rosa, California, after a long illness. Friends and family described Howard […]

Week of July 25-31 July 25 1916—The Black inventor of America’s first gas mask, Garrett T. Morgan, made national headlines on this day when he and a team of volunteers used his invention to rescue 32 workers trapped in a gas-filled tunnel 250 feet under Lake Erie. Morgan called his device “the Morgan safety hood […]

Documented Original Tuskegee Airman (DOTA) , Preston Jowers, of the Detroit Chapter of Tuskegee Airmen will celebrate his 103rd birthday this Saturday at the...

Week of March 14-20 March 14 1821—The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church is officially formed in New York City. However, the church had been actually operating since 1796. A decision to officially separate from the White-controlled Methodist Church was reached in 1820. The dispute centered in part on the refusal of the Whites to allow […]

SELMA, Ala. (AP)—Several members of Congress joined civil rights activists and others Sunday afternoon for the annual commemoration of a day of racial violence in Selma dating to 1965. A bipartisan group including Rep. John Lewis of Georgia led the crossing of the Edmund Pettus Bridge. It was to recall “Bloody Sunday,” when voting rights […]

Week of March 7-13 March 7 1539—This is probably the day Estevanico—the first Black conquistador—was killed. Estevanico, a Black Moor from Morocco, was sold as a servant when he was only 10 but became friends with his owner Andres de Dorantes and joined a 1527 expedition of 300 men from Spain looking for riches in […]

Week of February 7-13 February 7 1871—Alcorn A&M College (later “University”) opens in Mississippi. The great Black legislator Hiram Revels resigns his seat in Congress to become the first president of the institution, which would grow to become one of the leading Black colleges in the nation. At first it was only open to men […]