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1
Jan

1961 - James B. Parsons Becomes First African American Appointed to a Lifetime Federal Judgeship

On this day in 1961, James B. Parsons made history as the first African American appointed to a lifetime position on the federal bench in the United... Continue →

2
Jan

1970 - United States population: 293,200,000

On this date in 1970, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays, a prominent educator, minister, and civil rights leader, was named president of the Atlanta Board of... Continue →

2
Jan

1800 - Antislavery Petition by Free Black Philadelphians

On this day, free Black residents of Philadelphia, led by Reverend Absalom Jones and joined by 70 other free Black men, submitted a historic petition... Continue →

2
Jan

1898 - Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander born

On this date in 1898, Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander was born on, in Philadelphia, PA, and she made history as a trailblazing African American woman... Continue →

2
Jan

1965 - Voter registration drive started in Selma, Alabama.

On this date in 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) launched a voter registration drive in... Continue →

3
Jan

1947 - 1st Black to head a standing comm. of Congress

On this date in 1947, Congressman William L. Dawson of Illinois made history as the first African American to chair a standing committee of the U.S.... Continue →

3
Jan

1947 - NAACP report

On this date in 1947, the **NAACP's 1947 report** highlighted the extreme racial violence that African Americans, particularly returning Black... Continue →

3
Jan

1961 - Adam Clayton Powell elected Chairman of the House

On this date in 1961, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was elected Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, making him one of the most powerful... Continue →

3
Jan

1966 - Shooting of Civil Rights Activist

On this date in 1966, Sammy Younge Jr. was a 21-year-old civil rights activist and a student at Tuskegee Institute who was tragically shot and killed... Continue →

3
Jan

1966 - Floyd B. McKissick named national director of Congress of Racial Equality.

On this date in 1966, Floyd B. McKissick, a civil rights attorney from North Carolina, was named the national director of the Congress of Racial... Continue →

3
Jan

1984 - Jesse Jackson secures release of Black pilot

On this date in 1984, Rev. Jesse Jackson successfully negotiated the release of U.S. Navy Lt. Robert Goodman, a pilot who had been shot down over... Continue →

3
Jan

1947 - U.S. Black Population

On this date in 1947, the total population of the United States was approximately 150,697,361. The Black population was about 15,042,286, making up... Continue →

11
Jan

1985 - Reuben V. Anderson Appointed to Mississippi Supreme Court

Reuben V. Anderson was appointed as a judge on the Mississippi Supreme Court, becoming the first African American to serve on the state's highest... Continue →

23
Jan

1964 - 24th Amendment Abolishes Poll Tax

The 24th Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, abolishing the use of poll taxes in federal elections. Poll taxes were... Continue →

24
Jan

1977 - Howard T. Ward Becomes Georgia’s First Black Superior Court Judge

On January 24, 1977, Howard T. Ward was appointed as Georgia’s first Black Superior Court Judge. His appointment marked a historic step forward for... Continue →

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