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 8 ~ In 1966 Edward W. Brooke, a Massachusetts Republican, was elected the first U.S. Senator.

By Tiffani Addison

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

November in African American History

November 4 ~ On this day in 1988, Bill Cosby and his wife Camille presented a gift of 20 million dollars to Spelman College. One of Cosby's daughters had attended this prestigious women's college in Atlanta, Georgia. At the time this was the largest single donation made to an African-American college, as well as the largest single charitable, donation ever made by an African American.

By Tiffani Addison

November in African American History!

November 3 ~ On this day in 1920, Eugene O'Neill's play "Emperor Jones" opened at the Provincetown Theater in New York. Charles S. Gilpin, the dean of America's black dramatic actors, played the tile role. The man who would be hailed as the first "serious" African-American actor got his start on the vaudeville and minstrel circuits. The breadth and depth of Charles Gilpin's acting ability emerged around 1907, when he joined the nation's first legitimate black theater company. Gilpin refined his craft as a founding member of the first stock company in Harlem, the Anita Bush Players (later renamed the Lafayette Players). In 1919, he made his Broadway debut playing the role of the the preacher and former slave Custis in John Drinkwater's "Abraham Lincoln." Though his performance garnered accolades, Gilpin did not create a true sensation until his title role in "Emperor Jones."

By Tiffani Addison

November in African American History ~ WEB DuBois

November 1 ~ WEB DuBois began publication of NAACP monthly magazine, Crisis, in 1910.

By Tiffani Addison