The death of Freddie Gray in 2015 while in police custody brought increased attention to the national debate on interactions between law enforcement and African Americans and inspired the ongoing Black Lives Matter movement. Freddie Gray Jr. was born on August 16, 1989, in Baltimore, … Read MoreFreddie Gray, Jr. (1989-2015)
The shooting death of twelve-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014 brought increased attention to the national debate on interactions between police officers and African Americans. Tamir Elijah Rice was born to Samaria Rice and Leonard Warner on June 15, 2002, in Cleveland, Ohio. At times, Rice’s … Read MoreTamir Elijah Rice (2002–2014)
The choking death of Eric Garner on video in 2014 helped bring the debate on interactions between white police officers and unarmed African Americans to the national forefront. Eric Garner was born on September 15, 1970, in New York City, New York. Garner, whose mother … Read MoreEric Garner (1970–2014)
With his death in 2014, eighteen-year-old Michael Brown’s name became synonymous with the growing Black Lives Matter movement and a nationwide debate about unarmed black men being fatally shot by law enforcement. Michael Brown Jr. was born on May 20, 1996, to Lesley McSpadden and … Read MoreMichael Brown Jr. (1996-2014)
With his tragic death in 2012, seventeen-year-old Trayvon Martin became the first catalyst for the national Black Lives Matter movement. Trayvon Benjamin Martin was born to Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin in Florida on February 5, 1995. Fulton and Martin separated when Trayvon was four … Read MoreTrayvon Benjamin Martin (1995–2012)
“Image Ownership: Fair Use” Marcus Foster was an educator who gained national prominence for educational excellence while serving as a principal in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and as the first black superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District in California. Known as a titan in the areas … Read MoreMarcus A. Foster (1923–1973)
“Image Ownership: Public Domain” Clementa Carlos “Clem” Pinckney, was an African Methodist Episcopal (AME) pastor, South Carolina State Senator, and rising star in the national Democratic Party. On June 17, 2015, he and eight local black leaders were assassinated in Charleston, South Carolina, during Bible … Read MoreClementa C. Pinckney (1973-2015)
The slave ship Zong departed the coast of Africa on 6 September 1781 with 470 slaves. Since this human chattel was such a valuable commodity at that time, many captains took on more slaves than their ships could accommodate in order to maximize profits. The … Read MoreThe Zong Massacre (1781)
The Sharpeville Massacre occurred on March 21, 1960, in the township of Sharpeville, South Africa. The incident resulted in the largest number of South African deaths (up to that point) in a protest against apartheid. It also came to symbolize that struggle. Sharpeville, a black … Read MoreSharpeville Massacre
Founded in August of 1908 by veterans of Cuba’s War for Independence, El Partido de Independiente de Color (PIC) became the Caribbean’s first 20th century black political party. Created to support and facilitate Afro-Cubans’ integration into their country’s social and political spheres, the party also … Read MorePartido de Independiente de Color (Cuba, 1908-1912)
