Black - African American History Facts

Nat Turner, revolutionary freedom-fighter and leader of a slave revolt in Southampton County, VA, during which around 60 whites were killed, was born there on this date in 1800.

Many blacks throughout the nation rose up in protest of Fascist Italy's invasion of Ethiopia on this date in 1935. Blacks were also angry with the United States for its support of Italy by imposing travel restriction on pro-Ethiopian supporters.

Major Robert H. Lawrence, Jr., the first black astronaut, was born on this date in 1935.

The African nation of Guinea gained its independence on this date in 1958. Sekou Toure' became his country's first president.

Thurgood Marshall was sworn in as the first black U.S. Supreme Court Justice on this date in 1967.

President Ronald Reagan's veto of legislation that created sanctions against South Africa for its continued history of apartheid was overridden on this date in 1986.

The Supreme Court affirmed a decision of the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals, on this date in 1989, which prohibited attorneys in civil cases from dismissing jurors because of their race.

Barack Obama gave his historic speech against the Iraq war in downtown Chicago on this date in 2002.