A black navigator, Pedro Alonso Nino, travels with Christopher Columbus on his first trip to the New World.
Lucy Terry Prince is the earliest known black American poet. Her poem “Bars Fight” (1746), is the earliest existing poem by an African-American; The poem didn't get published until 1855
Her book, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral is published.
After declaring its independence, Vermont existed as a free republic known as the Commonwealth of Vermont.
Thomas L. Jennings was issued a patent for a dry-cleaning process..
The African Company became the first African-American drama group and produced plays at the African Grove in New York City.
Nat Turner, a preacher, leads the most significant slave uprising in American history in Virginia.
Alexander Lucius Twilight is elected to the Vermont State Government.
Dr. James McCune Smith from the University of Glasgow, Scotland becomes the first African-American doctor:
The Slaves on the Amistad ship fight back and took control of the ship. Even though the ship was recaptured, the act led to the Africans being returned and freed
Frederick Douglass was courageous. He was not afraid to speak what he believed. He started a newspaper to speak out against slavery. Click here to read some of the things he said.
She was born into slavery, but escaped. Afterwards, she made more than thirteen missions to rescue more than 70 slaves. Click here to see her most famous quotes
Sojourner Truth was a passionate and compelling speaker. Her most famous speech is "Ain't I a Woman"
George Crum, a cook and restaurateur, came up with the idea for the tasty crisp
Dred Scott was a slave who went to court to fight for his freedom, his wife and their two daughters' freedom as well. Unfortunately, he lost his case, but his famous court case went all the way to the Supreme court.
The first known baseball game between two black teams was held on November 15, 1859, in New York City.
The United States was divided about whether slavery should continue or not. The people who lived in the northern states believed that slavery should end, and those who lived in the southern states wanted to keep slavery. As a result, a war started. The war lasted for 4 years and ended in 1865
Civil War black soldiers were allowed to join the army that was fighting to end slavery. They wanted to fight against slavery and they believed that military service would allow them to prove their right to equality.
The people who wanted slavery to end won the war. The President, Abraham Lincoln, wrote the "Emancipation Proclamation" that said all slaves will be free.
Wilberforce is the first college owned and operated by African Americans: Wilberforce University, Ohio.
The government created a group called the "Freedmen's Bureau" to protect the rights of the black people who were no longer slaves.
Father Patrick Francis Healy, S.J. from University of Leuven, Belgium is the first African American to earn a Ph.D.
The university was created for the education of African-American youth. The university was named after General Oliver O. Howard, a Civil War hero and commissioner of the Freedman’s Bureau.
The 14th Amendment (or change) to the Constitution states that blacks are citizens,
Spelman College becomes the first college for black women in the U.S.
Howard University's Law School becomes the country's first black law school.
The 15th Amendment (or change) to the Constitution gives blacks the right to vote.
Hiram Revels was a minister in Mississippi and became the first person of color to serve in the U.S. Senate.
He is the earliest, known African-American player in organized professional baseball.
Henry O. Flipper is the first African American to graduate from West Point. In 1889, he will write a book about his experiences, The Colored Cadet at West Point.
Moses "Fleet" Walker is one of the first black players to appear in a major league baseball game.
Sarah Goode became the first African-American woman to receive a patent.
The National Colored Base Ball League. It was organized strictly as a minor league and founded with six teams:
John Shippen plays in the second U.S. Open at the age of 17.
Bob Cole composes and produces the first full-length black musical.
Taylor was the first African-American athlete to achieve the level of world champion.
Dentist George Franklin Gant was first person to patent the modern wooden golf tee.
Sigma Pi Phi is the first African-American Greek-lettered organization It was started by two doctors, a dentist and a physician.
Alpha Phi Alpha (ΑΦΑ) is the first Black, Inter-Collegiate Greek-Lettered fraternity. It was founded at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York.
Jack Johnson is the first African-American heavyweight boxing champion.
John Baxter Taylor Jr. was one of the first African-Americans Olympians an African-American veterinarian and Olympic track star.
Alpha Kappa Alpha (ΑKΑ) become the first African American Greek-letter sorority.
The N.A.A.C.P. (which stands for Hational Association for the Advancement of Colored People) is started by W.E.B. DuBois. The group helped
The Foster Photoplay Company is the first film production company established by an African-American featuring all African-American actors. The Railroad Porter, a comedy directed by Bill Foster, became the first black film.
On the campus of Indiana University at Bloomington, Indiana, the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity began.
Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was started by twenty-two women at Howard University.
Sam Lucas was the first African American actor to star in a full-length film playing the title role in Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Brothers George Perry Johnson and Noble Johnson start the Lincoln Motion Picture Company.
Madam C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove, is known as the first female self made millionaire in America.
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