June 28, 1947 Mark Clark, assassinated Black Panther leader, was born in Peoria, Illinois. At an early age, Clark became active with the NAACP and joined in demonstrations against discrimination in housing, employment, and education. In the mid-1960s, he joined the Black Panther Party and later organized a chapter in Peoria with a free breakfast […]
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James Weldon Johnson – June 26th in African American History
June 26, 1938 James Weldon Johnson, author, diplomat, poet, songwriter, and civil rights activist, died. Johnson was born June 17, 1871 in Jacksonville, Florida. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree and Master of Arts degree from Atlanta University in 1894 and 1904, respectively. In 1900, Johnson along with his brother, John Rosamond, co-composed “Lift […]
Betty Shabazz – June 23rd in African American History
June 23, 1997 Betty Shabazz, educator and widow of Malcolm X, died. Shabazz was born Betty Dean Sanders on May 28, 1934 in Detroit, Michigan. After high school, she entered Tuskegee Institute and while in Alabama first encountered racism. As a result, Shabazz moved to New York City and enrolled at the Brooklyn State Hospital […]
Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr. – June 23rd in African American History
June 23, 2003 Maynard Holbrook Jackson, Jr., the first African American mayor of Atlanta, died. Jackson was born March 23, 1938 in Dallas, Texas. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and history from Morehouse College in 1956, at the age of 18. After working several jobs, Jackson earned his law degree […]
June 21st in African American History – James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner
June 21, 1964 James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner, civil rights activist, were murdered near Philadelphia, Mississippi while trying to investigate the burning of a church that supported civil rights activity. The FBI discovered their bodies on August 4. While searching for the three men’s bodies, the FBI also discovered the bodies of at […]
June 12th in African American History – Medgar Wiley Evers
June 12, 1963 Medgar Wiley Evers, civil rights activist, was assassinated. Evers was born July 2, 1925 in Decatur, Mississippi. In 1943, he was inducted into the army where he fought in France during World War II and was honorably discharged in 1945 as a sergeant. Evers earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in business […]
June 11th in African American History – Earl Shinhoster
June 11, 2000 Earl Shinhoster, civil rights leader, died in a car accident. Shinhoster was born July 5, 1950 in Savannah, Georgia. He got involved in the NAACP’s Savannah branch youth council at a young age and was president of the council at 16. Shinhoster earned his bachelor’s degree in political science from Morehouse College […]