Today In Black History – June 24
On this day in Black History – June 24
1884 :
John R. Lynch September 10, 1847 – November 2, 1939
John R. Lynch, former congressman from Mississippi, elected temporary chairman of Republican convention serving 1874-1877 and again in the 1880s, Lynch became first African-American to preside over deliberations of a national political party.
1885 :
Samuel David Ferguson January 1, 1842 – August 2, 1916
Samuel David Ferguson consecrated bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church and named bishop of Liberia. He was the first Black American with full membership in the House of Bishops.
1898 :
American troops drove Spanish forces from Cuba
American troops, including Tenth Cavalry, drove Spanish forces from entrenched positions at La Guasimas, Cuba.
1936 :
Mary McLeod Bethune July 10, 1875 – May 18, 1955
Mary McLeod Bethune, founder-president of Bethune-Cookman College, named director of Negro Affairs of the National Youth Administration. She was the first Black woman to receive a major appointment from the federal government. She educator held the post until January 1, 1944.
1968 :
Resurrection City closed
Resurrection City closed. More than one hundred residents were arrested when they refused to leave site. Other residents, including Ralph Abernathy, were arrested during demonstration at Capitol. National Guard was mobilized later in the day to stop disturbances.
1972 :
Democratic National Convention
The rules committee of the Democratic National Convention approved the nomination of Yvonne Brathwaite Burke ( born October 5, 1932 )as co-chair person of the convention. She was the Los Angeles County Supervisor representing the 2nd District (1992–2008). She has served as the Chair three times (1993–94, 1997–98, 2002–03). Her husband is William Burke, a prominent philanthropist and creator of the Los Angeles Marathon. On December 1, 2008, she retired from the Board of Supervisors and was replaced by Mark Ridley-Thomas. On Thursday, March 29, 2012, she was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors.
