in 1760, RICHARD ALLEN, minister, educator and the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was born into slavery in the Germantown area of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Allen taught himself to read and write and in 1777 bought his way to freedom and did the same for his brother. After joining the Methodist Society at an early age, Allen became qualified to preach in 1784. In 1786, Allen preached at St. George’s United Methodist Church. However, in 1787, segregationist policies within the church caused Allen and Absalom Jones to lead the black members out of the church to form the Free African Society, a non-denominational mutual aid society. Later that year, Allen purchased a lot which would be the site of Bethel AME Church in 1794. Currently, the lot is the site of Mother Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church. This is the oldest parcel of real estate in the United States continuously owned by black people.
Allen was elected the first Bishop of the AME Church, which is the oldest denomination among independent Black Churches. From 1797 until his death on March 26, 1831, Allen was a conductor on the Underground Railroad for individuals escaping slavery. In 1800, Allen published an autobiography entitled, “The Life Experience and Gospel Labors of the Rt. Rev. Richard Allen: To Which Is Annexed the Rise and Progress of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the United States.” Additionally, “Richard Allen: Apostle of Freedom” was published in 1935. Allen’s name is enshrined in the Ring of Genealogy at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History in Detroit, Michigan.
in 1817, FREDERICK AUGUSTUS DOUGLASS, abolitionist and orator was possibly born in Tuckahoe, MD. Born into slavery as Frederick Baile, Douglass purchased his freedom in 1845 and went on to become the greatest abolitionist of his time.
in 1867, MOREHOUSE COLLEGE organized in Augusta, Georgia as Augusta Institute. The institution was later moved to Atlanta. New registration law in Tennessee abolished racial distinctions in voting.
in 1879, BLANCHE KELSO BRUCE presided over the U.S. Senate, becoming the first African American and the only former slave to do so. Called to do so in the absence of Vice President William A. Wheeler.
in 1920, MAMMIE SMITH became the first Black woman to make a record when she recorded “You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down” and “This Thing Called Love.”
in 1926, MONETA J. SLEET, JR. was born in Owensboro, KY. Most notably, Mr. Sleet won the Pulitzer Prize in 1969 for his photograph of Mrs. Coretta Scott King and daughter, Bernice, at the funeral services for the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
in 1936, NATIONAL NEGRO CONGRESS was organized at the Eighth Regiment Armory in Chicago, Illinois in a meeting attended by 817 delegates representing more than 500 organizations. Asa Phillip Randolph, President of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, was elected president of the new organization. The purpose of the NNC was to build a national constituency to pressure government for labor and civil rights. The meeting was described as “the most ambitious effort for bringing together members of the Race on any single issue.” The NNC disbanded in 1947 because of Cold War suppression.
in 1946, TONY AWARD winning dancer, choreographer and actor, GREGORY OLIVER HINES was BORN in NEW YORK CITY.
in 1951, SUGAR RAY ROBINSON, born Walker Smith Jr., defeated Jake LaMotta to take the Middleweight Boxing Title. Called, “The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre,” Robinson slaughtered “The Bronx Bull” when the two long time rivals met in a scheduled 15 round bout for LaMotta’s crown. These two were no strangers, as they had met at least five previous times.
in 1957, LIONEL HAMPTON’s “King David,” made its debut at New York’s Town Hall.
in 1957, the SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE was founded in New Orleans, LA. Southern Christian Leadership Conference organized at New Orleans meeting with Martin Luther King Jr. as president.
in 1966, Wilton Norman “WILT” CHAMBERLAIN of the Philadelphia 76ers set a National Basketball Association record by reaching a career high of 20,884 points after only seven NBA seasons.
in 1973, STEVE LATREAL MCNAIR, retired NFL quarterback, was born in Mount Olive, Mississippi. McNair played college football at Alcorn State from 1992 to 1994. In 1994, McNair won the Walter Payton Award as the top player in NCAA Division I-AA. In the 1995 NFL Draft, McNair was selected by the Houston Oilers. Along with three Pro-Bowl appearances, McNair was co-MVP of the NFL in 2003. Steve McNair retired from the Baltimore Ravens in April, 2008 and was killed on July 4, 2009.
DID YOU KNOW…
WILLIAM HENRY HASTIE became the FIRST BLACK FEDERAL JUDGE in 1946. CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY was the FIRST BLACK WOMAN in the same position in 1966.
CONSTANCE BAKER MOTLEY
THURGOOD MARSHALL was the FIRST U.S. SUPREME COURT JUSTICE in 1967, serving until 1991.
On This Day In Black History 