November 6, 1962 Augustus Freeman (Gus) Hawkins of Los Angeles is elected to the U.S House of Representatives, becoming the first Black Congress member west […]
Category: This Week in Black History
This Week in Black History
October 31, 1950 Earl Lloyd becomes the first Black player in the NBA, taking the court for the Washington Capitals. Two other Black players were […]
This Week in Black History
October 21, 1968 Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, is named chief executive and chairman of […]
This Week in Black History
October 13, 1966 Legendary rock guitarist Jimi Hendrix plays his first concert as the Jimi Hendrix Experience with bassist Noel Redding and drummer Mitch Mitchell […]
This Week in Black History
October 9, 1975 Former all-star outfielder Frank Robinson is named manager of the Cleveland Indians, becoming the first Black manager of a major league team. […]
This Week in Black History
October 2, 1967 U.S. Solicitor General Thurgood Marshall — whose brilliant legal work led to the Brown vs. Board of Education decision outlawing segregation in […]
This Week in Black History
September 27, 1950 Gwendolyn Brooks becomes the first African-American writer to win a Pulitzer Prize for her book of poetry, “Annie Allen,” a coming-of-age tale […]
This Week in Black History
Sept. 20, 1847 William Leidesdorff is elected to the San Francisco Town Council, becoming one of California’s first Black elected officials. He later became the […]
This Week in Black History
September 12, 1992 Chicago physician Dr. Mae Jemison becomes the first African-American woman in space when the space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from the Kennedy […]
This Week in Black History
Sept. 5, 1960 A young boxer named Cassius Clay won the gold medal in the light heavyweight division in the Summer Olympics at Rome. Clay […]