Black - African American History Facts

The African Free School, the first of its kind, opened in New York City on this date in 1787. This secular school expanded to seven schools by 1834 and was eventually incorporated into the New York Public School System.

W. E. B. Du Bois, activist, author, and educator, published the first issue of the NAACP monthly magazine, Crisis, on this date in 1910.

Florence Mills, dancer and singer, died in New York at age 32 on this date in 1927. Mills performed in Eubie Blake's Shuffle Along.

John H. Johnson published the first issues of the Negro Digest (1942), Ebony magazine (1945), and Jet magazine (1951) on this date.

The Iota Phi Theta fraternity, originally founded at Morgan State University in 1963, was incorporated on this date in 1968.

Walter Payton, legendary NFL running back, died on this date in 1999. Payton was the NFL's all-time leading rusher at the time of his death.