On August 11, 1965, the U.S. Senate confirmed Thurgood Marshall’s nomination as the U.S. Solicitor General. Marshall became the first African American to hold this position. Before that, he had already gained national recognition for his work as a lawyer, particularly for his victory in Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which ended racial segregation in public schools. His confirmation as Solicitor General marked a significant step in his career, which eventually led to his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1967.
1965 - Six-day insurrection started in L.A.
The Watts Riots, also known as the Watts Rebellion, started on August 11, 1965, in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. The riots were sparked by the arrest of an African American motorist, Marquette Frye, and escalated due to tensions surrounding police brutality, racial inequality, and poor living conditions in the area. The violence continued for six days, and the National Guard was deployed on August 13 to restore order.
The toll from the rebellion was significant, with 34 people killed, over 1,000 injured, and nearly 4,000 arrested. The property damage was estimated at around $35 million. The Watts Riots highlighted the deep-seated racial and socio-economic issues facing African Americans in urban America during the 1960s, and it became a pivotal moment in the Civil Rights Movement.
1964 - Race riot, Paterson, New Jersey
The race riot in Paterson, New Jersey, on August 11, 1964, was part of a series of racial disturbances that erupted across the United States during the summer of 1964. The riot in Paterson was triggered by racial tensions in the city, which had a large African American population. The unrest was sparked by accusations of police brutality and dissatisfaction with the social and economic conditions that black residents were facing.
Paterson had experienced ongoing issues of racial discrimination, unemployment, and poverty, which were compounded by a strained relationship between the local police and the black community. These tensions escalated when an incident involving police officers allegedly brutalizing a black man sparked violent protests.
The riot resulted in several days of unrest, with rioters clashing with police, looting, and setting fires. It was one of the many race riots in the summer of 1964, reflecting the broader national struggles around civil rights, racial inequality, and tensions between African American communities and law enforcement.
The events of that summer, including the Paterson riot, were precursors to the larger urban uprisings that would unfold in later years, such as the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles. These riots underscored the growing demand for civil rights reforms and the deep-seated issues of racial injustice in America.
1949 - Peter Marray Marshall appointed to the American Medical Association's (AMA) House of Delegates.
On August 11, 1949, Peter Marray Marshall of New York was appointed to the American Medical Association’s (AMA) House of Delegates. The AMA’s House of Delegates serves as its policy-making body, representing physicians across the United States and helping guide the organization in addressing issues related to healthcare and the medical profession. Marshall’s appointment would have marked his involvement in this influential role, contributing to the AMA’s leadership and decisions during his time in the House of Delegates.
1925 - Carl Thomas Rowan was born
Carl Thomas Rowan was born on August 11, 1925, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a prominent American journalist, author, and civil rights advocate. Rowan was known for his work as a reporter and columnist, as well as for his leadership in social justice issues. He also served as a director of the United States Information Agency under President John F. Kennedy. Rowan’s contributions to media, politics, and civil rights made him a significant figure in 20th-century American history. He passed away in 2000.
1921 - Author of "Roots", Alex Haley was born
Alex Haley, the author of the groundbreaking book Roots: The Saga of an American Family, was born on August 11, 1921, in Ithaca, New York. His work, particularly Roots, had a profound impact on American culture and history by tracing his family’s history back to Africa, focusing on the legacy of slavery and its effects on generations of African Americans. Roots became a major bestseller and was later adapted into a successful miniseries. Haley’s work continues to be highly regarded for its cultural significance.
1873 - J Rosamond Johnson born
J. Rosamond Johnson was an influential American composer, singer, and actor, born on August 11, 1873. He is best known for co-composing the music for the iconic song “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” often referred to as the “Black National Anthem.” This song was written in 1900 with lyrics by his brother, James Weldon Johnson, and has since become a symbol of the African American struggle for equality and justice.
In addition to his contributions to music, J. Rosamond Johnson had a career as a performer. He worked on Broadway and was active in the Black theater scene. His compositions, along with his brother’s writings, played a significant role in shaping African American culture and artistic expression in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
1868 - Death of Thaddeus Stevens
Thaddeus Stevens, a prominent U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania, passed away on August 11, 1868. He was a key figure in the Radical Republican movement during the Reconstruction era following the American Civil War. Stevens was one of the chief architects of the Radical Reconstruction program, which sought to impose civil rights protections for formerly enslaved people and to restructure the Southern states after the Confederacy’s defeat.
Stevens was known for his strong stance on abolition and his advocacy for the rights of African Americans. He pushed for the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments to the Constitution, which abolished slavery, granted citizenship, and protected voting rights for African Americans, respectively. His fierce advocacy for racial equality and his uncompromising approach to Reconstruction made him a controversial and polarizing figure, especially in the South, but he is remembered as a champion for civil rights during a critical period in American history.
His death marked the loss of one of the most important figures in the struggle for racial equality and Reconstruction reforms.
1820 - African Methodist Episcopal Conference
On August 11, 1820, the African Methodist Zion Church and the Asbury African Methodist Church of New York City established their own separate African Methodist Episcopal Conference, still under the Methodist Episcopal Church. This move was significant in the history of African American religious institutions in the United States, as it marked a step towards autonomy in organizing their own ecclesiastical structure. Both churches had originally been part of the broader Methodist movement but sought independence in order to better serve the needs of African Americans, particularly in the context of racial tensions and segregation.
This event eventually contributed to the formation of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, which formally split from the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1816. The AME Church became the first independent Protestant denomination founded by African Americans, with a strong emphasis on freedom, education, and social justice. The African Methodist Zion Church, often referred to as the “Zion Church,” would continue its growth alongside the AME Church, both becoming key institutions in the African American community.
