Black - African American History Facts

Abolitionists Richard Allen and Absalom Jones founded the Bethel (AME) Church in Philadelphia, PA, on this date in 1794.

The National Association of Negro Musicians met for the first time in Chicago, IL, on this date in 1919. The group convened under the direction of Clarence Cameron White for the purpose of advancing black music and the careers of black musicians.

Stokley Carmichael (Kwame Toure'), civil rights activist, was born in Trinidad on this date in 1941.

Bernard A. Harris, Jr. officially became a NASA astronaut on this date in 1991. Harris had previously served as a NASA clinical scientist and flight surgeon.

Carl Lewis won his fourth consecutive Olympic Gold Medal (1984, 1988, 1992, and 1996) in the long jump on this date in 1996. With this Olympic Gold Medal, his ninth, Lewis tied an all-time Olympic Gold-winning record.