February 1, 1865- The 13th Amendment was adopted by the U S. Congress. This made slavery abolished in all states and territories.
February 2, 1862- The District of Columbia abolished slavery. February 3, 1965- The Negro Baseball League is founded.
February 4, 1913- Rosa Parks is born on this day.
February 5, 1958- Clifton R. Wharton Sr. confirmed as minister to Rumania. This career diplomat was the first Black to head a U.S. embassy in Europe.
February 6, 1867- Robert Jackson becomes the first African American to get a degree in dentistry.
February 7, 1926- Negro History Week originated by Carter G. Woodson is observed for the first time.
February 8, 1986- Oprah Winfrey becomes first African American woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show.
February 9, 1952- Ralph Ellison’s novel, Invisible Man, wins the National Book Award.
February 10, 1964- The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 after 12 days of debate. Vote of 290-130. February 11, 1990- Nelson Mandela is released from a South African prison after being detained for 27 years as a political prisoner. February 12, 1865- Henry Highland Garnet is the first black to speak in the Capitol. He gave a memorial sermon on the abolition of slavery. February 13, 1957- Southern Christian Leadership Conference is organized at New Orleans meeting with Martin Luther King Jr. as president. February 14, 1817- Frederick Douglass, “The Great Emancipator” is born in Cordova, MD into slavery.
February 15, 1851- Black abolitionists invaded a Boston courtroom and rescued a fugitive slave.
February 16, 1951- New York City Council passes a bill prohibiting racial discrimination in city-assisted housing developments.
February 17, 1997- Virginia House of Delegate votes to retire the state song, “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,” song that glorifies slavery. February 18, 1931- Toni Morrison, who won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, Beloved, was born on this day in Lorain, Ohio.
February 19, 1919- Pan- African Congress, organized by W.E.B. DuBois, met at Grand Hotel, Paris.
February 20, 1895- Frederick Douglass, leading black spokesman for almost 50 years, dies.
February 21, 1895- North Carolina Legislature, dominated by black Republicans and white Populists, adjourned for the day to mark the death of Frederick Douglass.
February 22, 1979- Frank E. Peterson Jr. is named the first black general in the Marine Corps.
February 23, 1965- Constance Baker Motley is elected Manhattan Borough president, the highest elected office held by a black woman in a major American city.
February 24, 1864- Rebecca Lee became the first black woman to receive an M.D. degree.
February 25, 1870- Hirman R. Revels of Mississippi sworn in as first black U.S. Senator and first black Representative in Congress. February 26, 1926- Carter G. Woodson started Negro History Week. It would later become Black History Month.
February 27, 1988- Debi Thomas, figure skater, becomes first African American to win medal at the winter Olympic Games.
February 28, 1859- Arkansas legislature required free blacks to choose between exile and enslavement.
February 2, 1862- The District of Columbia abolished slavery. February 3, 1965- The Negro Baseball League is founded.
February 4, 1913- Rosa Parks is born on this day.
February 5, 1958- Clifton R. Wharton Sr. confirmed as minister to Rumania. This career diplomat was the first Black to head a U.S. embassy in Europe.
February 6, 1867- Robert Jackson becomes the first African American to get a degree in dentistry.
February 7, 1926- Negro History Week originated by Carter G. Woodson is observed for the first time.
February 8, 1986- Oprah Winfrey becomes first African American woman to host a nationally syndicated talk show.
February 9, 1952- Ralph Ellison’s novel, Invisible Man, wins the National Book Award.
February 10, 1964- The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 after 12 days of debate. Vote of 290-130. February 11, 1990- Nelson Mandela is released from a South African prison after being detained for 27 years as a political prisoner. February 12, 1865- Henry Highland Garnet is the first black to speak in the Capitol. He gave a memorial sermon on the abolition of slavery. February 13, 1957- Southern Christian Leadership Conference is organized at New Orleans meeting with Martin Luther King Jr. as president. February 14, 1817- Frederick Douglass, “The Great Emancipator” is born in Cordova, MD into slavery.
February 15, 1851- Black abolitionists invaded a Boston courtroom and rescued a fugitive slave.
February 16, 1951- New York City Council passes a bill prohibiting racial discrimination in city-assisted housing developments.
February 17, 1997- Virginia House of Delegate votes to retire the state song, “Carry Me Back to Old Virginia,” song that glorifies slavery. February 18, 1931- Toni Morrison, who won the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, Beloved, was born on this day in Lorain, Ohio.
February 19, 1919- Pan- African Congress, organized by W.E.B. DuBois, met at Grand Hotel, Paris.
February 20, 1895- Frederick Douglass, leading black spokesman for almost 50 years, dies.
February 21, 1895- North Carolina Legislature, dominated by black Republicans and white Populists, adjourned for the day to mark the death of Frederick Douglass.
February 22, 1979- Frank E. Peterson Jr. is named the first black general in the Marine Corps.
February 23, 1965- Constance Baker Motley is elected Manhattan Borough president, the highest elected office held by a black woman in a major American city.
February 24, 1864- Rebecca Lee became the first black woman to receive an M.D. degree.
February 25, 1870- Hirman R. Revels of Mississippi sworn in as first black U.S. Senator and first black Representative in Congress. February 26, 1926- Carter G. Woodson started Negro History Week. It would later become Black History Month.
February 27, 1988- Debi Thomas, figure skater, becomes first African American to win medal at the winter Olympic Games.
February 28, 1859- Arkansas legislature required free blacks to choose between exile and enslavement.