Feb. 2: This day in African-American history

[prolesunited]

1807
Congress bans foreign slave trade imported from Africa, but slaves continue to arrive, illegally, up to the Civil War.

1870
Jonathan J. Wright becomes Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of S.C.

1892
Carter Williams gets patent on an awning canopy frame.

1912
Nine men from five Black colleges meet at Academic Hall on the Hampton Institute campus to discuss the need to organize the CIAA Conference, the Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association.

1948
President Harry S. Truman stated "The Federal Government has a clear duty to see that constitutional guarantees of individual liberties and of equal protection under the laws are not denied or abridged anywhere in the Union..." He becomes the first President to create a permanent Civil Rights Commission.

[Kamika]

1. Feb. 1:

2004

Janet Jackson flashes one boob on national television.


Ahh we've come a long way

[pmbryant]

2. Two of the items in particular caught my attention

1870
Jonathan J. Wright becomes Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of S.C.

...

1948
President Harry S. Truman stated "The Federal Government has a clear duty to see that constitutional guarantees of individual liberties and of equal protection under the laws are not denied or abridged anywhere in the Union..." He becomes the first President to create a permanent Civil Rights Commission.

In 1870, this country was well on its way to instituting color-blind civil rights for its citizens (male, at least). But it is one of our great national tragedies that this only lasted a few years. How long did Mr Wright remain as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of South Carolina? No doubt by 1877 or shortly thereafter, very few, if any, blacks held positions of power.

An entire lifetime later, Harry Truman helped to kick-start this country back on the road to full civil rights. Alas, it appears to be a fight that continues to this day and beyond.

--Peter

[prolesunited]

3. Here's a brief bio on Jonathan Wright

Justice Wright served a seven year tenure on the Supreme Court.

After receiving criticism regarding his opinion in Ex Parte Norris, Justice Wright's conduct was investigated. This was obviously a pretext for removing him from the high Court. Justice Wright submitted his resignation in 1877.

http://www.2souls.com/calendar/February/jonathan_j_wright.htm

[pmbryant]

4. 1877

Thanks for finding that short bio. Sometimes history is too predictable. :-(

--Peter