Black - African American History Facts

James Varick was consecrated the first Bishop of the AME Zion Church on this date in 1822.

A Union attack on Rebel lines in Petersburg, VA, occurred on this date in 1864. Decatur Dorsey of the 39th USCT emerged as a leader and later won the Congressional Medal of Honor for his efforts.

Eugene Kinckle Jones, the first Executive Secretary of the National Urban League, was born in Richmond, VA, on this date in 1885.

Louis Emmanuel Lomax, newscaster, author, and educator, died in Santa Rosa, MN, on this date in 1970.

About 300 black employees, denied promotions because of racial discrimination, were paid 3.5 million in back pay by the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) on this date in 1985.

The "Queen of Soul," Aretha Franklin, produced her gospel album, "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism," on this date in 1987.