Today In Black History On January 21st

1 Posted by - January 21, 2016 - January, Today In Black History
  1. Phillis Wheatley was freed (January 21, 1773), who was considered to be the first published African American poet. In 1773, she wrote “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral,” one of the most captivating books of poetry of her time. She broke various barriers, as an African American and as a woman, and opened the door for other Black authors.
  2. Osai Tutu Kwamina defeated the British (January 21, 1824) in a little known victory at Assamakka, Ashanti. Assamakka is one of the smallest towns in the desert of northern Niger. The town is most known for the 2007 Tuareg Insurgency, where several civilians and rebels were killed.
  3. Several Blacks were deported (January 21, 1830) by force due to an order of the city officials in Portsmouth, Ohio. This wasn’t the only time Blacks have been deported. During the slave relocation movement, things were a lot different; it wasn’t unheard of for African Americans to get sent to Liberia.
  4. Willa Brown-Chappell was born (January 21, 1906), who is known as a pioneer in the aviation field. She didn’t start out in the aviation industry; Brown-Chappell was an accomplished teacher and social worker before she felt it calling. After studying under flight instructor Cornelius R. Coffey, she became the first African American woman to earn her private pilot’s license. The relationship between Coffey and Brown-Chappell grew, and not only did the two marry, but they opened the Coffey School of Aeronautics at Harlem Airport in Chicago. A haven for Black pilots and aviation mechanics, it became the perfect spot for those in need that didn’t want to deal with segregated airports.
  5. The All Black American Bridge Association was founded (January 21, 1933) by black tennis players. Due to players being excluded from most bridge events based on race, this organization became the perfect counterpoint. They held tournaments that gained a good amount of people. And they soon became so popular that in 1967, the ACBL removed the exclusion barrier for Black athletes.

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