Nicholas Biddle becomes the first African American in uniform to be wounded in the Civil War.  Nicholas (Nick) Biddle, did odd jobs around town, and befriended many of the men who were part of the areas many militia groups. In April of 1861, after the Confederate attack on Ft. Sumter caused President Lincoln to issue a request for 75,000 volunteers to defend the Union, Nick Biddle did just that. At the age of 65, and being African-American, Nick was not acceptable for Federal service. He was, however, able to sign up for a three month enlistment with the newly formed Washington Artillery of the 25th Regiment of Pennsylvania Volunteers, out of Pottsville. He was assigned to one of his friends, Captain James Wren, as his orderly. Supplied with a new uniform paid for by the members of the unit, Nick was now ready and willing to serve the Union cause.

On April 18th, 1861, five companies of the 25th Volunteers including “Nick” , along with two companies of U.S. Regulars (soldiers who were part of the army before the war) arrived by train from Pennsylvania to Baltimore’s Bolton Station. The rail line that brought them to Baltimore ended, and in order to travel further south to the Capitol, the soldiers had to disembark and march through Baltimore to the rail station at Camden Station and board trains belonging to another railroad. Immediately upon their arrival, they knew they were in trouble. Maryland was a border state with sharply divided politics, and many of Baltimore’s citizens in the early days of the war left no doubts that they sided with the secessionists.  As the remainder of the 25th nearly reached their destination at Camden Station, all hell broke loose as the 2,000 or so members of the mob seemed to realize the vulnerability of the troops. And Nick was caught in the middle.

To the men around him, Nick seemed to have been singled out. “N—– in uniform!, N—— in uniform!” was the rallying cry of the mob. Along with the cries came a flurry of objects thrown and gunshots heard. Then the soldiers, who saw Nick as just another comrade watched in horror as he was struck in the head and fell to the ground, a brick pried from Baltimore’s street laying nearby. His wound was bad, laying open his head almost to his skull, but fortunately it would not prove fatal. His friends pulled him aboard the rail car, and the train pulled out towards Washington.
The following morning found the Pennsylvanians billeted in the halls of the actual U.S. Capitol Building, where they had an unexpected visitor. President Lincoln, having heard of the attacks of the previous day, and of several soldiers being injured in the melee, came to see how the men fared. Although one had a fractured wrist, another an ankle injury, Lincoln focused his attention on “old Nick” Biddle. His head covered in blood soaked bandages, still wearing his artillerist uniform, Nick proudly refused as the President implored him to seek medical help. That day, he would not leave the men with which he served.

Nick later returned to Pottsville when his three month enlistment as a volunteer expired. He remained in Pottsville for the rest of his life, working as a handyman, taking odd jobs. Near the end of his life he was impoverished, and was reduced to asking for handouts. Towards the very end, he assured his friends that he had enough for his funeral expense, but upon his death on August 2, 1876 he was completely penniless. As an African American in 1861, he was not allowed to muster into Federal service, and could never receive any of the veteran’s benefits like his Pottsville peers in the 25th. But his friends did not forget him. Members of the “First Defenders”, those who first came to the aid of the Capitol in 1861, raised and donated money for Nicks burial and headstone. They stood behind his coffin and marched proudly to the “colored section” of the Bethel AME Church, while the drums played a mournful cadence. And over his grave, now lost to vandals, they erected a stone in which they stated unequivocally: “In Memory of Nicholas Biddle, Died August 2, 1876, Aged 80 Years. His Was the Proud Distinction of Shedding the First Blood In the Late War For the Union, Being Wounded While Marching Through Baltimore With the First Volunteers From Schuylkill County 18 April 1861.”

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On April 18, 1983, Alice Walker made history as the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, awarded for her groundbreaking novel The Color Purple. The book, which explores the lives of Black women in early 20th-century rural Georgia, resonated deeply for its emotional honesty, spiritual growth, and unapologetic critique of racism and patriarchy. Just ten days later, The Color Purple also earned the 1983 American Book Award, cementing its place as a transformative work in American literature. Walker’s achievement opened the door for future generations of Black women writers and expanded the literary canon.

