THIS MONTH IN BLACK HISTORY

February 6, 1820, the first organized immigration of freed slaves to Africa departed from New York. The “Mayflower of Liberia” and its 86 passengers, set sail to Freetown, Sierra Leone, in West Africa.

February 3, 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified, guaranteeing the right to vote regardless of race and intending to ensure, with the Fourteenth Amendment, the civil rights of former slaves.

February 9, 1952, Ralph Ellison’s novel “Invisible Man” won the National Book Award

Feb 9, 1965, Martin Luther King met with Pres. Johnson to discuss black voting rights Feb 4, 1986, U.S. Postal Service issued postage stamp honoring Sojourner Truth

February 21, 1965 Malcolm X is assassinated in the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem

February 18, 2006, Shani Davis became the first Black to win an individual gold medal in Winter Olympic history.

February 20, 2014, Nadine Hunt-Robinson was appointed to the Common Council as a surprise selection by the City Democratic Committee when appointed in by Mayor Thomas Roach and the Common Council, She is the first African American Woman to serve on the White Plains Common Council.

February 5, 2016, Stephanie G. Vanderpool makes history as the first African American Woman appointed to the role of Commissioner of Assessment and Taxation (City Assessor) in the City of Mount Vernon.

On Friday, February 9, 2018, Kathie Davidson become the first African-American Administrative Judge of New York state’s Ninth Judicial District.

February 16, 2022, Tajian Nelson makes history as the first African-American Female Westchester County Board of Election Commissioner after being unanimously selected by the Westchester County Democratic Party’s Executive Committee. She replaces Reginald Lafayette, who died in January. Nelson has worked at the board under Lafayette for years.