Category: This Week in Black History

Four years after being freed after 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela is sworn into office as president of South Africa. He was the country’s […]

Ella Fitzgerald wins Grammy Awards for best jazz vocal performance and for best female pop vocal performance at the first Grammy Awards at the Beverly […]

World heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali refuses to be inducted into the U.S. Army because of his objections to the Vietnam War and is subsequently […]

Former Los Angeles resident Lee Elder birdies three of his last four holes before sinking an 18-foot birdie putt in a playoff to win the […]

This Week in Black History April 13, 1964 At the 36th Academy Awards program, Sidney Poitier receives the Oscar for best actor for his role […]

John Mercer Langston was elected clerk of the township of Brownhelm, Ohio. He is considered to be the first African American elected to public office […]

Los Angeles actor James Baskett becomes the first Black man to receive an Academy Award when he wins an honorary Oscar for playing the role […]

Maurice Ashley becomes the first Black person to become a chess grandmaster. The rank is conferred by the International Chess Federation to players who amass […]

Andrew Brimmer becomes the first Black governor of the Federal Reserve Board. He was appointed by President Lyndon Baines Johnson. For more information on Black […]