Black History Knowledge — September 26

What happened on this day. These are the September 26 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on.

1918 — Black soldiers fight in the Meuse-Argonne offensive

On September 26, 1918, the American Meuse-Argonne offensive began in France, with Black troops of the 92nd Division in the line and the regiments of the 93rd, including the Harlem Hellfighters, fighting under French command. Black soldiers earned France’s highest decorations in the war’s final campaign, then came home to a country that answered their service with the Red Summer.

1962 — Mississippi blocks James Meredith a third time

On September 26, 1962, Lieutenant Governor Paul Johnson physically blocked James Meredith and federal marshals at the gates of Ole Miss, the third time state officials turned him away in a week. Behind the scenes, Governor Barnett bargained with the Kennedys over staged retreats while former general Edwin Walker called for volunteers to converge on Oxford, loading the crisis toward explosion.