VIA: RedHotJazz.Com Mamie Smith was the first to record blues songs in 1920 with her versions of Perry Bradford’s “Crazy Blues”, and “It’ s Right Here for You” on Okeh Records. The record was a wild success, selling over a million copies in less than a year, and finally ending up selling over two million […]
VIA: NAACP.Org The NAACP was formed partly in response to the continuing horrific practice of lynching and the 1908 race riot in Springfield, the capital of Illinois and resting place of President Abraham Lincoln. Appalled at the violence that was committed against blacks, a group of white liberals that included Mary White Ovington and Oswald […]
VIA: EncyclopediaOfChicago.Org Oscar DePriest was born in Florence, Alabama, to ex-slaves. He arrived in Chicago in 1889. DePriest worked as a painter and decorator, reportedly on occasion passing for white to get a job. He developed his own contracting business and began participating in community affairs. He began his political career as a precinct secretary, […]
July 2nd, 1964 President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act. The signing of this act was the most sweeping civil rights legislation since reconstruction. The Civil Rights Act prohibits discrimination of all kinds based on race, color, religion or national origin. See President Johnson’s remarks on the signing of this bill:
On October 1, 1962 James Meredith became the first African American student to enroll at the University of Mississippi. President Kennedy had to send 5,000 federal troops after rioting broke out. Check out some footage from that day below:
Over the years there have been several African American sitcoms to grace to TV screen. Check out our gallery that pays tribute to those sitcoms:
VIA: FindArticles.Com For centuries African Americans have dominated the American music scene. Black music is in fact America’s original music, and the Spirituals-Blues-Jazz-Gospel-Charleston-Twist-HipHop gift is the foundation not only of rhythm and blues but also of Broadway and The Grammys. Read about three of the most important moments in Black Music History below: 1. 1660 […]
In 1920, African-American Elijah McCoy opened the Elijah McCoy Manufacturing Company which led to early innovations in manufacturing and automotive machinery.
On February 17, 1968, Black Panther Party leader Huey P. Newton was on trial for the shooting of California police officer, John Frey. He had many enemies and supporters. Watch historic video made in protest of Newton’s trial.
