*The birth of Hannibal C. Carter is celebrated on this date in 1835. He was a Black soldier, abolitionist, and politician. Carter was born in New Albany, Indiana, then moving to Toronto, Canada for his early childhood. He and his brother were sons of George Washington Carter. Although the exact date is unclear, sometime […]
learn more*The birth of James M. Turner is celebrated on this date in 1840. He was a Black Reconstruction Era politician, activist, educator, and diplomat. James Milton Turner was born into slavery in St. Louis, Missouri. As a child, he was sold on the steps of the St. Louis US Courthouse for $50 (US$ 1,500 […]
learn more*Bobby Hutton was born on this date in 1950. He was also known as “Lil’ Bobby”, he was a Black activist. Robert James Hutton was one of three children, born in Jefferson County, Arkansas, to John D. Hutton and Dolly Mae Mitchner-Hutton. When he was three years old, his family moved to Oakland, California during […]
learn more*The birth of Marie Bernard Couvent is celebrated on this date in 1757. She was a Black philanthropist and education advocate. Born a slave in Benin, Africa, Marie Cirnaire came to New Orleans, Louisiana and married Bernard Couvent, a carpenter and former slave. Together they accumulated property, other assets before he died. In August […]
learn more*Bruce Boynton was born on this date in 1937. He was a Black lawyer and civil rights leader. Bruce Carver Boynton grew up in Selma, Alabama. His parents were civil rights activists, known in their community as Mr. and Mrs. Civil Rights, because of their participation. He was named after his Godfather, George Washington Carver. He […]
learn more*Robert Benford Sr. was born on this date in 1930. He was a Black activist and community administrator. Robert Benford grew up in a racially mixed neighborhood in north Minneapolis, one of seven children of parents of African American, Indian and Irish ancestry. In 1969 he was appointed director of the Minneapolis Civil Rights Department, […]
learn more*Mary Minor Blackford was born this date in 1802. She was a white-American abolitionist. A native of Fredericksburg, VA, Mary Berkeley Minor was the daughter of John Minor and his second wife, Lucy Landon Carter Minor. She was the only daughter of eight children, her father died when she was thirteen. She received an education […]
learn more*Sabrina Sojourner was born on this date in 1952. She is a Black lesbian activist, former politician and author. From California, married when she was 18, and having a single son, Sojourner was subject to physical abuse by her former husband before they separated two years later. She earned her Bachelor of Arts, Theatre Arts, […]
learn more*Sarah Blake Shaw was born on this date in 1815. She was a white-American abolitionist, women’s rights supporter, anti-imperialist and philanthropist. Sarah Blake Sturgis was the daughter of Bostonians Nathaniel Russell Sturgis and Susannah Thomsen Parkman. She was the younger sister of merchant Russell Sturgis. She married Francis George Shaw on June 9, 1835. […]
learn more*Julius Waring was born on this date in 1880. He was a white-American lawyer and judge who played an important role in the early legal battles of the American Civil Rights Movement. Julius Waties Waring was born in Charleston, South Carolina to Edward Perry Waring and Anna Thomasine Waties. He graduated second in his […]
learn more
