On November 7, 1989, David Dinkins was elected as the first African American mayor of New York City. Prior to his mayoralty, Dinkins served as Manhattan Borough President and was a prominent figure in Harlem’s political scene.  His election marked a significant milestone in the city’s history, reflecting a move towards greater diversity and representation in its leadership.

Dinkins’ tenure as mayor from 1990 to 1993 was characterized by efforts to address issues such as crime, economic development, and racial tensions. Despite facing numerous challenges, his administration made notable strides in improving the city’s infrastructure and fostering community relations.

His legacy continues to influence New York City’s political landscape, serving as an inspiration for future generations of leaders committed to public service and social justice.

• Carl Stokes was elected mayor of Cleveland, Ohio. Stokes was sworn in on November 13 becoming the first African American to lead a major U.S. city.

• Richard Hatcher was elected mayor of Gary, Indiana, marking another milestone in African American political leadership.

Supreme Court in Baltimore case banned segregation in public recreational facilities.

• The Interstate Commerce Commission banned segregation on interstate buses in the landmark case Sarah Keys v. Carolina Coach Company.

• The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against segregation in public parks and playgrounds, further dismantling institutionalized racial barriers.

• The Black Student Movement (BSM) was established at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to address issues of Black student recruitment, admissions, and integration.

On November 7, 1989, Lawrence Douglas Wilder was elected governor of Virginia, becoming the first African American to be elected as governor of a U.S. state.  Wilder, a Democrat and the incumbent lieutenant governor, narrowly defeated Republican candidate J. Marshall Coleman in one of the closest elections in Virginia’s history.  He was sworn into office on January 13, 1990, and served until 1994.

Wilder’s election was a historic milestone, as he was the first African American to be elected governor of a U.S. state.  Prior to his governorship, Wilder served as a state senator and as lieutenant governor, demonstrating a longstanding commitment to public service in Virginia.

His tenure as governor was marked by a focus on fiscal responsibility and public safety. Wilder worked on crime and gun control initiatives and successfully lobbied Congress to reallocate highway funds to states with greater needs, benefiting Virginia’s transportation infrastructure.

Wilder’s groundbreaking election paved the way for future African American leaders in U.S. politics, symbolizing progress in the ongoing pursuit of racial equality in governance.

On November 7, 1978, five African American politicians were elected to the U.S. Congress, marking a significant moment in Black political history:

1. William H. Gray III (D-PA) – Served Pennsylvania’s 2nd Congressional District and later became the first African American to chair the House Budget Committee.
2. Bennett Stewart (D-IL) – Elected to represent Illinois’ 1st Congressional District.
3. Melvin Evans (R-Virgin Islands) – The first and only Republican delegate elected to represent the U.S. Virgin Islands in Congress.
4. Julian Dixon (D-CA) – Served California’s 28th Congressional District and was a key figure in the Congressional Black Caucus.
5. Mickey Leland (D-TX) – Represented Texas’ 18th Congressional District, advocating for humanitarian efforts, especially in Africa.

This election showcased the growing power and representation of Black leaders in U.S. politics.

November 7, 1978, marked a significant political upset in the U.S., particularly affecting two prominent Black politicians:

? Mervyn Dymally Defeated in California

• Mervyn Dymally, the first Black Lieutenant Governor of California (1975–1979), lost his re-election bid to Republican Mike Curb.
• Dymally had previously served in the California State Assembly and Senate before becoming Lt. Governor.
• Despite his defeat, he later returned to politics, serving in the U.S. House of Representatives (1981–1993).

? Senator Edward W. Brooke Defeated in Massachusetts

• Edward W. Brooke, the first African American elected to the U.S. Senate by popular vote (1966), lost his re-election bid to Democrat Paul Tsongas.
• A moderate Republican, Brooke was known for his work on civil rights, housing, and opposition to Nixon’s Watergate cover-up.
• His defeat marked a significant shift in Massachusetts politics, as Tsongas represented a rising liberal movement.

Both losses reflected broader political shifts in the late 1970s, with a more conservative trend in California and a progressive wave in Massachusetts.