On April 18, 1989, Zimbabwe marked the 9th anniversary of its independence from British colonial rule. The country gained official independence on April 18, 1980, following a protracted liberation struggle led by Black nationalist leaders such as Robert Mugabe and Joshua Nkomo. The holiday commemorates the end of white-minority rule and celebrates the resilience, identity, and aspirations of the Zimbabwean people. By 1989, the day had become a national symbol of unity, featuring parades, speeches, and tributes to those who fought for freedom.

On April 18, 1980, Zimbabwe officially declared its independence from British colonial rule after nearly a century of foreign domination. Formerly known as Rhodesia, the country had been the site of a protracted liberation struggle led by Black nationalist movements such as ZANU and ZAPU. The day marked the swearing-in of Robert Mugabe as Zimbabwe’s first Prime Minister, symbolizing a hard-won victory for African self-determination. Celebrations erupted across the country, and the newly independent nation adopted a new flag and national anthem. Zimbabwe’s Independence Day remains a powerful symbol of Pan-African resilience and post-colonial transformation.

On April 18, 1980, reggae icon Robert Nesta Marley—better known as Bob Marley—performed at Zimbabwe’s official Independence Day celebration in Harare. The event marked the end of white-minority rule and the birth of the Republic of Zimbabwe, after years of brutal colonial oppression and liberation warfare. Marley, whose music became anthems of resistance and freedom across Africa, paid for his own travel and performed “Zimbabwe,” a song he had written in solidarity with the country’s struggle. Despite tear gas being used on the crowd during the first performance, Marley returned for a second show later that evening. His appearance symbolized Pan-African unity and the global power of Black liberation music.

On April 18, 1977, author Alex Haley was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his groundbreaking book Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Blending oral history, archival research, and novelistic storytelling, Roots traced Haley’s ancestry back to Kunta Kinte, an African man kidnapped and enslaved in 18th-century America. The book ignited national conversations about African American genealogy, identity, and historical trauma. Its success led to an Emmy-winning television miniseries viewed by over 130 million people—making it one of the most impactful works of historical fiction in U.S. history. Haley’s Pulitzer marked a defining moment in Black literature and cultural representation.

On April 18, 1976, Dr. Percy Lavon Julian passed away at age 76, leaving behind a remarkable scientific legacy. A pioneering African American chemist, Julian was the first to synthesize important medicinal compounds from plant sources on an industrial scale, including cortisone, steroids, and birth control hormones. He held over 138 patents and made cortisone treatments more accessible by developing a method to synthesize it from soybeans, dramatically reducing the cost. Despite facing racial discrimination throughout his career, Julian became one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century and a role model for generations of Black chemists.

On April 18, 1966, NBA legend Bill Russell was named head coach of the Boston Celtics, making him the first Black head coach in major U.S. professional sports history. Already a Celtics star with multiple championships, Russell became a player-coach, breaking racial barriers in one of the most tradition-bound franchises in basketball. His appointment marked a significant moment not only for the NBA but for professional athletics as a whole, opening the door for generations of Black coaches across sports.

On April 18, 1955, James B. Parsons was appointed chief judge of the Federal District Court in Chicago, making history as the first African American to hold that position. A former U.S. Navy officer and accomplished attorney, Parsons broke barriers in the judiciary at a time when the legal system remained deeply segregated. His appointment symbolized a shift in federal judicial inclusion and opened doors for future generations of Black legal professionals. Parsons later became the first Black federal district judge in U.S. history appointed for life by a president, cementing his legacy as a pioneer for racial equity in American law.

