African American History Calendar

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September 1, 1891 - Halle T.D. Johnson becomes first woman of any race to practice medicine in Alabama.

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September 2, 1958 - Frederick M. Jones patents control device for internal combustion engine.

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James Durham recognized as first African American Doctor - 1800

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September 6, 1848 - Frederick Douglass elected president of National Black Political Convention in Cleveland, Ohio.

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September 9, 1968 - Arthur Ashe Jr. wins the first U.S. Open Tennis Championship.

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September 12, 1992 - Dr. Mae C. Jemison becomes first African American woman to travel in space.

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http://encyclopediavirginia.org/Gloucester_County_Conspiracy_1663#start_entry

On September 1, 1663, nine indentured servants met secretly at a small house belonging to Peter Knight in the woods near Cooks Quarter in Gloucester County. After appointing William Bell and John Gunter their leaders, the men agreed to meet again at midnight the following Sunday, September 6, at a place called Poplar Spring. Each would bring what weapons he could scavenge and steal in the hope that they could eventually arm a company of thirty men. From Poplar Spring the group would then march to the home of Lieutenant Colonel Francis Willis, a member of the governor's Council, to seize arms and a much-needed drum, the group having recruited a drummer from the militia company commanded by Major John Smith, another councillor.

The servants may also have planned to raid the nearby home of the widow Katharine Cook—indeed, William Budell later testified that they had intended to "march from house to house"—but all agreed that their ultimate destination was the Green Spring mansion of Governor Sir William Berkeley. Thomas Collins told authorities that, with weapons brandished, they would make clear to Berkeley their "desire to bee released of one year of their tyme w'ch they had to serve," and, should the governor refuse, "that then they would goe forth of ye Land if they Could to an Island." Budell even implied that they might be prepared to kill Berkeley should it come to that. In any event, their plans set, the nine pledged "an oath of secresie," according to Budell, the violation of which would result in death.

The men's attempts at secrecy failed, however. A servant named Birkenhead revealed their plans to the governor, who arranged for the conspirators to be ambushed at their meeting place, a result that Berkeley later attributed to "Gods hands," which had delivered "so transcendent a favour as the preserving all we have from so utter ruin." The General Court tried the captured servants for treason, accusing them of attempting "utterly to deprive, depose, cast downe and disinherite" the governor and, further, to wage war against Virginia in an attempt to "wholy submit and distroy" the colony. According to Robert Beverley Jr., four were hanged.

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http://www.sss.gov/backgr.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Selective_Training_and_Service_Act_of_1940

For more than 50 years, Selective Service and the registration requirement for America's young men have served as a backup system to provide manpower to the U.S. Armed Forces.

President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 which created the country's first peacetime draft and formally established the Selective Service System as an independent Federal agency.

From 1948 until 1973, during both peacetime and periods of conflict, men were drafted to fill vacancies in the armed forces which could not be filled through voluntary means.

In 1973, the draft ended and the U.S. converted to an All-Volunteer military.

The registration requirement was suspended in April 1975. It was resumed again in 1980 by President Carter in response to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. Registration continues today as a hedge against underestimating the number of servicemen needed in a future crisis.

The obligation of a man to register is imposed by the Military Selective Service Act. The Act establishes and governs the operations of the Selective Service System.

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October 10, 1899 - Isaac R. Johnson patents bicycle frame.

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Richmond, Virginia site of Equal Rights Mass Meeting - 1865

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September 19, 1893 - Elbert R. Robinson patents electric highway trolley.

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September 20, 1830 - First National Convention for Free Men agrees to boycott slave-produced goods.

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http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aia/part4/4p2935.html

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1830 - 1864

It started with a question. A question asked by a sixteen-year-old free black named Hezekiel Grice. Grice, troubled by "the hopelessness of contending against oppression in the United States," wondered if blacks should be encouraged to emigrate, en mass, to Canada. Such a question, he thought, should be carefully considered, so he proposed that a convention be held where the matter could be discussed. He wrote to several black leaders, who approved of the proposal, and on September 15, 1830, the ten-day National Negro Convention began in Philadelphia.

Forty blacks from nine states attended the meeting, including Bishop Richard Allen. From the meeting emerged a new organization, the "American Society of Free5 People of Colour for improving their condition in the United States; for purchasing lands; and for the establishment of a settlement in the Province of Canada," of which Allen was named president. As can be gleened from the society's descriptive title, the answer to Grice's original question was not clear cut. Yes, moving to Canada was encouraged, especially for blacks with children, but the society also acknowledged the need to improve the lives of those who remained in the U.S.

This first meeting of the National Negro Convention would initiate a trend that would continue for the next three decades. The formation of another organization had been recommended -- one which would be called the "American Society of Free Persons of Labor." This group would branch out to several states and hold their own conventions. These, in turn, would lead to the formation of other organizations. The number of conventions, held at local, state, and national levels, blossomed to such a level that, in 1859, one paper would report that "colored conventions are almost as frequent as churchmeetings."

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September 21, 1815 - General Andrew Jackson honors courage of Black troops who fought in Battle of New Orleans.

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November 23, 1897 - A.J. Beard patents the "Jenny Coupler", still in use

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September 22, 1862 - Emancipation Proclamation announced.

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1814 - African American platoon held position in Battle of New Orleans.

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September 24, 1957 - Federal troops enforce court-ordered integration as nine children integrate Central High School in Little Rock, Ark.

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http://www.blackpast.org/?q=1787-jupiter-hammon-address-negroes-state-new-york

Long Island-born Jupiter Hammon is believed to be the first published male African American poet and essayist. His “Evening Thought, Salvation by Christ, with Penitential Cries,” was published in 1760. His first essay, “Winter Piece,” appeared in 1782. The speech below by Hammond is also thought to be the first oration by an African American that would later be published. Here he addresses the African Americans of his state, listing what he believes will be the virtues that will win them the support of the surrounding white population.

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September 28, 1895 - National Baptist Convention organized.

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September 29, 1910 - The National Urban League founded in New York City.

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September 30, 1962 - Under the protection of federal marshals, James Meredith enrolls as the first African American student at University of Mississippi.