On November 7, 1972, Barbara Jordan was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, becoming the first African American woman from a Southern state to serve in Congress.  Representing Texas’s 18th district, Jordan’s election marked a significant milestone in American politics, as she and Andrew Young of Georgia became the first African Americans elected to Congress from the Deep South since Reconstruction.

Prior to her congressional tenure, Jordan made history in the Texas Senate, becoming the first African American state senator since 1883 and the first Black woman elected to the Texas state legislature.  During her time in the Texas Senate, she was known for her legislative effectiveness, including the passage of the state’s first minimum wage law and anti-discrimination clauses in business contracts.

In Congress, Jordan continued her trailblazing path, gaining national attention for her role on the House Judiciary Committee during the impeachment hearings of President Richard Nixon. Her eloquent defense of the Constitution during these hearings solidified her reputation as a powerful orator and a steadfast advocate for justice.

Jordan’s legacy continues to inspire, symbolizing resilience, dedication, and the ongoing fight for equality in American politics.

On November 7, 1970, race riots erupted in Daytona Beach, Florida, reflecting the intense racial tensions prevalent in the United States during that era. These disturbances underscored the ongoing struggles for civil rights and racial equality.

Specific details about the causes, events, and outcomes of the Daytona Beach riots on that date are limited in the available sources. However, the early 1970s were marked by numerous civil rights challenges across the country, including protests, clashes, and efforts to address systemic discrimination. The Daytona Beach incident fits within this broader context of social unrest and the fight for equality.

For a more comprehensive understanding of the events in Daytona Beach on November 7, 1970, consulting local archives, newspaper records, or historical societies in the Daytona Beach area may provide more detailed information.

1967 was a year of intense civil unrest in the United States, marked by numerous racial uprisings and protests against racial injustice, economic inequality, and police brutality.

November 7, 1967 – Senate Report on Increasing Riots

On this day, the Senate Permanent Investigations Subcommittee released a report highlighting the alarming rise in major riots across the country. According to the report:

• 75 major riots occurred in 1967, compared to 21 in 1966.
• 83 people were killed in 1967 riots, compared to 11 in 1966 and 36 in 1965.

Context of 1967 Riots

The summer of 1967, often referred to as the “Long, Hot Summer,” saw over 150 race-related disturbances in American cities. The most significant uprisings included:

• Detroit Riot (July 23-28, 1967) – One of the deadliest in U.S. history, resulting in 43 deaths and over 7,200 arrests.
• Newark Riot (July 12-17, 1967) – Sparked by police brutality, leading to 26 deaths and widespread destruction.
• Other cities affected included Milwaukee, Washington, D.C., and Cambridge, MD.

Aftermath

The increasing unrest prompted President Lyndon B. Johnson to establish the Kerner Commission in 1968 to investigate the causes of the riots. The commission’s report famously concluded:
“Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white—separate and unequal.”

The riots of 1967 remain a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement, influencing future policies on urban development, policing, and racial equality.

On November 7, 1967, Edward W. Brooke was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP for his outstanding public service.

Who Was Edward W. Brooke?

• He made history in 1966 by becoming the first Black U.S. Senator elected by popular vote and the first African American senator since Reconstruction.
• He represented Massachusetts in the U.S. Senate from 1967 to 1979 as a Republican.
• As a senator, he was known for his work in civil rights, affordable housing, and consumer protection.
• He was a strong advocate for the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which helped end racial discrimination in housing.

What is the Spingarn Medal?

• The Spingarn Medal is the NAACP’s highest honor, awarded annually to African Americans who achieve distinguished merit and service.

Edward W. Brooke’s barrier-breaking career and dedication to justice and equality left a lasting impact on American politics.

On November 7, 1963, Elston Howard made history by becoming the first African American player to win the American League Most Valuable Player (MVP) award.

? Elston Howard’s Historic Achievement (November 7, 1963)

• Howard, a catcher for the New York Yankees, had an outstanding 1963 season, leading his team with a .287 batting average, 28 home runs, and 85 RBIs.
• He was known for his defensive excellence, winning Gold Glove Awards and revolutionizing the catching position with innovations like the one-handed catching style.
• This milestone was significant because, despite Jackie Robinson breaking MLB’s color barrier in 1947, it took 16 years for an African American player to win the AL MVP.

