1844 – Members of a secret society called La Trinitaria declared the complete independence of the Dominican Republic from Haiti. The nation’s first Constitution, based upon that of the United States, was adopted on November 6, 1844. 1872 – Charlotte E. Ray...

1926 – Theodore “Georgia Deacon” Flowers  becomes first Black middle-weight boxing champion. In front of a crowd of 16,311 at Madison Square Garden, Flowers defeated champion Harry Greb by unanimous decision to take the belt.     1928 – Singer...

   1870 – Hiram R. Revels of Mississippi sworn in as first Black U.S. senator and the first Black representative in Congress. Revels, a Republican politician, educator and minister of an African Methodist Episcopal Church was born in North Carolina and later lived in Ohio...

    1940 – Heavy weight boxer Jimmy Ellis born Former world heavyweight boxing champion Jimmy Ellis was born James Albert Ellis in Louisville, Kentucky. Ellis won the World Boxing Association title after beating Jerry Quarry in April 1968. 1864 – First Black Woman to...

    1868 – Dr.William Edward Burghardt DuBois On this day Dr.William Edward Burghardt DuBois, educator and civil rights advocate, is born in Great Barrington, Mass. 1915 – Death of Robert Smalls Death of Robert Smalls (75), Reconstruction congressman, in Beaufort, South...

   1950 – Julius Erving Born...

    1895 – Frederick Douglass Dies Abolitionist Frederick Douglass dies on this date in Washington, DC. 1927 – Sidney Poitier, actor born Actor and thespian Sidney Poitier born. 1936 – Jazz singer Nancy Wilson born Jazz singer, actress, Nancy Wilson born in...

   1931 – Toni Morrison born Toni Morrison (born Chloe Anthony Wofford) was born on this day. 1894 – Paul Revere Williams, renowned architect, born Paul Revere Williams, renowned architect,...

    1942 – Tuskegee Airmen initiated The Army Air Corps’ all African American 100th Pursuit Squadron, later designated a fighter squadron, was activated at Tuskegee Institute. The squadron served honorably in England and in other regions of the European continent during...

    1936 – James Nathaniel Brown’s Birthday James Nathaniel Brown, 63, Pro Football Hall of Fame Fullback, Born February 17, 1936 in St. Simons Island, GA 1942 – Huey Newton Born An illiterate high-school graduate, Newton taught himself how to read before attending...

    1970 – Joe Frazier Joe Frazier becomes world heavyweight boxing champion. 1957 – Actor Levar Burton born Actor Levar Burton was born in Landsthul, Germany. Burton won fame for his acting in the television movie “roots,” which was based on the novel by...

    1965 – Nat King Cole (45), singer and pianist, died in Nat King Cole (45), singer and pianist, died in Santa Monica, California. 1964 – Louis Armstrong’s “Hello Dolly” Louis Armstrong’s “Hello Dolly” recording becomes his first and...

1817 – Frederick Douglass born in Talbot County, Maryland. Douglas escaped from slavery to become a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York and became known as a great orator and social reformer. He met with President Lincoln in 1963 to discuss...

1793 – Congress passed the first Fugitive Slave Law. The law allowed that in order to reclaim an escaped slave, a master need only to go before a magistrate and provide oral or written proof of ownership. The magistrate would then issue an order for the arrest of the slave. The law...

   1915  – Folk and Blues singer Josh White was born in Greenville, South Carolina. White’s music was very prominent in the 1940’s and his was a personal friend and confidant of Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, but the anti-segregationist and international human...

1854 – Joseph Charles Price was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. Price was a great orator and was one of the founders of and was the first president of Livingstone College in Salisbury, North Carolina.         1927 – Noted opera singer Leontyne Price was born. In...

1943 – Singer Barbara Lewis, known for #1 R&B song “Hello Stranger” was born in South Lyon, Michigan.     1944 – Novelist Alice Walker, author of “The Color Purple” was born in Eatonton, Georgia. 1953 -Author Ralph Ellison’s novel...

1924 – Activist and lawyer Ada Lois Sipuel Fisher  is born in Chickasha, Oklahoma.     1944  – Harry S. McAlpin becomes the first Black reporter allowed obtain accreditation for a White House press conference. 1968 – Diminutive actor Gary Coleman was born in Zion,...

1872 – Alcorn A&M College (now known as Alcorn State University was founded in Mississippi. Alcorn is a public, historically black, comprehensive, land-grant institution located northwest of Lorman, Mississippi, approximately 80 miles southwest of Jackson, Mississippi.  ...

1820 – The Mayflower of Liberia – Minister Daniel Coker led a group of 86 free blacks from New York Harbor aboard the Mayflower of Liberia. They are bound for the British colony of Sierra Leone, which welcomes free African Americans as well as fugitive slaves. The group arrived...