People, Locations, Episodes

King Tut’s Tomb Is Discovered

On this date in 1922, King Tut’s tomb was discovered. Howard Carter and Lord Carnarvon found the grave in Egypt.

Takao Ozawa v. the United States Supreme Court is Ruled

*On this date in 1922, the United States Supreme Court ruled on Takao Ozawa v. United States that Asian Americans are not white.

The Rosewood Massacre Occurs

*On this date in 1923, the Rosewood Massacre occurred.  The Rosewood Massacre was a racially motivated slaughter of Black people and destruction of a Black town that took place in rural Levy County, Florida.   Eyewitness accounts suggested a higher death toll of 27 to 150.  Rosewood was originally settled in 1845 by both Blacks […]

The Harlem Renaissance Basketball Team is Formed

*The Harlem Renaissance basketball team started on this date in 1923.  Also known as the Renaissance Big Five and as the Rens, it was an all-Black professional basketball team established by Robert “Bob” Douglas in agreement with the Renaissance Casino and Ballroom.  The Casino and Ballroom at 138th Street and Seventh Avenue in Harlem was […]

Moore et al. v. Dempsey is Decided

*On this date in 1923, Moore et al. v. Dempsey was decided.  This was a United States Supreme Court case in which the Court ruled 6–2 that the defendants’ mob-dominated trials deprived them of due process guaranteed by the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.  Moore v. Dempsey was the first case to come […]

‘The Charleston’ (Dance) Goes Public

On this date in 1923, “Runnin’ Wild” opened at the Colonial Theater in New York City. This Miller and Lyles Production was the first public introduction of the dance “The Charleston” to New York and the world.

The Black chorus line moved and sang James P. Johnson’s “Charleston” and other songs. In the show both dance and songs expressed the mood of reckless daring, abandon, and restlessness of the jazz-age flappers.

Soon “The Charleston” became the trend and craze throughout the United States and the world. The show had 228 performances and closed on June 28, 1924

The Negro Sanhedrin Conference Begins

 *The Negro Sanhedrin Conference began on this date in 1924. This was a four-day national “All-Race Conference” held in Chicago, Illinois. The gathering was attended by 250 delegates representing 61 trade unions, civic groups, and fraternal organizations in a short-lived attempt to forge a national program protecting the legal rights of African American tenant farmers […]

Virginia’s Racial Integrity Act is Passed

*On this date in 1924, The Racial Integrity Act was passed in Virginia.   The state’s General Assembly passed two laws arising from white concerns about eugenics and race.  This was influenced by the Virginia Sterilization Act of 1924 due to the number of cases reported by doctors where they found genetic traits in whites that are also found in African Americans […]

The Harlem Renaissance in America, a story

*On this date in 1924, we celebrate the dawn of the Harlem Renaissance.

It was on March 21st, 1924 that Charles Spurgeon Johnson held a meeting at the New York Civic Club. The dinner brought together Black writers, Black pundits and white writers and publishers. This event became a dress rehearsal for what would become the Harlem Renaissance.

Black History and Restrictive Housing Covenants in America, a story

*On this date in 1924, Black History and restrictive housing covenants in America are affirmed. Historically, restrictive covenants were used in real estate transactions to influence the demographics of communities in the U.S. The restrictions kept certain populations out of specific neighborhoods, encouraging racial, ethnic, and cultural segregation.   It wasn’t uncommon for real estate contracts to […]

Bruce’s Beach (Los Angeles), a story

*Bruce’s Beach is celebrated on this date in 1924. This was a beach resort in Manhattan Beach (in Los Angeles County, California) owned by and operated by African Americans. Willa and Charles Bruce bought a property in the strand area for $1,225 that was set aside from Henry Willard in 1912 and added on three […]

Carter Woodson Initiates National Negro Week

*On this date in 1926, Carter G. Woodson initiated the first National Negro Week.

In 1972, it was renamed Black History Week and in 1976, it became Black History Month. During the month, lectures, exhibitions, banquets, cultural events, television and radio programs celebrate the achievements of African Americans.

Since 1978, the U.S. Postal service has participated by issuing a commemorative stamp honoring notable African Americans.

The Pacific Beach Club (Orange County, CA), a story

*The Pacific Beach Club is affirmed on this date in 1926. This was a planned African American beach resort outside Huntington Beach, Orange County, California. The Pacific Beach Club was intended to be the “grandest of escapes” and to fulfill the dream of a resort where black people who were restricted from most of California’s beaches […]

Nixon v. Herndon is Legally Argued

*On this date in 1927, Nixon v. Herndon, 273 U.S. 536, was argued.  A United States Supreme Court decision struck down a 1923 Texas law forbidding Blacks from voting in the Texas Democratic Party primary.   In 1902 the Texas legislature passed a requirement for a poll tax, which resulted in the suppressed voting by Black and Mexican Americans. As voter participation by […]

South Africa’s First Immorality Act is Imposed

*On this date 1927, South Africa’s first Immorality Act was issued. This was the title of acts of the Parliament of South Africa, which prohibited, amongst other things, sexual relations between white people and people of other races until amended first in 1950. Part of the Apartheid regime was installed to prohibit sex between whites […]