Video: 'Riots in Newark New Jersey 1967'
(Wednesday, July 12, 1967, 9:30 p.m. EDT) — Rioting erupted tonight in Newark, New Jersey, over the police beating of African-American taxicab driver John Smith at the corner of 15th Avenue and South Ninth Street. Continue reading 1967 Newark riots erupt 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (July 12 1967)
Video: 'Larry Doby Biography'
(Saturday, July 5, 1947) — Larry Doby, 23, made his debut with the Cleveland Indians today, becoming the first black player in the American League three months after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in the National League. Continue reading Larry Doby breaks American League color barrier 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 5 1947)
Video: 'American Experience Truman 2 of 3' (June 29, 1947, at 38:11)
(Sunday, June 29, 1947, 4:30 p.m. EDT) — President Harry S. Truman became the first President to address the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People today, declaring that the nation has “reached the turning point in the long history of its efforts to guarantee freedom and equality to all our citizens” in a speech at the closing session of the civil rights organization’s 38th annual conference at Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Continue reading Truman becomes first president to address NAACP 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 29 1947)
Video: 'American Experience Truman 2 of 3' (June 28, 1947, at 37:56)
(Saturday, June 28, 1947) — President Harry S. Truman wrote his sister a letter today, mentioning his upcoming speech to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People: “I’ve got to make a speech tomorrow to the Society for the Advancement of Colored People and I wish I didn’t have to make it… Mamma won’t like what I say.” Continue reading Truman writes about upcoming historic speech to NAACP 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 28 1947)
Video: 'NBC News - Muhammad Ali on not going to war'
(Tuesday, June 20, 1967; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Muhammad Ali, the deposed heavyweight boxing champion, was convicted by a jury tonight in Houston of violating the U.S. Selective Service laws by refusing to be drafted and was sentenced to five years in prison. Continue reading Ali convicted for refusing draft, gets five years in prison 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 20 1967)
Video: '"Thurgood Marshall Nominated to Supreme Court" (Washington DC, 6/13/1967)'
(Tuesday, June 13, 1967, noon EDT) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson today nominated Solicitor-General Thurgood Marshall to become the first African-American justice on the U.S. Supreme Court. Continue reading Thurgood Marshall nominated as first African-American justice on U.S. Supreme Court 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 13 1967)
Video: 'Report on Loving Case 1967'
(Monday, June 12, 1967) — The Supreme Court, in Loving v. Virginia, ruled unanimously today that states cannot outlaw interracial marriages. Continue reading Supreme Court strikes down state laws prohibiting interracial marriages 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 12 1967)
Video: 'Martin Luther King Jr. 'Give Us the Ballot' May 17, 1957'
(Friday, May 17, 1957, afternoon EDT) — The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., 28, delivered his first national speech, titled “Give Us the Ballot,” advocating voting rights for African-Americans, during the Prayer Pilgrimage for Freedom gathering at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. delivers first national speech 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 17 1957)
Video: 'April 15, 1947 Jackie Robinson makes His MLB Debut'
(Tuesday, April 15, 1947, 2:00 p.m. EST) — Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson, 28, became the first African American to play in Major League Baseball (MLB) in the modern era today when he made his official debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day at Ebbets Field before a crowd of 26,623 spectators, more than 14,000 of whom were black. Continue reading Jackie Robinson breaks baseball’s color line, debuts with Dodgers this hour 70 years ago#OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1947)
Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Apr. 4, 1967, at 5:17)
(Tuesday, April 4, 1967, evening EST; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–1968) and during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. denounced the war in Vietnam tonight, delivering “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence,” one of his most dramatic and controversial speeches, before 3,000 people at Riverside Church in New York City. Continue reading King denounces Vietnam War at Riverside Church 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1967)
