Today In Black History
Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman
Issue #447 Black History Friday, January 5, 2024
Welcome to this Today in Black History post. Black History IS American History, no matter how hard some people try to erase our history and contributions.
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Today’s Black WOW!
Tomorrow, January 6, 2024, is the 3rd anniversary of the insurrection against the United States and the attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Many people helped to save the day, including Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman.
His bravery and quick-thinking actions diverted a group of rioters away from the Senate Chamber, towards backup officers who were able to secure the area. This allowed lawmakers to safely evacuate and protected the democratic processes taking place within the Capitol.
Officer Goodman was subsequently promoted to Acting Deputy Senate Sergeant at Arms to honor his actions and was also awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, one of the highest civilian honors in the United States, by a bipartisan group of lawmakers.
Before the events of January 6, Eugene Goodman had a notable career in the United States Army. He served in the military for over a decade, including deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan. He attained the rank of Sergeant, and his service was recognized with several awards, including the Iraq Campaign Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.
Officer Goodman joined the Capitol Police force in 2009 and served as a uniformed officer in the Senate Division. His bravery during the insurrection demonstrated his commitment to protecting the democratic process and the safety of lawmakers.
Today In Black History
- In 1804, the Ohio legislature passed the first of a succession of Northern Black Laws that restricted the rights and movement of free Blacks in the North. The constitutions of three states, Illinois Indiana, and Oregon, barred Black settlers in the 19th century.
- In 1911, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, a Black Greek Letter Organization, was founded at Indiana University.
- In 1975, “The Wiz,” the longest-running Black musical, opened on Broadway.
- In 2022, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards pardoned Homer Plessy for buying a whites-only train ticket in 1892 that resulted in the US Supreme Court's “separate but equal” ruling in 1896
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