Black History Knowledge
Black History Knowledge — July 7
Jul
What happened on this day. These are the July 7 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on.
1834 — New York anti-abolitionist riots begin
On July 7, 1834, anti-abolitionist riots began in New York City and lasted nearly a week. White mobs attacked abolitionists, Black neighborhoods, churches, homes, and businesses, showing how violent anti-Black resistance existed even in the North.
1948 — Edna Griffin is denied service at Katz Drug Store
On July 7, 1948, Edna Griffin and others were denied service at Katz Drug Store in Des Moines, Iowa, because they were Black. Griffin organized sit-ins, protests, and legal action that helped make the case an important early civil rights victory in public accommodations.
1964 — Black children beaten after ordering at a whites-only lunch counter
On July 7, 1964, nine Black children were beaten by white men after ordering at a whites-only lunch counter in Bessemer, Alabama. The attack happened just days after the Civil Rights Act became law, showing that legal change did not automatically end racist violence or resistance.
