What happened on this day. These are the July 22 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1847 — Green Flake and other enslaved Black pioneers enter Salt Lake Valley On July 22, 1847, Green Flake, Oscar Crosby Smith, and Hark Lay Wales, three enslaved African American pioneers connected to the Latter-day […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 21 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1835 — Abiel Smith School opens in Boston On July 21, 1835, the Abiel Smith School opened in Boston as a school for Black children. Built next to the African Meeting House, it became part […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 20 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1909 — Richard B. Spikes receives beer tapper patent On July 20, 1909, Black inventor Richard B. Spikes received a patent for a beer tapper. Spikes held multiple patents across his career, and this invention […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 19 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1919 — Washington, D.C. Red Summer violence begins On July 19, 1919, white mobs, including servicemen and veterans, began attacking Black residents and Black neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. during the Red Summer. Black residents organized […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 18 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1863 — 54th Massachusetts leads assault on Fort Wagner On July 18, 1863, the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, one of the most famous Black regiments of the Civil War, led a dangerous assault on Fort Wagner […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 17 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1862 — Second Confiscation Act expands the path toward emancipation On July 17, 1862, Congress passed the Second Confiscation Act. The law declared that enslaved people connected to Confederate supporters who came under Union control […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 16 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1854 — Elizabeth Jennings Graham challenges streetcar segregation On July 16, 1854, Elizabeth Jennings Graham, a young Black schoolteacher and church organist, boarded a New York City streetcar and refused to leave because of her […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 15 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1870 — Georgia’s readmission follows the fight to reseat Black legislators On July 15, 1870, Georgia was again readmitted to the Union after Reconstruction battles over Black political power. Earlier, white lawmakers had expelled Black […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 14 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1885 — Sarah E. Goode receives cabinet bed patent On July 14, 1885, Sarah E. Goode received a patent for her folding cabinet bed. Widely recognized as one of the first Black women to receive […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 13 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1863 — New York City Draft Riots begin On July 13, 1863, the New York City Draft Riots began. What started as anger over Civil War draft laws quickly became an anti-Black massacre, as white […]