People, Locations, Episodes

The Free African Society is Founded

*The Free African Society (FAS) was founded on this date in 1787.  This benevolent organization held religious services and provided mutual aid for “free Africans and their descendants.”   FAS founding membership; all free Black men, including Samuel Baston, Joseph Johnson, Cato Freedman, Caesar Cranchell, James Potter, and William White.  Notable members included Black abolitionists such as Cyrus Bustill, James […]

Richard Cain, Politician born

This date recalls the birth of Richard Harvey Cain born in 1825. He was a Black political and civic leader of the Charleston, South Carolina reconstruction era.

Junius Groves, Agribusiness Entrepreneur born

*Junius Groves was born on this date in 1859. He was a Black farmer and entrepreneur. Junius George Groves, the son of Martin and Mary Anderson Groves, was born in slavery in Green County, Kentucky. After emancipation, he received public schooling three months out of the year but taught himself to read, write, and understand mathematics. As […]

The American Civil War Begins

On this date in 1861, the Civil War began. This war is also referred to as “The War Between the States”, “The War of Rebellion”, or “The War for Southern Independence.”

The Fort Pillow Massacre Occurs

This date marks the anniversary of the Fort Pillow Massacre in 1864. The Fort Pillow Massacre occurred during the American Civil War.

The action stemmed from Southern outrage at the North’s use of Black soldiers. From the beginning of hostilities, the Confederate leadership was faced with the question of whether to treat Black soldiers captured in battle as slaves in insurrection or, as the Union insisted, as prisoners of war. This conflict happened at Fort Pillow on the Mississippi River in Henning, Tennessee.

The New National Era Newspaper is Published

*The publication of the New National Era newspaper is celebrated on this date in 1868. Originally called the New Era and Citizen, it was a national newspaper for the Black community. It was published in Washington D.C. during Reconstruction, the decade after the American Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation. Frederick Douglass took over the New […]

Hans Jonatan, Icelandic Slave born

*Hans Jonatan was born on this date in 1784. He was a Black slave, soldier, farmer, and trader. Also known as Hans Jónatan and Hans Jonathan) he was born on the plantation of Constitution Hill on the island of St Croix in the Danish West Indies, a Danish colony in 1733 when purchased by the […]

John Sommerville, Los Angeles Businessman born.

John Sommerville’s birth in 1881 is marked on this date. He was an African American businessman and politician.

Jimmy Winkfield, Horse Jockey born

Jimmy Winkfield was born on this date in 1882. He was an African American horse jockey.

From Chilesburg near Lexington, KY, he began racing in 1898. Winkfield went from being the youngest of 17 in a family of sharecroppers, to racing for $8 a month and eventually, $1,000 a race. His racing statistics show him winning back-to-back Kentucky Derby’s, (1901 on His Eminence, and 1902 on Alan-A-Dale). He was the last Black jockey to win a Kentucky Derby.

Johnny Dodds, Clarinetist born

*Johnny Dodds was born on this date in 1892.  He was an American jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist based in New Orleans.  Johnny Dodds was born in Waveland, Mississippi. His childhood environment was a musical one.  His father and uncle were violinists, his sister played the melodeon, and in adolescence, Johnny sang high tenor in […]

Horace Cayton Jr., Sociologist, and Author born

*Horace R. Cayton, Jr. was born on this date in 1903. He was an African American sociologist, newspaper columnist, and author.

From Seattle, Washington, he was the son of newspaper publisher Horace R. Cayton, Sr. and Susie Revels. His mother was daughter of Hiram Rhodes Revels, the first black American elected to the United State Senate.

Ronald Davies, Lawyer and Judge born

*Ronald Davies was born on this date in 1904. He was a white-American lawyer and Judge who was born in Grand Forks, ND. A 1922 Grand Forks Central High School graduate, he received a bachelor’s degree from the University of North Dakota in 1927. Davies attended law school at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., graduating […]

Helen Claytor, YMCA Administrator born

Helen J. Claytor was born on this date in 1907. She was an African American educator, YWCA administrator, and activist.

Harry Davis Sr., Minnesota Civic Leader born

Harry Davis was born on this date in 1923. He was an African American civil rights activist, politician and businessman.

Bertie Bowman, Public Policy Administrator born.

*Bertie Bowman was born on this date in 1931. He was a Black federal congressional staffer. Herbert ‘Bertie’ Bowman was born to sharecroppers Mary Ragin and Robert Bowman in Summerton, South Carolina. His mother died, and his father soon remarried. Bowman had twelve siblings in a house with no plumbing. Career After meeting with U.S. […]