November in African American History

November 23 ~ Patent No. 549,059 was awarded on this day in 1897 to Andre J. Beard, an African American inventor. Despite having no formal education in engineering or metalwork, Beard had invented an automatic railroad car coupling device called the Jenny Coupler. Before Beard's invention, men had to try to brace themselves between two railroad card and drop a metal pin into place at the exact moment the two cars came together. Thousands of railroad workers lost their hands, arms, and even their lives. His automatic coupler safely hooked railroad cars to each other.

By Tiffani Addison

November in African American History

November 9 ~ In 1731 Benjamin Banneker, inventor, mathematician, astronomer, and one of the planners of Federal City (now Washington D.C.), was born.

Also on this day in 1868 Howard University Medical School opened with eight students!

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