Black - African American History Facts

Archibald H. Grimke, diplomat, editor, and President of the NAACP's Washington, DC, chapter for 10 years, was born near Charleston, SC, on this date in 1849.

Marcus Garvey, Black Nationalist, Pan Africanist, and founder of the United Negro Improvement Association and the "Back to Africa" movement, was born in Jamaica on this date in 1887.

W. B. Purvis, inventor, patented the Electric Railway Switch on this date in 1897. Patent # 588,176.

The African nation of Gabon gained its independence on this date in 1960.

Pearl Bailey, famed entertainer, died in Philadelphia, PA, on this date in 1990.