HISTORICAL DATES IN BLACK HISTORY
1494
Christopher Columbus brings the first African Americans to Hispaniola. At this time they are free people.
1501
The Spanish king allows the introduction of slaved Africans into the Spanish
colonies.
1518
King Charles I of Spain signs an agreement to allow slaves to be imported to
the Americas.
1526
Leader Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon and Spanish colonists form what is now known as
Georgia in the United States; and bring with them what is considered to be the
first wave of slaves in the U.S.
1619
20 black slaves are purchased from a Dutch seller for Jamestown (founded in 1607,
Virginia). These are the first slaves in
the English North American colonies.
1641
Massachusetts becomes the first state to legalize slavery.
1641
Mathias de Souza, an indentured African, becomes the first and only black
person to serve on the colonial Maryland legislature.
1642
Virginia passes fugitive slave law prohibiting the assistance of runaway
slaves.
1663
Black and white servants plan a rebellion in Virginia. The plan is discovered and the leaders are
executed.
1663
Maryland’s slave law dictates that all Africans arriving in the colony are
automatically slaves. Free women who
marry enslaved men lose their freedom; children are automatically enslaved as
well. Other colonies soon follow and
enact similar laws. Every new white
settler in North Carolina is given twenty acres for each black male slave and
ten acres for each black female slave they bring with them.
1664
Colonial law decrees that enslavement is now for life and slavery is
transferred to children through the mother.
1670
Massachusetts makes it legal for children to be sold into bondage, separating
them from their parents.
1675
By this point there are approximately 105,000 African’s enslaved.
1688
Quakers in Pennsylvania denounce slavery.
This is believed to be the first recorded protest against slavery in
North America.
1711 A
public slave market is opened in New York.
1712
In April, the New York Slave Revolt begins.
During this time nine whites are killed and an unknown number of
blacks. Twenty-one slaves are executed
by the colonial authorities. It is also
during this year that New York prohibits free blacks from owning land.
1716
The first African slaves arrive in Louisiana.
By 1721 there are more enslaved blacks than free whites in New Orleans.
1741
Thirteen African American men are bound and burned at the stake; seventeen
black men, two white men, and two white women are publically hanged; seventy
blacks and seven whites are expelled from the city of New York during the New
York Slave Conspiracy Trials for planning to burn down the city.
1741 South
Carolina passes the most extensive slave laws to date. These laws prohibit the teaching of enslaved
blacks to read and write. Slaves are no
longer permitted to gather in groups or earn money. The law also allows owners to kill slaves
they deem “rebellious”.
1746
A slave by the name Lucy Terry composes a poem called “Bar Fights”. It is believed to be the first known poem by
an African American. It is passed along
orally until 1855 when it is published.
1758
A school for free black children is opened in Philadelphia.
1760 An
enslaved man, Briton Hammon publishes the first autobiographical work entitled A Narrative of the Uncommon Sufferings and
Surprising Deliverance of Briton Hammon.
1761
Jupiter Hammon, also enslaved, publishes the first volume of poetry published
by an African American.
1773
Phillis Wheatley, an enslaved woman in Boston, publishes Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral. It is the first book written by an African American woman in the U.S. Up to this point, published works were
dictated to slave owners.
1775
George Washington allows slaved and free blacks to serve in the military. 5,000 African Americans serve in the
Revolutionary War. It is during this
year, as well, that the first abolitionist meeting is held in Philadelphia on
April 14th.
1777 On
July 8th Vermont becomes the first state to abolish slavery.
1778
The first and only black military regime is formed of enslaved and free African
Americans. It is the only all-black unit to fight on the Patriot side in the
American Revolution.
1780
Massachusetts abolishes slavery and gives African American men the right to
vote. This is the same year that The
Free African Union Society is created, which is the first cultural organization
established by blacks in North America.
1785
New York frees all slaves that fought in the Revolutionary War.
1787
The U.S. Constitution is drafted. It
allows the continuation of slavery for the next 20 years.
1793
Eli Whitney invents the cotton gin.
1802
Ohio constitution abolishes slavery, but also prohibits freed blacks from
voting.
1804 Ohio
enacts the “Black Slave Codes”, becoming the first non-slavery state to place
restrictions on African American residents.
During this year, Lemuel Hayes receives a Master’s Degree from
Middleberry College. He is the first
African American to get an honorary degree.
1808
While the United States government rules the importation of Africans illegal
this year, the law is ignored and from 1808 – 1860 approximately 250,000 blacks
are illegally imported into the U.S.
1809
New York notices marriage in the African American community.
1814
There are 600 African American troops (of 3,000 total) led by General Andrew
Jackson in the Battle of New Orleans. This
army defeats the British.
1815
The
Underground Railroad is established by Levi Coffin in Indiana. It will later spread through North America.
1827
Slavery is abolished in New York.
1831
North Carolina enacts a law that prohibits the teaching of reading and writing
to slaves. However, it is during this
year that Jarena Lee's The Life and Religious Experience of Jarena Lee, A
Coloured Lady is the first autobiography published by an African American
woman.
