People, Locations, Episodes

Derwin Brown, Police Captain born

*Derwin Brown was born on this date in 1954. He was a Black police captain and the Sheriff-elect of DeKalb County, Georgia. The firstborn of Burvena and George Robert Brown was raised in Long Island, New York, where he attended Woodfield Road School and Malverne Jr. High School for his elementary years and Malverne High […]

Adriano Espaillat, Afro Dominican Politician born

*Adriano Espaillat was born on this date in 1954. He is an Afro Latino American politician and community advocate.

From in Santiago, Dominican Republic, Adriano D. Espaillat is the son of Melba (née Rodríguez) and Ulises Espaillat and the great-grandson of Dominican President Ulises Espaillat. He describes himself as “a Latino of African decent.” He graduated from Bishop Dubois High School in 1974 and earned his B.S. degree in political science at Queens College in 1978.

The First Black is Promoted to Air Force General in America

On this date in 1954, Col. Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was promoted to Brigadier General, the first African American to wear one star in the USAF.

Condoleezza Rice, Policy Administrator born

Condoleezza Rice, an African American politician, administrator, secretary of state in the George W. Bush administration, and writer was born on this date in 1954.

She was born Birmingham, AL, the only child of Angelena Rice and the Reverend John Wesley Rice, Jr. Her father became a minister at Westminster Presbyterian Church and her mother was a music teacher. Her name is a variation on the Italian musical term “con doloezza” which is a direction to play “with sweetness.” Her father also worked as a high-school guidance counselor.

Theodore Shaw, Lawyer, and Educator born

*Theodore Shaw was born on this date in 1954.  He is a Black lawyer, activist, and educator.  Theodore Michael Shaw is the son of Theodore and Jean Audrey Churchill Shaw. He was born on Governors Island and raised in Harlem and the Bronx, NY. He received his B.A. from Wesleyan University in 1976 and his […]

Ferron Williams, Politician born

*Ferron Williams was born on this date in 1955. He is a retired police Jamaican inspector and politician. Ferron Williams was born to parents Advira Elizabeth Anderson-Williams and Robert Williams, members of the Maroon community of Accompong. He attended local schools and joined the police service. After 37 years, Williams resigned from the force at […]

South Africa’s Freedom Charter is Issued

*On this date in 1955, The Freedom Charter was the statement of core principles of the South African Congress Alliance, which consisted of the African National Congress (ANC) and its allies: the South African Indian Congress, the South African Congress of Democrats, and the Coloured People’s Congress. Its opening mandate characterizes it, “The People Shall Govern!”  The […]

The White House Appoints Its First Black Cabinet Member

On this date in 1955, E. Frederic Morrow became the first African American to serve in an executive position on a United States president’s cabinet in the White House.

A graduate and a recipient of a law degree from Rutgers University, Morrow served as a NAACP field secretary before joining the U.S. Army Field Artillery in 1942. In four years, he was promoted from private to a major. The former CBS public affairs writer served as an administrative aid and advisor to President Dwight D. Eisenhower on his campaign train in 1952.

Keys v. Carolina Coach Company is Ruled

On this date in 1955, Sarah Keys v. Carolina Coach Company was ruled.  This was a landmark civil rights case in the United States in which the Interstate Commerce Commission, in response to a bus segregation complaint filed in 1953 by Black Women’s Army Corps (WAC) private Sarah Louise Keys.   This broke with its historic loyalty to the Plessy v. Ferguson separate but equal doctrine and interpreted the […]

Browder v. Gayle is Filed

*On this date in 1956, Fred Gray filed the case of Browder v. Gayle in U.S. District Court. (Browder was a Montgomery housewife; Gayle the mayor of Montgomery).

Morocco Gains Independence From France

*On this date in 1956, Morocco gained independence from France.  In 1844, after the French conquered Algeria, the Franco-Moroccan War took place, with the bombardment of Tangiers, the Battle of Isly, and the bombardment of Mogador.  This was a prelude to the Berlin Conference, the high point of white European competition for African territory, a […]

The ‘Southern Manifesto,’ is Enacted

*On this date in 1956, we recall the enactment of the “Southern Manifesto.” This was a legislative challenge to defeat the Supreme Court ruling in Brown v BOE in 1954.
Case number 102 Cong. Rec. 4515-16 1956 was signed by 19 Senators and 81 Representatives from the South including all of Georgia’s congressional delegation.

Davis v. Prince Edward Co. School Board is Decided

*Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County was decided on this date in 1956.  Though filed in May 1951, it was one of the five cases combined into Brown v. Board of Education, in which the U.S. Supreme Court 1954, officially overturned racial segregation in U.S. public schools.   In 1951, Spottswood Robinson […]

Anita Hill, Lawyer, and Women’s Advocate born

Anita Hill was born on born on this date in 1956. She is an African American lawyer, educator, author, and activist.

She was born in Lone Tree, OK, the youngest of 13 children. She grew up in a farming community and went to school in Okmulgee County. Her childhood included hard work, not much money, and solid family affection.

Hill received her law degree from Yale University and for a time worked at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). She then taught law at the University of Oklahoma.

Deval Patrick, Politician born

Deval L. Patrick was born on this date in 1956. He is an African American businessman, lawyer, and politician and the first Black governor of Massachusetts.