November in African American History

November 19 ~ "Stepin Fetchit dead at 83; Comic Actor in Over 40 Films" read the obituary in "Variety" on this day in 1985. "The son of a Jamaican cigar maker," said the article, "he was born Lincoln Theodore Monroe Andrew Perry and was considered the father of black film stars and claimed to be the first black entertainer to become a millionaire."

By Tiffani Addison

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November in African American History

November 21 ~ On this day in 1865, Shaw University was founded in Raleigh, N.C.

By Tiffani Addison

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November in African American History

November 7 ~ On this day in 1989, L. Douglas Wilder, of Virginia, became the first black governor in the U.S.

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By Tiffani Addison

November in African American History

November 5 ~ In 1836 Theo Wright became the first black person in the U.S. to obtain a theology degree.

In 1926 Carter G. Woodson initiated Negro History Week.

In 1968 Shirley Chisholm became the first African American woman to serve in the U.S. Congress. A Democrat, she represented the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn. In 1972 she became the first African American woman to run for president with a major political party. Aware that she would not win the nomination, Chisholm explained her motivation for entering the race. "The next time a woman of whatever color, or a dark-skinned person of whatever sex aspires to be president, the way should be a little smoother because I helped pave it."

In 1974 George Brown of Colorado became the first African American lieutenant govenor in the U.S.

By Tiffani Addison