1619
History of Black America began with landing of twenty Blacks at Jamestown, Virginia. John Rolfe said the ship arrived "about the latter end of August" and that it "brought not anything but 20 and odd Negroes." Surviving evidence suggests that the twenty Blacks were accorded the status of indentured servants.
1834
Slavery abolished in the British empire.
1867
Blacks voted for the first time in a state election in the South, contributing to Republican sweep in Tennessee.
1867
Gen. Philip H. Sheridan dismissed the board of aldermen in New Orleans and named new appointees, including several Blacks.
1868
Gov. Henry C. Warmoth endorsed a joint resolution of the legislature calling for federal military aid. Warmoth said there had been 150 political assassinations in Louisiana in June and July.
1869
Augustus Nathaniel Lushington was born in 1869. He became the first African American to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.), earning the doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania.
1874
Businessman, Charles Clinton Spaulding was born.
1895
Renowed educator and former president of Morehouse College, Benjamin E Mays was born.
1920
National convention of Marcus Garvey's Universal Improvement Association opened in Liberty Hall in Harlem. The next night Garvey addressed twenty-five thousand Blacks in Madison Square Garden. Garvey's nationalist movement reached its height in 1920-21.
1930
Actor Geoffrey Holder was born on the island of Trinidad, British West Indies.
1936
Benjamin E. Mays, who has been called "the greatest school master of his generation," named president of Morehouse College.
1941
Former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Ronald H Brown was born.
1943
Race riot, Harlem. (8/1-8/2).
1944
Adam Clayton Powell elected first Black congressman from East.
1961
Whitney Young Jr. named executive director of the National Urban League.
1964
Arthur Ashe, first Black male to win Wimbledon, becomes first Black person named to the US Davis Cup team.
1975
On this day in history in Cleveland, Ohio a star was born. This newborn would go on to be the first second grader in the history of John Dewey Elementary School to enter the spelling bee competing against third graders and fourth graders. She would begin her teaching career as a first grader teaching her brother that age-old equation 2+2.
She would later ascend further heights as she attended college at Wittenberg University and became a duly initiated member 
of DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, Inc. among other activities and leadership positions she would hold on the campus. Upon graduation from college, she would realize her lifelong dream and become a teacher. As her life continues, she remains humble and giving, recognizing her strengths and weaknesses and knowing that through it all, this Dynamic Black woman will continue to rise to the top.
1979
James Patterson Lyke installed as auxiliary bishop of the Cleveland diocese of the Roman Catholic Church.
1993
Former chairman of the Democratic National Committee, Ronald H Brown was appointed head of the Departmentof Commerce by President-elect Bill Clinton.
1993
Barbara Ross-Lee, practicing family physician, Naval officer, and medical educator, assumed the position as dean of Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine in East Lansing Michigan. This position made her the first Black woman to head a medical school in the United States.
1999
August 1 marks the anniversary of the proclamation of emancipation in 1838. On this date slavery was officially abolished as a result of the unyielding resistance of the enslaved Africans and the Parliamentary and religious support which they received from British liberals. The day is recognised by all Caribbean States and officially observed as a public holiday in Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago and Antigua and Barbuda. Activities for the day include an all-night vigil and cultural presentations.
Today's DiSTinguished Black History Fact
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