At Black Then, we frequently see interesting photos that give us a glimpse into the past. They tend to show us a piece of black history that is often not covered in textbooks, in history classes, or shown in the media. In a photo that we found on Black History Album , we see this […]
Background Ralph Johnson Bunche was born on August 7, 1904 (some sources say 1903), in Detroit, Michigan. After his family relocated to Albuquerque, New Mexico, Bunche’s mother died during his early adolescence; reports vary on whether his father died soon after or had left the family. As a result, Bunche and his younger sister relocated […]
Sullivan’s Island inherited its name from Captain Florence O’Sullivan. He was the person charged by Carolina’s government to protect Charles Town (Charleston) from the French and the Spanish. South Carolina established a lookout and gun station on this island due to its strategic location in relation to the Charleston Harbor. This island’s first purpose may […]
At Black Then, we often see videos that make us stop and think. They frequently reveal information that is not broadcasted to the masses and are created by great talents that are not shown in mainstream media. In this video we found, we learn more about The Black Then Channel is an all-black history, news […]
BY WALTER OPINDE On this day, May 24, 1918, famous politician, labor leader, and civil rights activist, Coleman Alexander Young was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Coleman was the first African-American mayor of Michigan’s largest City, Detroit, for approximately two decades, from 1974 to 1994. This was a service for five complete terms in the office, […]
May 24, 1856, marks the start of the Pottawatomie Massacre. Initiated by John Brown, the five pro-slavery supporters were dead by dawn. BLEEDING KANSAS May was a bloody month for Kansas and the Pottawatomie Massacre was part of a larger border conflict. Since it is a volatile topic, the decision is for settlers to […]
John Trusty Gibson was a prominent businessman in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Gibson’s entrepreneurial spirit led him to become the first black man to own all three major black theaters in the Philadelphia. Gibson was born in Baltimore, Maryland. While growing up in Maryland, he attended the local public schools and then enrolled into Morgan College Preparatory […]
Famous Civil Rights Leader Malcolm X was a powerforce and poignant speaker for black people during his lifetime. After his return from Mecca, Malcolm X used the name El Hajj Malik el Shabazz. In an interview explaining the name and his continued usage of the X, Malcolm called to task the multiple nations expressing disgust […]
March 6th, 1957 is a date of huge importance to not only Ghanaian history, but Africa as a whole. As the first African country to win its independence, Ghana’s move toward self-rule broke the official hold of colonialism by European powers on African soil, beginning the wave of other African countries finally gaining their […]
Katherine ‘Kittie’ Knox earned a living as a seamstress and dressmaker. Her first love was cycling which she excelled at doing, later becoming one of the most accomplished cyclists of her time. Since mostly men were seen riding bicycles at that time, Knox drew a lot of attention as a woman cyclist and also as […]
By Bashir Muhammad Akinyele Editor: Victor Trammell Photo credits: ©2016 Brittany Starr Artifacts attributed to the ancient vizier Ptahhotep were found in Kemet (Egypt). However, in that same country, there exists a book older than the Teachings of Ptahhotep. It was called the incomplete instructions to Kagame. In the book, The Teachings of Ptahhotep: The Oldest […]
Frank and Edward Mallory were big names of the minstrel and vaudeville stage. The two appeared from the early 1880s to the early 1900s. They often used saxophones, handbells, and other brass instruments. After the brothers married, their wives were included in the act. The Mallory Brothers began their careers with Billy Kersands’ Genuine Colored […]
