Black - African American History Facts

The Continental Congress prohibited the enlistment of blacks in the American Army on this date in 1775.

Jackie Robinson, the first black baseball player in the major leagues, signed his historic contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers on this date in 1945. Robinson was then sent to their Montreal Royals farm club to play in the International League.

The NAACP petitioned the United Nations to act against racial injustices on this date in 1947. Their petition was entitled "An Appeal to the World."

Kevin Nesmith, a black cadet at the Citadel in South Carolina, was taunted by five white students who dressed in Ku Klux Klan type attire on this date in 1986. They harassed him and littered his room with burned papers.

Barack Obama left the campaign trail to visit his ailing grandmother in Hawaii on this date in 2008.