Black - African American History Facts

Lucy Ann Stanton (Mrs. Levi N. Session) became the first black female college graduate on this date in 1850. Stanton obtained a Baccalaureate Degree in Literature from Oberlin College.

Henry Hugh Proctor, writer, clergyman, and speaker, was born in Fayetteville, TN, on this date in 1868. "The Burden of the Negro" was one of his famous orations.

Sammy Davis, Jr., legendary entertainer, was born in Harlem, NY, on this date in 1925. A member of the "Rat Pack," Davis was famous for his songs: "Candy Man," "Hey There," "Mr. Bojangles," and "The Lady is a Tramp" among others.

Gibbs v. the Board of Education of Montgomery County, MD, became the NAACP's first lawsuit filed seeking equal salaries for black and white teachers on this date in 1936. Many lawsuits were filed before this racist practice was eliminated.

Jackie Robinson, baseball great, received the 41st NAACP Spingarn Medal on this date in 1956 for his superb sportsmanship, for his pioneer role in opening up baseball for blacks to explore, and for his civic consciousness.

Major Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., who earlier in the year was named as the first black astronaut, died in a plane crash on this date in 1967.

Kurt Lidell Schmoke, was inaugurated mayor of Baltimore, MD, on this date in 1987.

Oprah joined Barack Obama on the campaign trail in Iowa and South Carolina on this date in 2007.