Today In Black History: The Founding of Liberia
The first independent African nation was founded by free African Americans.
Issue #688 Today In Black History, Thursday, August 1, 2024
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Today’s Black History WOW!
The Flag of Liberia
The roots of Liberia's founding can be traced back to the early 19th century when the American Colonization Society (ACS), founded in 1816, played a pivotal role in the creation of Liberia. The ACS was a coalition of abolitionists and slaveholders united under a complex common goal: to resettle free African Americans in Africa.
Despite the inherently controversial motives behind the ACS—ranging from genuine humanitarian concerns to subtle racism and the preservation of a racially homogeneous society in the United States—the organization commenced its mission. In 1820, the first group of African American settlers embarked on a journey to what would become the independent country of Liberia.
The initial settlers faced daunting challenges, including unfamiliar tropical diseases, conflicts with indigenous groups, and the daunting task of building a new society from scratch. However, their resolve was unwavering.
On July 26, 1847, Liberia declared its independence, establishing itself as the first African republic. Joseph Jenkins Roberts became the nation's first president. Liberia's flag, constitution, and governmental structure were modeled after that of the United States.
However, Liberia's history is also marked by paradoxes and complexities. The settlers, though once oppressed, found themselves in power over indigenous African communities. This dynamic led to tensions and inequalities that have rippled through Liberia’s history.
Today In Black History
In 1619, a ship carrying “twenty-odd Negroes” landed at Jamestown, Virginia. This marked the beginning of Africans being enslaved in America, hence the title and mission of “The 1619 Project.”
In 1834, slavery was abolished in the British Empire.
In 1867, Blacks in Tennessee became the first Black men to vote in a Southern state.
In 1879, Mary Eliza Mahoney became the first African American to graduate from a nursing school when she graduated from the nursing program at the New England Hospital for Women and Children.
In 1920, the national convention of Marcus Garvey’s Universal Negro Improvement Association opened in Liberty Hall in Harlem, New York.
In 1925, the National Bar Association was formed as an advocacy organization for Black attorneys who were denied admission to the American Bar Association.
In 1936, Dr. Benjamin E. Mays was named president of Morehouse College.
In 1954, the South African Natives Resettlement Act commenced, empowering the government to remove Africans from any area within and next to the magisterial district of Johannesburg.
In 1960, the African nation of Dahomey (now named Benin) gained its independence from France.
In 1961, Whitney Young, Jr. was named the executive director of the National Urban League.
In 1964, Arthur Ashe, the first Black male to win Wimbledon, became the first Black person named to the U.S. Davis Cup team.
In 1993, Ronald H. Brown, the former chairman of the Democratic National Committee was appointed head of the Department of Commerce by President Bill Clinton.
In 1993, Dr. Barbara Ross-Lee (sister of Diana Ross), who is also a Naval Officer and medical educator, assumed the position as dean of Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, becoming the first Black person to head a medical school in the United States.
In 2012, St. Augustine’s College, originally founded in 1867 in Raleigh, North Carolina, became St. Augustine’s University. It is one of the oldest HBCUs, and is closely related to the Episcopal Church.
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