The following are documents which have contributed to the shaping of African American history. These documents are a starting point for additional research and discussions that help further our understanding of the history of people of African ancestry in the United States.
To the Honorable the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America: The undersigned, your memorialists, respectfully show that they are residents of the Chickasaw nation, and area “persons of African descent” and were born and bred in the said nation. They … Read More(1882)The Memorial of the Chickasaw Freedmen
ON CERTIFICATE OF DIVISION FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE UNITED STATES FOR THE DISTRICT OF KANSAS Argued: — Decided: October 16th, 1883 1. The 1st and 2d sections of the Civil Rights Act passed March 1st, 1876, are unconstitutional enactments as applied to the … Read More(1883) The Civil Rights Cases
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That in all cases where any tribe or band of Indians has been, or shall hereafter be, located upon any reservation created for their use, either … Read More(1887) Dawes Severalty Act
ARTICLE 12 – FRANCHISE Sec. 240. All elections by the people shall be by ballot. Sec. 241. Every male inhabitant of this State, except idiots, insane persons and Indians not taxed, who is a citizen of the United States, twenty-one years old and upwards, who … Read More(1890) Disenfranchisement Clause, The Mississippi Constitution of 1890
William W. Ferguson vs. Edward G. Gies Supreme Court of Michigan June 4, 1890, Argued October 10, 1890, Decided Prior History: Error to Wayne. (Gartner, J.) Argued June 4, 1890. Decided October 10, 1890. Disposition: The judgment is reversed, and a new trial granted, with … Read More(1890) Ferguson vs. Gies
Act of August 30, 1890, ch. 841, 26 Stat. 417, 7 U.S.C. 322 et seq. Chap. 841.–AN ACT To apply a portion of the proceeds of the public lands to the more complete endowment and support of the colleges for the benefit of agriculture and … Read More(1890) Second Morrill Act
Opinion by Judge FOOTE This is an application for a writ of mandate to compel the defendant, Crookshank, a teacher of a public school located in the city of Visalia school district, of the county of Tulare, to admit the plaintiff as a scholar. The … Read More(1890) Wysinger v. Crookshank
Mr. Justice BROWN, after stating the facts in the foregoing language, delivered the opinion of the court. This case turns upon the constitutionality of an act of the general assembly of the state of Louisiana, passed in 1890, providing for separate railway carriages for the … Read More(1896) Plessy v. Ferguson
This Academy is an Organization of Authors, Scholars, Artists, and those distinguished in other walks of life, men of African descent, for the promotion of Letters, Science and Art; for the creation, as far as possible, of a form of intellectual taste; for the encouragement … Read More(1897) Constitution of the American Negro Academy
[Article 197] Sec. 3. He [the elector] shall be able to read and write, and shall demonstrate his ability to do so when he applies for registration, by making, under oath administered by the registration officer or his deputy, written application therefor, in the English … Read More(1898) Louisiana Grandfather Clause