1832
Ohio forms Oberlin College; it admits African American men and women as well as
white women. In Salem, MA the Female
Anti-Slavery Society is formed. It is
the first African America women’s abolitionist organization. Savannah, GA opens the Georgia Infirmary, the
first hospital in the U.S. dedicated to patient care of black persons.
1845
Frederick Douglass publishes his autobiography The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass.
1847
The first African American graduates from medical school. David Jones Peck
receives his diploma from Rush Medical College in Chicago.
1849 Harriet
Tubman escapes from slavery and begins her efforts in helping other slaves
escape.
1852
Harriet Beecher Stowe publishes Uncle
Tom’s Cabin.
1855 The
Massachusetts Legislation outlaws racially segregating schools. This is the same year that Frederick Douglas
is nominated to the Liberty Part of New York as the secretary of state, making
him the first black candidate of any state to be elected for a statewide
office.
1861
The First Confiscation Act is passed by congress; this prevents Confederate
slave owners from re-enslaving runaways.
1861 –
1865 During the course of the Civil War there were approximately 200,000
blacks (freed and runaway) serving in the unit.
Almost 20,000 of those are killed in battle.
1862
Slavery is abolished in the District of Columbia. On July 17th of this year Congress
allows for the enlistment of African Americans into the U.S. Army.
1863
Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Declaration goes into effect, stating that all
individuals enslaved at that time are free on January 1st of that
year.
1864
On April 9th, The 13th Amendment takes effect and outlaws
slavery throughout the United States. Dr.
Rebecca Lee Crumpler becomes the first African American woman to earn a medical
degree.
1866
Congress approves the 14th Amendment on June 13th. The amendment grants citizenship to all
African Americans.
1867
Congress grants black citizens the right to vote in D.C. Two days later the Territorial Suffrage Act
is passed, which allows all African Americans in the western states to vote.
1873
There are seven black members as part of the 43rd Congress.
1875
The Jim Crow Laws are enacted, allowing for segregation between races.
1883
There are no black members in the 50th U.S. Congress.
Voting amongst blacks is also low due to intimidation at the polls.
1887
The directors of the International League (minor league baseball) prohibit the
signing of black players. By 1889 there
are no African American baseball players in the minor league.
1892
This year, 230 people are lynched in the United States: 161 are black and 69 white. Between 1882
and 1951 it is reported that in that 69 year period, 4,730 people were
lynched including 3,437 blacks and 1,293 whites. 92 women were victims of
lynching, 76 were black and 16 were white.
Every state in the continental U.S. (with the exception of
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Hampshire and Vermont) reported lynching
deaths sometime during the 69 year period.
1990
An estimated 30,000 black teachers have been trained since the end of the U.S.
Civil War in 1865.
1901
Booker T. Washington is the first African American to dine at the White
House. He is invited by President
Theodore Roosevelt. That same year,
Booker’s autobiography is published.
1907
Madame C.J. Walker develops and markets her hair straightening method. It is one of the most successful cosmetic
firms in the nation, and continues to be so through current day.
1916
Marcus Garvey founds the New York Division of the Universal Negro Improvement
Association with sixteen members. Four years later the UNIA holds its national
convention in Harlem. At its height the organization claims nearly two million
members.
1917
The United States enters into the Civil War.
There are approximately 370,000 African American troops.
1917
The first civil rights movement takes place.
10,000 African Americans (and supporters) walk the streets of New York
in a silent parade to protest race riots, lynchings and the denial of their
rights.
1920
August 26th sees the ratifying of the 19th Amendment,
giving women the right to vote. However,
like black men, African American women are commonly denied at the polls.
1926
Negro History Week is established in February by Carter G. Woodson.
1946
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that segregation on interstate bus travel is
unconstitutional.
1954
Segregation in schools is declared unconstitutional.
1964
The Civil Rights Act of 1964 is established, prohibiting discrimination in
public accommodations and by employers.
1965
Malcom X is assassinated in February.
The following month Martin Luther King Jr. leads a 54 mile march to
protest the continuous denial of blacks and their voting rights. The march lasts five days and grows from
3,300 protestors to 25,000. The Voting
Rights Act is signed into law on August 6th, assuring voting rights
in the south.
1966 The
Black Panther Party is formed. The
original purpose of the group was to patrol African American neighborhoods and
offer protection against police brutality.
1967
The Supreme Court strikes down the bans on interracial marriages. Thurgood Marshal takes his seat as the first
African American Justice on the Supreme Court.
1968
Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated.
1973
Coleman Young is elected the first black mayor of Detroit.
1983
Alice Walker’s book, The Color Purple wins
the Pulitzer Award.
1984
The Cosby Show makes its debut. It will run for eight season to become the
most successful series featuring a mostly all black cast.
1986
The first Martin Luther King Jr. holiday is celebrated.
1996
California voters pass Proposition 209, outlawing affirmative action throughout
the state.
2000
Lillian Elaine Fishbourne becomes the first female admiral in the U.S. Navy.
2008
Barack Obama is elected as the first African American president. At the time of
his election he was the only sitting African American U.S. Senator. He will be reelected in 2012.
2015
Currently there are 46 black members in the House of Representatives and 2 in
the Senate.
Mamie Smith (1883 – 1946) --
was the first African American to make a blues recording in 1920. She was a vaudeville dancer, singer, actress
and pianist. 
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