Black History Knowledge
Black History Knowledge — September 1
Sep
What happened on this day. These are the September 1 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on.
1773 — Phillis Wheatley publishes the first book of poetry by a Black American
On September 1, 1773, Phillis Wheatley’s Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral was published in London. Kidnapped from West Africa and enslaved in Boston, Wheatley became the first African American to publish a book of poetry, forcing colonial readers to confront proof of Black genius that slavery’s defenders insisted could not exist.
1975 — Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. becomes the military’s first Black four-star general
On September 1, 1975, Air Force officer Daniel "Chappie" James Jr. was promoted to four-star general, the first Black American to reach the military’s highest peacetime rank. A Tuskegee-trained fighter pilot who flew combat missions in Korea and Vietnam, James took command of the North American Air Defense Command.
2016 — Colin Kaepernick kneels during the national anthem for the first time
On September 1, 2016, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem for the first time, joined by teammate Eric Reid, after consulting Army veteran Nate Boyer on a posture that would protest racism and police violence while respecting service members. The kneeling protest spread across sports and reshaped the national conversation on race and patriotism.
