Black History Knowledge
Black History Knowledge — July 23
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What happened on this day. These are the July 23 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on.
1900 — First Pan-African Conference opens in London
On July 23, 1900, the First Pan-African Conference opened in London, bringing together people of African descent from the United States, the Caribbean, Africa, and Europe. W. E. B. Du Bois, Anna Julia Cooper, Bishop Alexander Walters, and others helped frame a global demand against racism and colonial rule.
1942 — Alabama refuses war aid if racial integration is required
On July 23, 1942, Alabama officials refused to support the war effort if any form of racial integration was required. The action showed how deeply white Southern leaders defended segregation, even during a global war supposedly fought for democracy.
1967 — Detroit Rebellion begins after police raid
On July 23, 1967, Detroit police raided an after-hours club, known as a blind pig, near 12th Street and Clairmount in a Black neighborhood. The confrontation sparked the Detroit Rebellion, exposing years of police abuse, housing inequality, job discrimination, and racial tension in the city.
