What happened on this day. These are the July 5 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1827 — Black New Yorkers hold Fifth of July freedom celebrations On July 5, 1827, Black New Yorkers held public emancipation celebrations after slavery legally ended in the state. Choosing July 5 allowed Black communities […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 5 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Smiley Lewis Birth name: Overton Amos Lemons Born July 5, 1913 — died October 7, 1966 New Orleans R&B singer, guitarist, blues musician, and early rhythm-and-blues figure. Lewis helped define […]
Violette Neatley Anderson “Each generation must blaze its own trail.” First Black woman admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. (Died July 5, 1937) Anderson’s message reminds each generation that progress requires new leadership, courage, and strategies.
Honoring those we lost on July 4 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Full name: Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. Born December 18, 1912 — died July 4, 2002 U.S. Air Force general, Tuskegee Airmen commander, military pioneer, and first Black general officer in the U.S. […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 4 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1827 — Slavery legally ends in New York State On July 4, 1827, slavery legally ended in New York State after a long gradual emancipation process. Black New Yorkers marked freedom through church services, prayer, […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 4 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Bill Withers Birth name: William Harrison Withers Jr. Born July 4, 1938 — died March 30, 2020 Singer, songwriter, musician, and soul music legend. Withers gave American music some of […]
David Walker “The man who would not fight for liberty… ought to be kept in chains.” Abolitionist who challenged America’s hypocrisy in his Appeal (1829). Walker challenges America’s celebration of liberty while slavery existed and argues that freedom must be actively defended.
Honoring those we lost on July 3 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Clifford L. Alexander Jr. Full name: Clifford Leopold Alexander Jr. Born September 21, 1933 — died July 3, 2022 Lawyer, civil rights advocate, public servant, business leader, and first Black U.S. Secretary of the Army. Alexander […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 3 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1776 — African Lodge organized under Prince Hall On July 3, 1776, African Lodge was organized in Boston with Prince Hall as worshipful master, according to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. This became […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 3 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Gertrude E. H. Bustill Mossell Full name: Gertrude Emily Hicks Bustill Mossell Born July 3, 1855 — died January 21, 1948 Teacher, journalist, author, suffragist, and Black women’s literary figure. […]