Hiram R. Revels, the first Black U.S. senator, born (1817).
First Louisiana Native Guards, the first Black regiment to receive official recognition, joins the army. The regiment was composed of free Blacks of New Orleans (1862).
John Mercer Langston named minister of Haiti (1877).
WC Handy publishes the first blues song “Memphis Blues” (1912).
Xaiver University, first Black Catholic College in US, opens in New Orleans, LA (1915).
Black leaders protest discrimination in the armed forces at a White House meeting with President Roosevelt (1940).
Artist Stephanie Pogue born (1944).
Charles H. Houston awarded the Spingarn Medal posthumously for his pioneering work in developing the NAACP legal campaign (1950).
Ralph J. Bunche of Howard University awarded the Nobel Peace prize for successful mediation of the Palestine conflict. He was the first Black to receive a Nobel prize (1950).
Gwendolyn Brooks awarded Pulitzer Prize for her book of poetry, Annie Allen. She was the first Black to be awarded with a Pulitzer (1950).
Ezzard Charles defeated Joe Louis in heavyweight championship fight in New York City (1950).
School integration begins in Washington, D.C., and Baltimore, Md., public schools (1954).
Washington D.C.’s Anacostia Museum opens and is dedicated informing the community of contributions by African Americans to U.S. political, social, and cultural history (1967).
Take a look at some more moments in Black History below:
