Category Archives: African-American Civil Rights

RFK to challenge LBJ for Democratic presidential nomination 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 16 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: '1968 Presidential Election: RFK Announces He's Running'

(Saturday, March 16, 1968, 10:00 a.m. EST; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968; African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968); during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Four days after President Lyndon Johnson barely edged out anti-war candidate U.S. Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota in the New Hampshire Democratic primary, U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York today entered the race for the Democratic Party presidential nomination. Continue reading RFK to challenge LBJ for Democratic presidential nomination 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 16 1968) →

White racism main cause of riots, says commission 50 years ago #Leapday (Feb 29 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 8) Two Societies 1965–1968' (Kerner Commission at 51:49)

(Thursday, February 29, 1968; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — The Kerner Commission, officially known as the National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, released its report on riots of the previous summer today and highlighted racial discrimination in the United States as a primary cause with the ominous warning, “Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.” Continue reading White racism main cause of riots, says commission 50 years ago #Leapday (Feb 29 1968) →

‘Soul on Ice’ by Eldridge Cleaver published 50 years ago #OTD #OnThisDay (Feb 28 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Eldridge Cleaver: Soul on Ice' (9 videos)

(Wednesday, February 28, 1968) — Soul On Ice, a memoir and collection of essays by Eldridge Cleaver that changed the way America looked at the civil rights movement and the black experience, was published today. Continue reading ‘Soul on Ice’ by Eldridge Cleaver published 50 years ago #OTD #OnThisDay (Feb 28 1968) →

Police attack sanitation strikers in Memphis 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Feb 23, 1968, at 23:49)

(Friday, February 23, 1968; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Police moved in with night sticks and gas guns today in Memphis as the city’s black leaders marched with workers eleven days into the Memphis sanitation strike. Continue reading Police attack sanitation strikers in Memphis 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 23 1968) →

Three teens killed in Orangeburg massacre 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'The Forgotten Orangeburg South Carolina Israelite Massacre'

(Thursday, February 8, 1968, approx. 10:30 p.m. EST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Three African-American college students (Samuel Hammond Jr., 18, Henry Smith, 19, and Delano Middleton, 17) were killed and 27 others were wounded tonight in a confrontation with highway patrolmen in Orangeburg, South Carolina, during a civil rights protest against a whites-only bowling alley. Continue reading Three teens killed in Orangeburg massacre 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1968) →

Truman seeks to desegregate Armed Forces 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1948)

1940s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'American Experience Truman 2 of 3' (Feb. 2, 1948, at 39:49)

(Monday, February 2, 1948) — President Harry S. Truman sent a special message to Congress today on civil rights, announcing the he had “instructed the secretary of defense to take steps to have the remaining instances of discrimination in the armed services eliminated as rapidly as possible.” Continue reading Truman seeks to desegregate Armed Forces 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 2 1948) →

Eartha Kitt makes First Lady cry 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 18 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, Popular Music 1960s, Television 1960s, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'Eartha Kitt Said Black Lives Matter in 1968'

(Thursday, January 18, 1968, at approximately 2:00 p.m. EST) — Singer Eartha Kitt, having debuted as the third actress to play the role of Catwoman in the Batman TV series a month ago, stunned other guests at a White House luncheon today when she angrily told Lady Bird Johnson that American youth was rebelling because of the Vietnam War. Continue reading Eartha Kitt makes First Lady cry 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 18 1968) →

LBJ talks Vietnam, presses programs 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 17 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'President Johnson's 1968 State of the Union Address, 1/17/68. MP200.'

(Wednesday, January 17, 1968, 9:05 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War and the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson said tonight he’s not yet satisfied that Hanoi had met his requirements for a bombing halt of North Vietnam and he outlined an expanded program of legislation for the cities and the hard-core unemployed, in his 1968 State of the Union Address. Continue reading LBJ talks Vietnam, presses programs 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 17 1968) →

Jimmy ‘The Greek’ Snyder fired for racial remarks 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 16 1988)

1980s, African-American Civil Rights, Television 1980s


Video: 'Jimmy The Greek Ruins His Career'

(Saturday, January 16, 1988) —Jimmy “The Greek” Snyder was dismissed by CBS Sports today, one day after the veteran commentator made derogatory racial comments about athletes. Continue reading Jimmy ‘The Greek’ Snyder fired for racial remarks 30 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 16 1988) →

King celebrates 39th birthday 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 15 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights


Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Jan. 15, 1968, at 18:02)

(Monday, January 15, 1968, 2:00 p.m. EST; during the African-American civil rights movement (1954–1968)) — Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr., recruiting volunteers and raising money for the Poor People’s Campaign, took a few minutes today to celebrate his 39th (and as it turned out, his final) birthday today at a surprise party at Ebenezer Baptist’s old educational building in Atlanta. Continue reading King celebrates 39th birthday 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 15 1968) →