People, Locations, Episodes

Horace Greeley, Journalist, and Abolitionist born

*Horace Greeley was born on this date in 1811. He was a White American journalist and abolitionist.

From in Amherst, New Hampshire, he trained as a printer moving to New York City where he became a journalist. Greeley worked for the New Yorker and in 1841 established the New York Tribune, a newspaper he edited for over thirty years. Greeley took a strong moral tone in his newspaper and campaigned against alcohol, tobacco, gambling, prostitution and capital punishment. However, Greeley’s main concern was the abolition of slavery.

Edward Roye, Politician, and Businessman born

*Edward J. Roye was born on this date in 1815. He was a Black businessman and politician.

Born in a little house on what is now Mount Vernon Road in Newark, Ohio, he was educated in Newark schools, but nothing much is known of his early years. In 1822, his father sold his Newark property and went to Illinois, leaving Edward and his mother behind. In 1829, his father left all his property acquired in Illinois to his son Edward. Young Roye became a barber and in 1832 he was enrolled in Ohio University in Athens.

Gabino Ezeiza, Payada Musician born

*Gabino Ezeiza was born on this date in 1858. He was an Afro Argentinean musician and one of the most outstanding performers in the art of the payada. He became renowned, both in his native land and in Uruguay, after a memorable encounter with Oriental Payador Juan de Nava, who carried a halo of invincibility at the […]

The Negro Baseball League is Founded

*This date marks the anniversary of the Negro Baseball League. In 1886, the Southern League of Colored Base Ballists became the first Negro league.

Charles Turner, Zoologist, and Inventor born

*On this date in 1867, Charles Turner was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He was an African American zoologist and inventor.

Alabama State University Begins Classes

*On this date, 1867, Alabama State University (ALASU) was founded. It is a public Historically Black University (HBCU) in Montgomery, Alabama, and a Thurgood Marshall College Fund member school. ALASU began as the Lincoln Normal School of Marion in Marion, Ala. In December 1873, the State Board accepted the transfer of title to the school after a legislative act was passed authorizing […]

The 15th Amendment is Ratified

*On this date in 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified. This guaranteed African American men the right to vote.

The 15th Amendment maintains “the right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by a State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude.” The text also gives Congress the power to enforce the amendment.

Voter Suppression in America, an article

*In 1870, Voter Suppression in the United States is addressed. Voter Suppression concerns various legal and illegal efforts to prevent eligible voters from exercising their right to vote. Where found, such voter suppression efforts vary by state, local government, precinct, and election. Separately, there have also been various efforts to enfranchise and disenfranchise various voters […]

Centralia Washington is Founded

*Centralia, Washington, was founded on this date in 1886. It is a city in Lewis County, Washington, United States.   It was founded by a former Black slave named George Washington. In 1850, Washington led J. G. Cochran and his wife Anna to the area via the Oregon Trail. In 1852, Cochran filed a donation […]

‘Lil’ Hardin, Entertainer born

*Lillian “Lil” Hardin was born this date in 1898. She was an African American pianist, singer and composer.

Mabel Mercer, Cabaret Singer born

*Mabel Mercer was born on this date in 1900. She was an African American cabaret singer.

Sarah Rector, Entrepreneur born

*Sarah Rector was born on March 3, 1902. She was a Black entertainer and businesswoman.  Sarah Rector was born near the all-black town of Taft, Oklahoma, in Indian Territory. She had five siblings. Her parents, Rose McQueen, and her husband, Joseph Rector, were descendants of African people who had been slaves owned by the Muscogee […]

Louise Beavers, Actress born

*This date recalls the birth of Louise Beavers in 1902. Known for her character roles, she was an African American film and television actress.

Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Beavers first drew attention as part of an act known as the “Lady Minstrels.” Despite her theatrical abilities and inclinations, she went to Hollywood, not as a performer, but as the maid of actress Leatrice Joy. She soon, however, appeared on the silver screen, making her feature debut in Gold Diggers (1923). She continued to act in such other silent films as Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1927).

Son House, Blues Musician born

*On this date in 1902, Son House was born. He was a Black blues musician.

Born in Riverton, Mississippi on a Delta plantation, House was an African American blues guitarist and singer. Early on he took up with the church and actually became a Baptist pastor by the time he turned twenty. But he straddled the sacred and secular worlds, which led to troubles with women and alcohol. He had also discovered the power of the blues. After spending time in Louisiana in the early 1920s, House returned to the Delta in 1926 and learned how to play guitar.

Robert E. Jones, Actor born

*Robert E. Jones was born on this date in 1910. He was a Black actor and professional boxer. Robert Earl Jones was born in Senatobia, or Coldwater, Mississippi, and was the son of Robert and Elnora Jones. He left school early to work as a sharecropper to help his family. Jones later became a prizefighter. Under the […]