Black History Knowledge — October 4

What happened on this day. These are the October 4 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on.

1864 — The New Orleans Tribune became the nation’s first Black daily newspaper

The Tribune shifted from triweekly publication to a daily schedule on October 4, 1864. Produced by Black Creole leadership during the Civil War, it advocated citizenship, education, suffrage, and equal rights. The paper gave Black New Orleanians an influential political voice and demonstrated the central role of the Black press in shaping Reconstruction-era public debate.

1955 — The Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson’s team, won their first World Series

On October 4, 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers beat the New York Yankees 2-0 in Game 7 to win the World Series, the first championship in franchise history. Sandy Amorós made a game-saving catch in left field, and Roy Campanella was that season’s National League Most Valuable Player. The Dodgers had broken major-league baseball’s color line when Jackie Robinson debuted with Brooklyn on April 15, 1947. Eight years later, an integrated Dodgers team with Robinson, Campanella, Newcombe, Gilliam, and Amorós won it all. It was the only World Series title of Robinson’s ten seasons, though he did not play in Game 7.

1979 — Joseph C. Howard Sr. was confirmed as Maryland’s first Black federal judge

On October 4, 1979, the U.S. Senate confirmed Joseph C. Howard Sr., nominated by President Jimmy Carter, to the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland. He received his commission the next day, becoming the first African American judge of that court. Howard had already broken a barrier in 1968 as the first African American to run for and win a seat on Baltimore City’s Supreme Bench. His confirmation carried that work onto the federal bench.