African+American

Learn about advances made by African Americans to gain equality and important events that raised awareness of injustice..

African American Timeline Black History Timeline

===** 1947 ** Jackie Robinson breaks the color barrier becoming the first African American to play in the major leagues. Because of his success in the major leagues, the doors opened for many other African American players. === Born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. He died on October 24, 1972, Stamford, Connecticut due to a heart attack and diabetes.

He was a player on the Brooklyn Dodgers and known as the person who broke the color barrier and the first African American induct into the Hall of Fame. Jackie Robinson played baseball as a pro in 1944 after he was discharged from the army. He had a batting average of 311, stole 19 home runs but hit blunts regularly to allow his teammates to advance to a base or score. In the beginning of his career, sports were segregated which meant that the teams played in different leagues based the color of their skin. He first played in the Negro League, but soon chosen by Branch Rickey who was the president of the Brooklyn Dodgers to help integrate major league baseball. Jackie was the first African American to play in the major leagues. He joined the Montreal Royals, and later trained with them. His first game with the Brooklyn Dodgers was in Ebbets Field, the score was 0-3 and he scored 1 run. During his career he received lots of racism from not the only the audience, but players in his team and those not. Others defended his right to play. In one game, when fans were harassing Jackie, team caption Pee Wee Reese walked over to his team mate, put his arm around him which became legendary in baseball history. Luckily, Jackie was able to overcome all the racism, and showed everyone how talented he was. Soon, Jackie Robinson became known as a hero of baseball. He stole 19 home runs, setting a league record and become the highest paid athlete in Brooklyn Dodger history. Thanks to Jackie's success in the major league, the doors opened for other African American players such as Satchel Paige, Willies Mays, and Hank Aaron. He became a vocal champion for many African American Athletes, civil rights and other social and political causes. Jackie Robinson helped his team achieved many victories, like winning the National League pennant multiple times, but the ultimate victory was the World Cup Series in 1995. He retired on January 5th, 1957, and worked in a coffee shop after. 11 Things You May Not Know About Jackie Robinson Jackie Robinson (History.com) Jackie Robinson (Biography.com)

**1954** Thurgood Marshall won the case, //Boar////d vs Education// not allowing schools to be segregated.
Born on July 2, 1908 in Maryland. He died at the age of 85 on January 24, 1993 due to a heart attack.

Thurgood Marshall was a member of the Supreme Court. Marshall applied to University of Maryland Law School, but denied because of his skin color. He later studied at Howard University School Of Law. In his early life, his father, William Marshall listened to local courthouse cases and came come rehash the the lawyers' arguments to his sons. Thurgood Marshall didn't know how he got into law, but said that his father, brother, and him would get into violent arrangements.

After Marshall graduated from law school, he tried to land significant cases, but failed. He worked on many minor cases, but his best achievement in Marshall's career was when he won the Broad vs Education in 1954. It one of the most important cases in the 20th century, allowing children to not be segregated in schools. There was many involved in the case, but started when a family couldn't send their kid to school. It violated the 14th amendment and research proved that it made African American children feel inferior to white children.

In 1967, Marshall was nominated by President Johnson on the bench, the United States Supreme Court. He became the first African American to serve in the nation's highest court. Marshall joined a liberal Supreme Court, where the Chief shared the same views on politics and Constitution. He was stood alongside with Martin Luther King and Malcolm X as one of the greatest and most important figures in American Civil Rights. Thurgood Marshall: Biography

===**1963** At Wa shington D.C, 200,000 people joined the March Washington.People that participated went to the Lincoln Memorial to listen Martin Luther King diliver his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. I have A Dream Speech ===

**1968** Martin Luther King is assassinated in Memphis, Tenessee

 * 1973 Patrica Bath become the first African American to complete a residency in ophthalmology.**

Patricia Bath was born Nov. 4, 1942, still living today. In Bath's early years, her parents encouraged her to pursue her academics. At age 16, she became one of a very small group of students to attend a cancer research workshop. Her discoveries lead her findings to be put into the program head's paper, Robert Bernard, and it earned her Mademoiselle magazine's Merit Award in 1960. First African-American to complete a residency in Ophthalmology(a branch of medicine that deals with the eye). She also co-founded the American Institute for the Prevention of Blindness,and was the first African-American female doctor to receive a medical patent. In 1986, she invented the Laserphaco Probe, a device that improved treatment for cataract patients. Her inspiration for becoming a physician was her love for humanity and helping others. She was the first African-American female doctor to receive a medical patent in 1988. Patricia Bath: Information National Library of Medicine


 * 2001** Alabama removes it's constitutional prohibition on interracial marriage. Alabama was the last state to remove the ban.

===**2009** Oscar Grant Shooting at Oakland Fruitvale BART Station outrages public.===

Oscar Grant born February 27,1986 died on January 1,2009 at the Fruitvale BART Station he was shot by Johannes Mehserle who was a cop at the time. Oscar Grant was riding the BART which was returning back from San Francisco then a group of guys approached him and then one guy from the group fought Oscar which caused the BART to stop at the next station and wait for the BART police. Oscar and his friends were then put against the wall and were being harassed by the BART police. They police then decided to pick on Oscar Grant and one officer threw him to the ground and told him to put his hands behind his back knowing he cant while he kept his knee on Oscar's head. Then officer Mehserle arrived and was trying to cuff by telling Grant to put his hands behind his back but Grant was not able to move his arm. Oscar was trying to tell the officers but they wouldn't listen. Mehserle was trying to say he was resisting so he told everyone around him to step back then he pulled his gun out and shot Oscar is his back. Mehserle was arrested and sent to prison for involuntary manslaughter for 3 years he was put in protective custody. In Mehserle's defense he stated " I thought I had my taser."

**2015** The 114th Congress includes 46 black members in the House of Representatives and 2 in the Senate(link at bottom)
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 * Sites focused on African American advancement**
 * **African American World**