People, Locations, Episodes

Blacks in America have contributed greatly to the world of Art

On this date, the Registry examines African American art—-painting, carving, graphic arts, and crafts created by people of African descent in the United States and influenced by African and African American culture.

Lucy Terry Prince, poet, abolitionist, orator born

The birth of Lucy Terry, Black abolitionist, poet, and skilled orator, in 1730 is celebrated on this date. Although she was not a lawyer, she argued a case before the U.S. Supreme Court and won.

Terry was born in Africa, enslaved and stolen from there as an infant, and sold to Ebenezer Wells of Deerfield, MA. She was baptized at 19 in June 1735, during the Great Awakening, and at the age of 20, she was “admitted to the fellowship of the church.” In 1756, Terry married Abijah Prince, a prosperous free black man who purchased her freedom.

First Haitian slave revolt

On this date in 1790, the first slave revolt in Haiti took place.

The island was settled in the 1600s by French buccaneers. In 1664, the newly established French West India Company took control ofthe colony, and named it named Saint-Domingue. France formally claimed control of the western portion of the island of Hispaniola., and later, France named its newly colonized island Saint Domingue in early 1700s.

Oliver Law, American Military Hero

*Oliver Law was born on this date in 1900. He was an African American soldier and military leader. He was the first Black man to lead an integrated military force in the history of the United States.

Sam Lacy, journalist and advocate

Sam Lacy’s birth in 1903 is celebrated on this date. He was an African American journalist.

Lacy grew up in Washington, D.C., played semi-pro baseball, coached municipal basketball, attended Howard University, and performed assorted odd jobs before becoming a professional sportswriter. Lacy’s career in print journalism began in the 1920s, working as a sports writer at the Washington Tribune under the guidance of Editor Lewis Lautier. He was managing editor and sports editor there from 1934-39, before moving to Chicago as assistant national editor for the Chicago Defender from 1940-43.

Pelé, Soccer’s 20th centuries best Footballer

Pelé was born on this date in 1940. He was an African Brazilian soccer player and is an international humanitarian.

He was born Edson Arantes do Nascimento in a small town in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazile. He was the son of a Fluminense semiprofessional footballer Dondinho (born João Ramos do Nascimento) and Maria Celeste Arantes.

NAACP petitions United Nations for NGO status

On this date in 1947, the NAACP issued a formal petition against racism in America to the United Nations titled “An Appeal to the World.”

Eleanor Roosevelt, an active NAACP board member from 1945 to 1958, initiated the U.N.’s human rights protocol. Roy Wilkins, NAACP executive director (1955-1978), led the United States delegation to the International Conference on Human Rights in 1968.

In 2001, the NAACP applied for affiliation as a non-governmental organization (NGO). NAACP President and CEO Kweisi Mfume said that the pending U.N.

Michael Eric Dyson, writer, minister and scholar

Michael Eric Dyson was born on this date in 1958. He is an African American educator and writer.