20th Anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s Release from Prison
In 1990, after 27 years of imprisonment, Nelson Mandela was released. Mandela had been arrested in 1962 with the help of the CIA. At the time, he was the leader […]
Author Archive for: jkluk
Entries by Joe
House passes the Civil Rights Act in 1964
On this date in 1964, the United States House of Representatives passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 by a vote of 290-130. The bill was originally introduced in a […]
Arthur Ashe becomes first African-American member of U.S. Davis Cup team
On this day in 1963, Arthur Ashe became the first African-American selected to play on the United States Davis Cup team. The Davis Cup is the premier men’s international team […]
First African-American journalist in White House Press Corps
In 1944 on this day, Harry S. McAlpin was admitted into a White House press conference, becoming the first African-American to receive White House press credentials. At the time he […]
Birthday of Jazz Composer Eubie Blake
James Hubert Blake, or Eubie Blake, was born in 1887 on this day to John Blake and Emily Johnstone, both former slaves. From a young age, he displayed a proclivity […]
First Organized Emigration of Freed Slaves to Africa
In 1820 on this day, a ship departed from New York harbor carrying freed slaves to Freetown, Sierra Leone. This trip was largely organized by the American Colonization Society (ACS) […]
Belated Justice for Medgar Evers
On this day in 1994 Byron De La Beckwith was convicted of the murder of civil rights activist Medgar Evers over thirty years after death. Evers, born on July 2, […]
Birthday of Rosa Parks
On this day in 1913, Rosa Louise McCauley Parks was born. She would become a lightning rod of the Civil Rights movement after December 1st, 1955 when she refused to […]
Ratification of the 15th Amendment
In 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment (XV) to the United Constitution was passed, saying that the right to vote would not be restricted on “account of race, color, or previous condition […]
Shuttle Launch for 1st African American to Walk in Space
The STS-63 NASA mission, the second of the US/Russian Shuttle-Mir program, was originally set to launch on this date in 1995. At the last minute, the mission was delayed 24 […]