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...

1914 – Boxer Jersey Joe Walcott born in Merchantville, New Jersey. Walcott defeated Ezzard Charles via knockout in the 7th round of their July 18, 1951 title bout in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to win the World Heavyweight Championship. After retiring from boxing, Walcott refereed several...

1844 – Richard Theodore Greener born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Greener becomes the first African American to graduate from Harvard University, receiving a degree in a bachelor’s degree in 1870. His admission to Harvard was “an experiment” by the administration and...

    1962 – Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. 1993 – Thurgood Marshall, dies First Black Supreme Court Justice, Thurgood Marshall, dies, 1993 1949 – Birthday of Aaron Neville,...

    On January 18, 1958, Willie O’Ree became the first Black player to appear in a National Hockey League game. After numerous injuries suffered by Boston Bruins players, O’Ree was called up from the minor leagues to play against the Montreal Canadians. O’Ree...

   1942 – Muhammad Ali  born Boxing champion, Muhammad Ali was born 1923 – Spingarn Award: George Washington Carver Spingarn Medal awarded to George Washington Carver, head of the department of research, Tuskegee Institute, for his pioneering work in agricultural...