Carter Godwin Woodson was born in New Canton, Virginia. A pioneering African American historian, author, and educator, he is best known as the “Father of Black History.” In 1926, he launched Negro History Week, which later evolved into Black History Month in the United States.

Woodson was one of the first scholars to study African American history seriously and believed that documenting Black contributions to society was crucial for racial equality and self-respect. He also founded the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) and established the Journal of Negro History in 1916.

Cicely Tyson, the acclaimed American actress, was born on December 19, 1924, in Harlem, New York City.  Raised by her parents, who were immigrants from the Caribbean island of Nevis, Tyson grew up in a religious household in East Harlem.

Tyson’s illustrious career spanned over seven decades, during which she was celebrated for portraying resilient and complex African American women. She received numerous accolades, including three Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, and an Honorary Academy Award. In 2016, she was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

Cicely Tyson passed away on January 28, 2021, at the age of 96, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking performances and contributions to the arts.

James Weldon Johnson, noted author, educator, lawyer, and civil rights leader, resigned from his role as executive secretary of the NAACP, a position he had held since 1920. Johnson cited health reasons for his resignation. During his tenure, he significantly expanded the organization’s reach and effectiveness, especially in fighting racial violence, lobbying for federal anti-lynching legislation, and increasing Black voter registration in the South. He was also a prolific writer and co-author of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often called the Black national anthem.

Henry A. Hunt, a pioneering Black educator and agricultural leader, was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP for his outstanding contributions to African American education and rural development. As principal of Fort Valley High and Industrial School (now Fort Valley State University) in Georgia, Hunt emphasized vocational training, self-sufficiency, and community uplift, making a lasting impact on Black education in the South.

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, originally founded on January 13, 1913 at Howard University by 22 collegiate women, was officially incorporated on December 19, 1930. The organization was established to promote academic excellence and provide assistance to those in need. Since its inception, Delta Sigma Theta has grown into one of the largest and most influential historically Black sororities, committed to public service with a primary focus on the Black community.

On this day, the Pittsburgh Courier, one of the most influential African American newspapers in U.S. history, was founded. Based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it became a powerful voice for civil rights, social justice, and political advocacy during the 20th century. The Courier championed causes like the Double V campaign during World War II (victory against fascism abroad and racism at home) and gave national exposure to Black writers, journalists, and activists. At its peak, it had a circulation of over 250,000 and was distributed nationwide.

On this date, South Carolina State University in Orangeburg, South Carolina, was officially designated a state-supported land-grant institution for African Americans. Originally founded in 1896 as the Colored Normal, Industrial, Agricultural and Mechanical College of South Carolina, it was restructured and formally recognized by the state in 1910.

SCSU has since become one of the leading Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in the United States, known for producing prominent educators, scientists, military leaders, and public servants.

On this date, reports indicated that 67 African Americans were lynched in the United States during the year 1910. Lynching was a brutal form of racial terror used primarily in the South to enforce white supremacy and instill fear within Black communities. These extrajudicial killings were often carried out publicly and without legal consequence for the perpetrators.

Organizations like the NAACP, founded just the year prior in 1909, began working to bring national and international attention to these atrocities. The fight against lynching would become a cornerstone of the early civil rights movement.

The Norfolk Journal and Guide, a significant African American newspaper, was established in 1910 under the leadership of Plummer Bernard (P.B.) Young Sr. Originally a four-page weekly with a circulation of 500, it expanded to 32 pages and reached over 80,000 readers by the mid-1940s.

P.B. Young Sr., born on July 27, 1884, in Littleton, North Carolina, was a prominent journalist and community leader. He acquired the newspaper in 1910 and served as its editor and publisher until his retirement in 1946. Under his guidance, the Norfolk Journal and Guide became one of the leading Black-owned newspapers in the South, renowned for its moderate stance on interracial issues and its ability to attract advertisements from both local and national white-owned businesses. ?NC DNCR

The newspaper played a crucial role in advocating for the African American community, endorsing plans to improve city infrastructure, pushing for better housing, jobs, and schools, and campaigning against lynching during the 1920s. It also provided in-depth coverage of significant events, such as the Scottsboro trials in the 1930s, and pressed for integration in the defense industries and the War Department during the 1940s. ?PBS

P.B. Young Sr. passed away on October 9, 1962, leaving behind a legacy of journalistic excellence and community advocacy. His contributions were honored with a historical marker in Littleton, North Carolina, recognizing his impact as a leading Black journalist and publisher.

On this day, the Baltimore City Council passed the first city ordinance in the United States mandating racial segregation in housing, requiring that Black and white residents live in separate neighborhoods. This law prohibited African Americans from moving into majority-white blocks, and vice versa.

This ordinance became a model for similar laws enacted in other cities including Norfolk, Richmond, Roanoke, Greensboro, St. Louis, Oklahoma City, Dallas, and Louisville. These ordinances marked the beginning of legally sanctioned residential segregation in American urban planning—a practice that would have lasting effects on housing, wealth, and opportunity in Black communities.

On December 19, 1891, Charles Randolph Uncles became the first African American priest ordained in the United States. Born on November 8, 1859, in Baltimore, Maryland, Uncles was the son of Lorenzo and Anna Marie (Buchanan) Uncles. He was raised in East Baltimore and attended local schools, including St. Francis Xavier School and Baltimore public schools. After teaching in Baltimore County public schools from 1880 to 1883, Uncles pursued his calling to the priesthood. ?

The gubernatorial election in Georgia on December 19, 1871, was a pivotal event during the Reconstruction era, marked by significant political turmoil and violence.?

Background

In 1868, Republican Rufus Bullock was elected governor of Georgia. His administration faced intense opposition from white Democrats who sought to restore white supremacy and undermine Reconstruction efforts. Amid allegations of corruption and under the threat of impeachment, Bullock resigned and fled the state in October 1871. Following his departure, Benjamin Conley, the president of the state Senate and a Republican, assumed the role of acting governor, as stipulated by the state constitution.?Wikipedia

The 1871 Election

The election held on December 19, 1871, was conducted to fill the governorship. Democrat James Milton Smith, a former Confederate officer and speaker of the Georgia House, was elected governor. His campaign and subsequent election were marred by widespread violence and intimidation, primarily aimed at suppressing African American voters and white Republicans. Paramilitary groups and white supremacist organizations employed tactics such as threats, assaults, and even murders to deter these groups from voting, thereby ensuring a Democratic victory.?

Aftermath

Governor Smith’s election marked a significant shift in Georgia’s political landscape. His administration worked to dismantle many Reconstruction policies, leading to the disenfranchisement of African Americans and the restoration of Democratic dominance in the state. This period set the stage for the implementation of Jim Crow laws and the institutionalization of racial segregation in Georgia.?Wikipedia

The 1871 election exemplifies the broader struggles and conflicts of the Reconstruction era, highlighting the intense resistance to racial equality and the lengths to which opponents of Reconstruction would go to reclaim political power.