Black History Knowledge
Black History Knowledge — July 8
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What happened on this day. These are the July 8 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on.
1777 — Vermont adopts a constitution that limits slavery
On July 8, 1777, Vermont formally adopted its constitution. The document included language that limited slavery and stood as one of the earliest legal challenges to human bondage in what became the United States. At a time when slavery still shaped much of the new nation, Vermont’s constitution marked an important freedom milestone.
1805 — Bill Richmond gains international recognition in boxing
On July 8, 1805, Bill Richmond, a Black boxer born in New York, defeated Jack Holmes in England. Richmond became one of the earliest Black athletes to gain international recognition, showing how Black talent and discipline reached across borders long before modern professional sports.
1876 — Hamburg Massacre targets Black political power
On July 8, 1876, white mobs attacked Black militia members and Black residents in Hamburg, South Carolina. The massacre was part of a larger campaign of Reconstruction-era terror meant to weaken Black voting power, Black self-defense, and Republican political control in the South.
