On this day, John S. Rock—a lawyer, physician, and abolitionist—passed away. In 1865, he made history as the first African American admitted to practice before the U.S. Supreme Court. A man of many talents, Rock was also a licensed dentist and doctor, making him one of the most accomplished Black professionals of his time. He was also a vocal advocate for civil rights and a passionate supporter of the Union cause during the Civil War.
Rock famously coined the phrase “Black is beautiful” nearly a century before it became a cultural rallying cry.
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