Jonathan A. Rodgers became president of CBS’s television stations division on September 3, 1990. He was tasked with overseeing CBS’s network-affiliated television stations, a role that involved managing their operations and helping to steer the network’s overall strategy in the competitive TV market. Rodgers had a notable career in media management, and his leadership at CBS was a significant point in his career.

On September 3, 1970, representatives from 27 African nations gathered in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for the first Congress of African People (CAP). The conference was a significant event aimed at promoting unity and solidarity among African nations in the fight against colonialism, apartheid, and imperialism, while also addressing social, economic, and political issues affecting the continent.

The Congress was also notable for its role in encouraging African diaspora involvement in these struggles, as it brought together African leaders, intellectuals, and activists from around the world. The event was a major step towards fostering pan-Africanism and enhancing collaboration across African nations and communities.

On September 3, 1919, the Lincoln Motion Picture Company released its first feature-length film, The Realization of a Negro’s Ambition. The film was directed by and starred African Americans, and it was one of the first films made by Black filmmakers aimed at depicting Black people in a more positive and dignified light, countering the negative stereotypes prevalent in early Hollywood films. The Lincoln Motion Picture Company, founded by Noble Johnson, was one of the earliest African American film studios and played a significant role in the history of Black cinema.

On September 3, 1918, during World War I, five soldiers from the British Army were hanged for desertion. The soldiers were executed for abandoning their posts and deserting the military in the face of battle. This period saw high levels of pressure and stress on soldiers, and desertion was a common issue faced by military leadership. The executions were part of the harsh discipline the military imposed to maintain order and morale during the war, particularly during intense fighting like the Battle of Amiens.

Charles Hamilton Houston was born on September 3, 1895. He was a prominent African American lawyer and civil rights activist who played a pivotal role in challenging racial segregation in the United States. Houston served as the chief legal strategist for the NAACP and was instrumental in the legal battles that led to the landmark Brown v. Board of Education case, which ended racial segregation in public schools.

His work helped to lay the foundation for the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. Houston’s dedication to fighting racial injustice and his contributions to civil rights make him a crucial figure in American history.

On September 3, 1891, John Stephens Durham was appointed as the minister to Haiti. He served as a U.S. diplomat during the presidency of Benjamin Harrison. As the U.S. minister to Haiti, Durham’s role involved representing American interests in Haiti and working to maintain diplomatic relations between the two countries. The position of minister was a precursor to the later position of ambassador.

On September 3, 1891, cotton pickers in the United States, particularly in the South, organized a union and went on strike. This marked a significant moment in the labor movement, as workers, many of whom were African American, began advocating for better wages, working conditions, and fair treatment. The strike was part of a broader effort to improve conditions for agricultural workers, who were often subjected to grueling hours, poor pay, and harsh working conditions.

It is seen as an important early step in the long history of labor organizing in the agricultural sector, though the movement faced significant resistance, especially from landowners and the broader economic system of the time.

On September 3, 1868, the Georgia legislature expelled 28 Black representatives from the lower house after they were deemed ineligible to hold office. The event was part of a broader pattern of racial discrimination following the Civil War, especially during Reconstruction, where Southern states resisted integrating newly freed African Americans into political life.

The Georgia legislature’s decision sparked a significant political conflict. In response to the expulsion, Congress refused to admit Georgia to the Union until the state seated the expelled Black representatives. This was part of Congress’s broader Reconstruction efforts to ensure that Southern states adhered to new constitutional amendments that granted civil rights and voting rights to African Americans.

Eventually, Georgia’s legislature was forced to reinstate the expelled Black lawmakers to comply with federal requirements, marking a pivotal moment in the ongoing struggle for civil rights during Reconstruction.

On September 3, 1865, the Freedmen’s Bureau, established by Congress in 1865 to aid formerly enslaved African Americans in the South, was ordered to stop seizing abandoned land. This order marked a significant shift in policy as the Bureau had been distributing land to freed people, often from land previously abandoned by Confederate owners. The land distribution was a crucial aspect of the Reconstruction efforts, aimed at providing economic independence and stability to newly freed African Americans.

However, the policy of land redistribution faced strong opposition from Southern white landowners and political leaders. In the face of pressure, President Andrew Johnson had already begun to reverse many of the policies designed to help freed people, including land redistribution. The cessation of land seizures, therefore, led to many freed individuals losing the land they had begun to farm, further hindering their economic advancement.

This shift contributed to the broader challenges faced during Reconstruction, as the South grappled with the integration of formerly enslaved people into American society.

September 3, 1838, is a significant day in history as it marks the day Frederick Douglass, the renowned abolitionist, and writer, escaped from slavery. Douglass, born into slavery in Maryland, managed to flee to the North using the alias “Stanley” and disguised as a sailor. His escape was a turning point in his life, enabling him to become one of the most prominent voices in the fight for abolition and human rights. His memoirs, particularly “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,” have played an essential role in the anti-slavery movement and in educating the public about the harsh realities of slavery.

On September 3, 1783, Richard Allen, who would later become the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, purchased his freedom. Born into slavery in 1760 in Philadelphia, Allen was able to buy his freedom from his master, and he went on to play a significant role in the religious and social life of African Americans in the early United States.

His purchase of freedom was a pivotal moment in his life, as it allowed him to pursue a calling in ministry. Allen eventually founded the AME Church in 1816, which became the first independent Protestant denomination established by African Americans. His work as a preacher and leader was central to the growth of African American religious communities and civil rights activism.