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Feb. 10, 1989: Ronald H. Brown Gets Elected as National Chairman of the Democratic Party
Marianne Barcellona/Getty Images
On this day in history, the then-47-year-old influential lawyer became the first Black chairman of the Democratic National Committee.
Brown went on to serve as the first Black U.S. Secretary of Commerce under president Bill Clinton’s administration before he was killed in a plane crash in April 1996 along with 34 others, according toPolitico.
02of 07Feb. 11, 1990: Nelson Mandela Is Released from PrisonAllan Tannenbaum/Getty ImagesThe anti-apartheid South African revolutionary is seen with his then-wife Winnie raising his fist upon his release from Victor Verster prison after being jailed for 27 years.Four years later, he was inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratically elected president and served one term before focusing on his philanthropic work for theNelson Mandela Children’s Fund, theNelson Mandela FoundationandThe Mandela Rhodes Foundation.Mandela died in 2013 and is remembered for his relentless fight for equality, work to combat poverty, HIV and AIDs. He’s received over 200 honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize (1993), Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award (2006), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2002) and the Olympic Gold Order (1994).
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Feb. 11, 1990: Nelson Mandela Is Released from Prison
Allan Tannenbaum/Getty Images
The anti-apartheid South African revolutionary is seen with his then-wife Winnie raising his fist upon his release from Victor Verster prison after being jailed for 27 years.
Four years later, he was inaugurated as South Africa’s first democratically elected president and served one term before focusing on his philanthropic work for theNelson Mandela Children’s Fund, theNelson Mandela FoundationandThe Mandela Rhodes Foundation.
Mandela died in 2013 and is remembered for his relentless fight for equality, work to combat poverty, HIV and AIDs. He’s received over 200 honors, including the Nobel Peace Prize (1993), Amnesty International’s Ambassador of Conscience Award (2006), Presidential Medal of Freedom (2002) and the Olympic Gold Order (1994).
03of 07Feb. 12, 1909: The NAACP Is FoundedMPI/Getty ImagesThe nation’s largest civil rights organization was founded to ensure political, educational, social and economic equality for all minority U.S. citizens through democratic processes.Today, there are more than 2,200 chapters (according to the organization’swebsite) dedicated to furthering these causes. Some noteworthy achievements: helping pass theDyer Anti-Lynching Bill, which established lynching as a federal crime, and theVoting Rights Act, which guaranteed that no one can be denied the right to vote because of his or her race.
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Feb. 12, 1909: The NAACP Is Founded
MPI/Getty Images
The nation’s largest civil rights organization was founded to ensure political, educational, social and economic equality for all minority U.S. citizens through democratic processes.
Today, there are more than 2,200 chapters (according to the organization’swebsite) dedicated to furthering these causes. Some noteworthy achievements: helping pass theDyer Anti-Lynching Bill, which established lynching as a federal crime, and theVoting Rights Act, which guaranteed that no one can be denied the right to vote because of his or her race.
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Feb. 13, 1923: The First Black Professional Basketball Team Is Organized
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Theteam’s original lineup includedClarence “Fats” Jenkins, James “Pappy” Ricks, Frank “Strangler” Forbes and Leon Monde.
05of 07Feb. 14, 1818: The Day the U.S. Observes Frederick Douglass' BirthdayLibrary Of Congress/Getty ImagesAlthough historically America has celebrated the activist and author’s birthday on the 14th of February, the actual month and date of Douglass' birth are still unknown. The birth date Americans observe today was chosen based on his autobiographical writings, which revealed that he was told his birth month was February and the year was 1818.According to theNational Constitution Center, Douglass wrote about speaking with Captain Thomas Auld, one of his former slave owners, in 1877 about wanting to know his birth details. “I told him I had always been curious to know how old I was and that it had been a serious trouble to me, to not know when was my birthday,” he wrote. “He said he could not tell me that, but he thought I was born in February 1818.”
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Feb. 14, 1818: The Day the U.S. Observes Frederick Douglass' Birthday
Library Of Congress/Getty Images
Although historically America has celebrated the activist and author’s birthday on the 14th of February, the actual month and date of Douglass' birth are still unknown. The birth date Americans observe today was chosen based on his autobiographical writings, which revealed that he was told his birth month was February and the year was 1818.
According to theNational Constitution Center, Douglass wrote about speaking with Captain Thomas Auld, one of his former slave owners, in 1877 about wanting to know his birth details. “I told him I had always been curious to know how old I was and that it had been a serious trouble to me, to not know when was my birthday,” he wrote. “He said he could not tell me that, but he thought I was born in February 1818.”
06of 07Feb. 15, 1965: Nat King Cole DiesMichael Ochs Archives/Getty ImagesThe legendary singer and pianist died in his sleep at St. John’s hospital in Santa Monica, California after suffering from lung cancer, according to theL.A. Times. He was 45 years old.The star was best known for his incredible catalogue of music, including hits like “Unforgettable,” “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66” and “I Love You (For Sentimental Reasons).” He also made history in 1956 when he became the first Black host of a variety series,The Nat King Cole Show.
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Feb. 15, 1965: Nat King Cole Dies
Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
The legendary singer and pianist died in his sleep at St. John’s hospital in Santa Monica, California after suffering from lung cancer, according to theL.A. Times. He was 45 years old.
The star was best known for his incredible catalogue of music, including hits like “Unforgettable,” “(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66” and “I Love You (For Sentimental Reasons).” He also made history in 1956 when he became the first Black host of a variety series,The Nat King Cole Show.
07of 07Feb. 16, 1951: N.Y.C. Council Passes Bill that Prohibits Housing Racial DiscriminationCharles Rotkin/Getty ImagesOn this day, a bill that prohibited racial discrimination in city-assisted housing developments in New York City was passed.Today, New York state and New York City human rights laws include additional protections based on age, citizenship, lawful job or source of income, gender, gender identity, or gender expression, marriage or partnership status, current children or plans to have children in the future, sexual orientation, experience as a survivor of domestic violence, stalking, or sex offenses and military service, according toN.Y.C. Department of Housing Preservation and Development(HPD).
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Feb. 16, 1951: N.Y.C. Council Passes Bill that Prohibits Housing Racial Discrimination
Charles Rotkin/Getty Images
On this day, a bill that prohibited racial discrimination in city-assisted housing developments in New York City was passed.
Today, New York state and New York City human rights laws include additional protections based on age, citizenship, lawful job or source of income, gender, gender identity, or gender expression, marriage or partnership status, current children or plans to have children in the future, sexual orientation, experience as a survivor of domestic violence, stalking, or sex offenses and military service, according toN.Y.C. Department of Housing Preservation and Development(HPD).
source: people.com
