On July 30, 1822, James Varick was consecrated as the first bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church (AME Zion Church). This was a significant event in the history of the church, which is one of the oldest African American denominations in the United States. Varick was a prominent leader in the church and played a key role in its establishment and growth, especially at a time when African Americans faced immense challenges and discrimination, even within religious communities. His consecration marked an important step in the empowerment of African Americans in their religious and social lives.

Louis Lomax, the influential African American journalist and author, passed away on July 30, 1970. He was known for his groundbreaking work in the civil rights movement and his insightful journalism. Lomax was particularly recognized for his book The Death of White Sociology and for being one of the first to extensively write about Malcolm X, helping to bring attention to his ideas and activism. Lomax also had a significant role in the development of African American media and was a key figure in raising awareness about racial issues during the 1960s and 1970s.

The Milwaukee riot took place from July 30 to August 3, 1967, during a time of racial tension across the United States. The riot was sparked by an incident involving police brutality, leading to clashes between African American residents and the police. The National Guard was called in to restore order, and the unrest resulted in the deaths of four people.

This was part of a series of racial riots in American cities in the summer of 1967, fueled by frustrations over poor living conditions, racial discrimination, and police violence. The Milwaukee riot, while not as widely known as those in Detroit or Newark, was significant in highlighting the growing racial tensions in the country.

Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1944, not July 30, 1945. He represented Harlem, New York, becoming the first African American congressman from New York State.

Before his congressional tenure, Powell was a prominent civil rights activist and pastor. He served as the pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, where he was known for his advocacy for civil rights and social justice.

In Congress, Powell was a strong advocate for civil rights and social justice. He introduced the “Powell Amendment,” which sought to bar federal funds from segregated institutions. Although the amendment did not pass, it laid the groundwork for future civil rights legislation.

Powell’s legacy includes his role in advancing civil rights and his leadership in representing Harlem in Congress. He served in the House of Representatives from 1945 to 1971, making significant contributions to the civil rights movement and the betterment of African Americans.

Buddy Guy was born on July 30, 1936, in Lettsworth, Louisiana. He is often considered one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time and is a key figure in shaping the Chicago blues sound. His influence stretches across genres, impacting rock, jazz, and blues, with many legendary musicians, such as Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, citing him as an inspiration.

Some of his most popular records include “First Time I Met The Blues” and “Stone Crazy”, both of which showcase his signature playing style, filled with expressive bends, wild improvisations, and heartfelt lyrics. He continues to be a major force in the blues world, performing and recording well into his later years.

White Democrats, led by police, attacked a convention of Black and white Republicans in New Orleans. More than 40 persons were killed, and at least 150 were wounded. Gen. Philip H. Sheridan, Military commander of the state, said, “It was not riot; it was an absolute massacre…which the mayor and the police of the city were complicit in. The attack on the Republican convention was a violent response to the political power shift taking place in the post-Civil War South. This incident, known as the New Orleans Massacre, occurred during the Reconstruction era when Southern whites were resisting the social and political advances of African Americans and their allies. The massacre is considered one of the most brutal instances of racial violence during this time.

On July 30, 1866, Edward G. Walker and Charles L. Mitchell made history by becoming the first African Americans to sit in the legislature of an American state in the post-Civil War era. Walker, the son of the famous abolitionist David Walker, and Mitchell, who was elected to the Massachusetts Assembly from Boston, both played key roles in reshaping American political life during the Reconstruction period. This milestone represented the significant progress made in civil rights following the Civil War and the abolition of slavery, although African American political participation would face many challenges in the years that followed.

On July 30, 1864, during the American Civil War, the Union forces attempted a major assault by exploding a mine beneath the Confederate lines near Petersburg, Virginia. The explosion created a large crater, which Union forces hoped to exploit. However, the attack was poorly planned, and the Union soldiers, including white and Black divisions from the Ninth Corps, faced strong resistance and heavy casualties. The Ninth Corps’ Black division, in particular, sustained significant losses during the ill-fated charge.

While the broader Union attack failed, there was some success that day. The Forty-third United States Colored Troops (U.S.C.T.), a regiment of Black soldiers, performed admirably by capturing over 200 Confederate soldiers and two stands of colors (flags), marking a notable achievement amid the overall Union defeat at the Battle of the Crater. This day highlighted the courage and contributions of Black soldiers in the Civil War, despite the challenges they faced.

President Abraham Lincoln issued the “eye-for-eye” order on July 30, 1863, during the Civil War as part of his efforts to address the treatment of African American prisoners by the Confederacy. This order was a response to the Confederacy’s policy of executing Black Union soldiers and enslaving Black prisoners of war. In the order, Lincoln warned the Confederacy that for every Black soldier or civilian killed or enslaved, the Union would retaliate by executing or condemning to hard labor an equivalent number of Confederate prisoners.

The intent behind this order was to deter the Confederacy from continuing such harsh and inhumane treatment of Black prisoners, as well as to exert pressure on the Confederate government. It had a significant restraining influence on Confederate actions, as the Confederacy, recognizing the Union’s resolve, generally took more care in the treatment of Black prisoners after this point.

This move highlights Lincoln’s moral stance on the rights of Black individuals during the war, and it was one of the ways in which the Union sought to weaken the Confederate cause while strengthening its commitment to ending slavery.

The Amistad mutiny is a famous and significant event in American history. On July 30, 1839, a group of enslaved Africans aboard the Spanish slave ship La Amistad staged a rebellion. Led by Joseph Cinqué (or Sengbe Pieh), they managed to kill the captain and other crew members, taking control of the ship. However, the rebels did not know how to navigate, and they were eventually captured off Long Island, New York, on August 26, 1839.

The case became a legal battle that went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where it was ruled in 1841 that the enslaved Africans had been illegally captured and were entitled to their freedom. The Amistad case became a symbol of the abolitionist movement and highlighted the moral and legal challenges surrounding slavery in the United States.