Category Archives: Black History Knowledge

What happened on this day. These are the May 10 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. May 10, 1872 — Frederick Douglass is named as Victoria Woodhull’s running mate Category: Reconstruction Politics / Electoral History / Suffrage / Black Political Symbolism Victoria Woodhull was nominated for president by the Equal Rights […]

What happened on this day. These are the May 9 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. May 9, 1862 — General David Hunter issues General Orders No. 11 Category: Civil War / Emancipation / Military Policy / Black Freedom Union General David Hunter declared enslaved people in Georgia, Florida, and South […]

What happened on this day. These are the May 8 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. May 8, 1865 — Emancipation arrives in Columbus and Lowndes County, Mississippi Category: Emancipation / Local Freedom Traditions / Civil War Aftermath In Columbus and Lowndes County, Mississippi, May 8 became remembered locally as the […]

What happened on this day. These are the May 7 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. May 7, 1878 — Joseph R. Winters patents an improvement to the fire escape ladder Category: Black Inventors / Urban Safety / Patent History Joseph R. Winters received a patent for an improvement in fire-escape […]

What happened on this day. These are the May 6 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. May 6, 1787 — African Lodge No. 459 is organized in Boston Category: Black Fraternal Institutions / Prince Hall Freemasonry / Mutual Aid African Lodge No. 459 was organized in Boston under Prince Hall’s leadership […]

What happened on this day. These are the May 5 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. May 5, 1868 — Martha Jones receives U.S. Patent No. 77,494 Category: Black Inventors / Agriculture / Reconstruction-era Innovation Martha Jones of Amelia County, Virginia, received a patent for an improvement in corn husking and […]

What happened on this day. These are the May 4 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. May 4, 1884 — Ida B. Wells resists segregation on a train Category: Civil Rights Before Civil Rights / Legal Resistance / Black Women’s Activism Ida B. Wells bought a first-class ticket and refused to […]

What happened on this day. These are the May 3 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. May 3, 1866 — Memphis Massacre aftermath reveals the violence of Reconstruction backlash Category: Reconstruction / Racial Terror / Black Citizenship By May 3, the violence in Memphis had made clear that Black freedom after […]

What happened on this day. These are the May 2 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. May 2, 1912 — James Reese Europe’s Clef Club Orchestra performs at Carnegie Hall Category: Black Music / Carnegie Hall / Early Jazz / Cultural Breakthrough James Reese Europe led the Clef Club Orchestra in […]

What happened on this day. These are the May 1 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. May 1, 1865 — Freed Black people hold one of the earliest Memorial Day-style commemorations in Charleston, South Carolina Category: Civil War / Memory / Emancipation / Public Mourning In Charleston, South Carolina, formerly enslaved […]