On April 18, 1955, the Bandung Conference opened in Bandung, Indonesia, bringing together leaders from 29 African and Asian nations. Known as the first large-scale meeting of non-Western nations, the conference marked a turning point in the global fight against colonialism, racism, and imperial domination. Prominent leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru (India), Gamal Abdel Nasser (Egypt), Kwame Nkrumah (Ghana), and Sukarno (Indonesia) convened to promote Afro-Asian solidarity, mutual economic cooperation, and respect for sovereignty. The event laid the groundwork for the Non-Aligned Movement, offering a third path beyond U.S. or Soviet alignment during the Cold War. The conference’s emphasis on dignity, self-determination, and anti-colonialism continues to inspire global South alliances today.

On April 18, 1941, Dr. Robert C. Weaver was appointed as director of the Negro Manpower section within the Office of Production Management (OPM), marking a significant federal effort to integrate Black Americans into the burgeoning U.S. defense industry. As the nation mobilized for World War II, racial discrimination in hiring and union access blocked many African Americans from participating in defense work. Dr. Weaver’s role was to help break these barriers and ensure equitable access to jobs in the National Defense Program. This appointment laid the groundwork for future civil rights advancements in labor and government, and Dr. Weaver would go on to become the first African American to serve in a U.S. Cabinet position.

On April 18, 1941, New York City bus companies agreed to hire Black drivers and mechanics following a powerful four-week boycott organized by Black residents and civil rights groups. The boycott was a direct response to discriminatory hiring practices that excluded African Americans from transit jobs despite labor shortages and public funding. Led by community organizers and supported by churches and labor unions, the protest gained citywide momentum. The successful agreement marked one of the earliest organized economic protests in the northern U.S. that directly resulted in expanded employment opportunities for Black workers in public services.

On April 18, 1877, six African American men—W.H. Smith, Benjamin Carr, Jerry Allsap, the Reverend Simon Roundtree, Jeff Lenze, and William Edmonson—founded the Nicodemus Town Company in northwestern Kansas. Established during the Reconstruction era, Nicodemus was envisioned as a self-sufficient, all-Black settlement offering formerly enslaved people and their families a new life on the frontier. The town would be settled later that year by Black families from Kentucky, seeking refuge from racial violence and the broken promises of the South. Though life on the prairie was harsh, Nicodemus became a symbol of Black resilience, autonomy, and the dream of true freedom in the American West.

Note: Today, Nicodemus stands as the oldest and only remaining Black town west of the Mississippi founded during Reconstruction.

On April 18, 1864, the First Kansas Colored Volunteers fought with valor against overwhelming Confederate forces at the Battle of Poison Spring in Arkansas. Outnumbered and encircled, the regiment broke through enemy lines during the fierce engagement, sustaining heavy casualties. In a brutal aftermath, many captured Black Union soldiers were murdered by Confederate troops — a grim reminder of the racism and terror they faced even as uniformed combatants. The battle became a symbol of Black soldiers’ courage and sacrifice in the Civil War and underscored the cruelty of Confederate treatment of Black prisoners. The First Kansas’ resistance at Poison Spring stands as one of the earliest and most heroic engagements by African American troops in U.S. military history.

On April 18, 1861, Nicholas Biddle, an elderly African American who served as an aide to the Washington Artillery of Pottsville, Pennsylvania, was wounded while marching through Baltimore with Union troops. Though not an official enlisted soldier—African Americans were not yet permitted to formally join the Union Army—Biddle wore a uniform and was struck in the head by a pro-secession mob, shedding blood in the name of the Union cause. His injury marked one of the earliest documented wounds of the Civil War and positioned him as a symbolic forerunner of the nearly 180,000 Black soldiers who would later serve.

On April 18, 1818, General Andrew Jackson led U.S. troops in a decisive battle at Suwanee, Florida, marking the end of the First Seminole War. Jackson’s forces attacked a coalition of Seminole Indians and Black allies—many of whom were formerly enslaved Africans who had sought freedom in Florida. The battle devastated the Suwanee settlement, with many non-combatants displaced or killed. The First Seminole War, though framed by the U.S. as a military action against hostile tribes, also functioned as a campaign to re-enslave Black fugitives and to expand U.S. control over Spanish Florida. This event underscores the intersection of military expansion, Native resistance, and the African fight for freedom.