People, Locations, Episodes

White Hate Crime Arsonist Is Convicted

*On this date in 2011, a white man was convicted of burning down a black church. He motive was to condemn Barack Obama’s election as America’s first Black president in November 2008.

Trayvon Martin is Murdered

*On this date in 2012, Trayvon Martin was shot and killed by George Zimmerman in Sanford, Florida.

Martin was a 17-year-old African American high school student. Zimmerman, a 28-year-old mixed-race Hispanic man was the neighborhood watch coordinator for the gated community where Martin was temporarily living and where the shooting took place. Zimmerman killed Martin, who was unarmed, during an altercation between the two. Responding to an earlier call from Zimmerman, police arrived on the scene within two minutes of the shooting.

Texas A&M Selects Their First Black Commander

*On this date in 2012, the first Black student was appointed as Commander of the Texas A&M Cadets. This is nearly a half-century after African Americans were admitted to predominantly white Texas A&M University.

Charles Taylor, Liberian President is Found Guilty

*On this date in 2012, an international court trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor ended.

The Appalachian Genealogy Study, a story

*On this date in 2012, a DNA study in the Journal of Genetic Genealogy was released.

A Copy Of The Emancipation Proclamation Is Sold At An Auction

*On this date in 2012, a rare original copy of President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation sold at a New York auction for more than $2 million.

The Montford Point Marines Are Honored

*On this date in 2012 Hundreds of African American veterans who helped to integrate the Marine Corps during World War II received the nation’s highest civilian honor.

First Black Person wins the Olympic Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Individual All-Around Event

*On this date in 2012, 16-year-old Gabrielle Douglas of the United States became the first African American to win the gold medal in the Artistic Gymnastics Women’s Individual All-Around final.

From Virginia Beach, VA, Douglas accomplished her feet on Day 6 of the London 2012 Olympic games at North Greenwich Arena in London, England.

Baseball’s Upton Brothers Home Runs Tie and Win the Game in the Same Inning

*On this date in 2013, two African American professional baseball players (brothers) hit consecutive home runs to tie and win their game a first for Major League Baseball.

Georgia High School Holds Its First Integrated Prom

*On this date in 2013, Georgia’s Wilcox County High School held their first integrated prom, open to students of all races.

This was almost 60 years after the Supreme Court ruled that “separate educational facilities are inherently unequal” and as a result, the practice of segregation by a public school was unconstitutional. Never-the-less until 2013, Wilcox County High School held two proms: one for White students and one for Black students. It left many with questions about the legality of the segregation.

The First Active Major Sports Athlete Comes Out As Gay

*On this date in 2013, Jason Collins, African American professional basketball player announced that he is Homosexual. Collins said, “I’m a 34-year-old N.B.A. center. I’m black and I’m gay,” Collins, who finished this season with the Washington Wizards, became the first openly gay male athlete who is still active in a major American team sport.

Shelby County v. Holder is Decided

*On this date in 2013, Shelby County v. Holder was decided.  This was a landmark United States Supreme Court case. It regarded the constitutionality of two provisions of the Voting Rights Act of 1965: Section 5, which requires certain states and local governments to obtain federal preclearance before implementing any changes to their voting laws or practices, and Section 4(b), which contains […]

The Trayvon Martin Murder Verdict is Decided

*On this date in 2013 a Sanford, Florida jury found George Zimmerman not guilty in the shooting death of unarmed Black teenager Trayvon Martin. This was a case that sparked a national debate on race and guns.

Church Bomb Victims are Awarded the Congressional Gold Medal

*On this date in 2013, President Barack Obama signed legislation to award Congress’ highest civilian honor to four girls killed in an Alabama church bombing during the civil rights movement. He called it a tragic loss that ‘‘helped to trigger triumph and a more just and equal and fair America.’’

The Flint, Michigan Water Crisis Is Exposed

*On this date in 2014, the Flint water crisis was exposed. This was an environmental racism crisis affecting the Black and poor communities in Michigan.  The emergency started that year after the drinking water source for the city of Flint, Michigan, was changed. In April 2014, Flint switched its water source from treated Detroit Water […]