Category: Civil Rights
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40 Acres and a Mule
It was on this date in 1865 when General William T. Sherman issued Special Field Order #15. The phrase, “40 acres and a mule” has become permanently tied to this wartime occupation order. Sherman issued the order after consultation with Secretary of War, Edwin M. Stanton, the latter having met with a group of prominent…
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Can Fred Hampton’s 1969 killing explain two contemporary movements?
If you don’t know who Fred Hampton was, it’s probably not unintentional. It was on this date in 1969 that Fred Hampton and Mark Clark, two leaders of the Illinois Black Panthers, were killed by Chicago police officers during an early morning raid. Four other Black Panthers were seriously wounded. No police officers were shot. A…
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February in Black History-pt. 1
The first week While 2021’s theme for Black History Month is, The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity, the month of February has its own thesis. The first week of February includes the anniversaries of three crucial events in history. The Greensboro, North Carolina sit-in began on that date in 1960. Another dates back to…
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14th Amendment Ratified on this Date
The 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution are collectively known as the reconstruction amendments. Of these, the 14th Amendment ratified on this date in 1868, continues to sustain the impact of the 13th which outlawed slavery and provides a robust framework for the enforcement of the 15th Amendment. Most consequential to passage…