Elston Howard’s Legacy

• 10× All-Star and 6× World Series Champion.
• First African American coach in Yankees history (1970s).
• Left a lasting impact on baseball both as a player and mentor.

Howard’s MVP win was a landmark moment in baseball, paving the way for future Black stars in Major League Baseball. ??

During the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Doris “Dorie” Miller, a Mess Attendant Third Class in the U.S. Navy, displayed extraordinary bravery. Though he was not trained for combat, Miller manned an anti-aircraft gun, defending his ship, the USS West Virginia, and reportedly shot down multiple Japanese planes. He also carried wounded sailors, including the ship’s captain, to safety.

For his heroism, Dorie Miller became the first Black American to receive the Navy Cross, one of the highest honors for valor.

On November 7, 1934, Arthur Wergs Mitchell made history by defeating Oscar DePriest in a Chicago election, becoming the first Black Democratic congressman in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Key Facts About Arthur L. Mitchell:

• He was the first African American elected to Congress as a Democrat.
• His victory marked a shift in Black political alignment, as many African Americans were beginning to move from the Republican Party (which had been the party of Lincoln) to the Democratic Party during the New Deal era.
• He served four terms (1935–1943), advocating for civil rights and economic reforms.
• He famously filed a lawsuit against the Illinois Central Railroad for racial discrimination in its segregated accommodations, a case that reached the U.S. Supreme Court (Mitchell v. United States, 1941).

Mitchell’s election was significant in the changing political landscape of Black America and set the stage for future African American Democratic leaders.

On November 7, 1916, Colonel Charles Young was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP for his outstanding military service and leadership in Liberia.

Who Was Colonel Charles Young?

• First African American Colonel in the U.S. Army.
• Served as a Buffalo Soldier and was the third Black graduate of West Point (1889).
• In 1912, he was sent to Liberia as a military attaché, where he helped organize and train the Liberian Frontier Force, establishing security in the region.
• Recognized as a brilliant leader and mentor to many Black officers.

The Spingarn Medal, established in 1914, is awarded annually by the NAACP to African Americans for distinguished achievements.

Colonel Young’s legacy remains significant in Black military history. He was posthumously promoted to Brigadier General in 2021, honoring his lifelong contributions to the U.S. Army and civil rights.

1916 was a particularly violent year in American history regarding racial violence and lynching. While the exact number of lynchings that occurred on November 7, 1916, is unclear, records from the NAACP and the Tuskegee Institute confirm that at least 50 African Americans were lynched in 1916.

Context of Racial Violence in 1916

• Lynching was a brutal tool of racial terror, primarily in the Southern United States, used to enforce white supremacy and suppress Black progress.
• 1916 saw numerous high-profile lynchings, including the horrific case of Jesse Washington, a 17-year-old Black teenager lynched in Waco, Texas, on May 15, 1916. His brutal murder was widely publicized and led to national outrage.
• The NAACP actively documented and protested these lynchings, using photography and publications to expose the racial violence.
• This year was part of the broader “Red Summer” era of racial terror that lasted into the 1920s, culminating in mass racial violence like the Tulsa Race Massacre (1921).

Lynchings began to decline in the 1930s with increased activism and the NAACP’s anti-lynching campaigns, but federal anti-lynching legislation was not officially passed until 2022, when the Emmett Till Anti-Lynching Act was signed into law.

On November 7, 1916, incumbent President Woodrow Wilson was re-elected, narrowly defeating Republican nominee Charles Evans Hughes. Wilson secured 277 electoral votes to Hughes’s 254, with the popular vote margin being approximately 3.1%.

A pivotal factor in Wilson’s victory was his success in California, where he won by a slim margin of just 3,773 votes. This narrow win in California’s 13 electoral votes was decisive in the overall outcome of the election.

Wilson’s re-election made him the first Democratic president since Andrew Jackson to serve two consecutive terms.

The 1916 election was notably close, with the outcome remaining uncertain for several days due to tight vote counts in key states. Wilson’s campaign emphasized his efforts to keep the United States out of World War I, encapsulated in the slogan “He kept us out of war,” which resonated with many voters seeking continued neutrality.

However, despite this campaign stance, the United States entered World War I in April 1917, just months after Wilson’s second term commenced.

On November 7, 1909, the Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver were organized in Mobile, Alabama, by four Josephite priests and three Catholic laymen. This fraternal organization was established to provide spiritual support, community service, and advocacy for African American Catholics, at a time when Black Catholics faced racial discrimination within the Church.

Key Facts:

• Named after St. Peter Claver, a Spanish Jesuit priest known for his dedication to helping enslaved Africans in Colombia during the 1600s.
• Created as a counterpart to the predominantly white Knights of Columbus, ensuring Black Catholics had an organization to promote unity, faith, and charity.
• One of the largest African American Catholic organizations in the U.S. today, with active councils across the country.

The Knights and Ladies of St. Peter Claver continue their mission of charitable work, youth engagement, and leadership development within Catholic communities. Their legacy represents faith, resilience, and social justice in the Black Catholic tradition.

On November 7, 1876, Meharry Medical College was founded as the medical department of Central Tennessee College in Nashville, Tennessee. It became the first medical school in the South for African Americans and remains one of the nation’s leading historically Black medical institutions.

Key Facts About Meharry Medical College:

• Founded by the Meharry brothers, a group of white philanthropists who had been inspired by a formerly enslaved man they had helped years earlier.
• Initially created to train Black physicians, it has expanded to include dentistry, research, and public health programs.
• Continues to be a major institution dedicated to addressing racial disparities in healthcare and increasing the number of Black healthcare professionals.

Meharry Medical College has played a pivotal role in advancing medical education and healthcare access for African Americans, leaving a lasting legacy in medicine and public health.

On November 7, 1876, Edward Alexander Bouchet made history by earning a Ph.D. in physics from Yale University, becoming the first African American to receive a doctorate from an American university. His achievement was groundbreaking during an era when racial barriers in higher education were nearly insurmountable.

Key Facts About Edward A. Bouchet:

• He was one of the first six people in the U.S. to earn a Ph.D. in physics.
• He graduated summa cum laude from Yale in 1874 before continuing his doctoral studies.
• Despite his brilliance, racial discrimination prevented him from securing a university teaching position.
• He dedicated his life to educating Black students, teaching for over 25 years at historically Black institutions like the Institute for Colored Youth (now Cheyney University).

Bouchet’s legacy paved the way for future Black scientists and academics, and today, the Edward A. Bouchet Graduate Honor Society continues to recognize outstanding scholars from underrepresented backgrounds.

On November 7, 1876, Edward Mitchell Bannister became the first Black artist to receive wide critical acclaim when he was awarded a first-prize medal at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition for his painting, “Under the Oak.”

Bannister, a self-taught African American artist, specialized in landscape paintings influenced by the Hudson River School and the Barbizon movement. His award-winning painting was recognized for its beauty and technique, but when judges discovered Bannister was Black, they attempted to revoke his award. However, due to public outcry, he was allowed to keep it.

Despite racism in the art world, Bannister became a prominent painter and co-founded the Providence Art Club in Rhode Island, which still exists today. His legacy paved the way for future Black artists in America.

His story remains an inspiration for overcoming barriers in the arts. ??

On November 7, 1775, Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation was issued, marking a significant moment in Black history during the American Revolution.

? Lord Dunmore’s Proclamation (November 7, 1775)

John Murray, Lord Dunmore, the royal governor of Virginia, issued a proclamation offering freedom to enslaved Black men who escaped from their Patriot (rebel) owners and joined the British army. This was the first large-scale British effort to recruit enslaved Africans during the American Revolution.

Key Points:

• The proclamation promised freedom to any enslaved man willing to bear arms for the British against the American revolutionaries.
• It terrified slave-owning colonists, as they feared mass revolts and the loss of their labor force.
• Led to the formation of Dunmore’s Ethiopian Regiment, a Black military unit that fought for the British.
• Although some enslaved people gained freedom, many later suffered due to disease, hunger, or recapture.

Dunmore’s actions helped shape Black military involvement in the American Revolution and highlighted the contradiction of slavery in a war for “liberty”.

Many Black soldiers who fought for the British were eventually evacuated to Canada, the Caribbean, or Britain after the war, while others were re-enslaved.