AUGUST

August 1, 1879 - Mary Eliza Mahoney graduates from the New England Hospital for Women and Children, becomming the first black professional nurse in America

August 2, 1924 - James Baldwin, author of Go Tell It On The Mountain, The Fire Next Time, and Another Country, born

August 3, 1800 - Gabriel Prosser leads slave revolt in Richmond, Va, August 4, 1810 - Abolitionist Robert Purvis born.

August 5, 1962 - Nelson Mandela, South African freedom fighter, imprisoned. He was not released until 1990.

August 6, 1867 - Actor Ira Aldridge dies and is buried in Lodz, Poland.

August 7, 1894 - Joseph Lee patents kneading machine.

August 8, 1865 - Polar explorer Matthew Henson born.

August 9, 1936 - Jesse Owens wins fourth gold medal at Summer Olympics in Berlin.

August 10, 1989 - General Colin Powell is nominated chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, the African American to hold the post.

August 11, 1921 - Alex Haley, author of Roots, born.

August 12, 1977 - Steven Biko, leader of the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa, arrested.

August 13, 1981 - The Reagan Administration undertakes its review of 30 federal regulations, including rules of civil rights to prevent job discrimination.

August 14, 1989 - The North Carolina Black Repertory Company hosts the first National Black Theater Festival in Winston-Salem, NC.

August 15, 1888 - Granville T. Woods patents electromechanical brake.

August 16, 1922 - Author Louis E. Lomax born.

August 17, 1849 - Lawyer-activist Archibald Henry Grimké, who challenged the segregation policies of President Woodrow Wilson, born.

August 18, 1859 - Harriet Wilson's Our Nig is first novel publsihed by a black writer.

August 19, 1954 - Dr. Ralph J. Bunche namedundersecretary of the United Nations.

August 20, 1993 - Dr. David Satcher named director of the Centers for Disease Control.

August 21, 1831 - Nat Turner leads slave revolt in Virginia.

August 22, 1843 - Henry Highland Garnett calls for a general strike by slaves.

August 23, 1926 - Carter Woodson, historian, author, inaugurated Negro History Week and later produced of the Negro History Bulletin.

August 24, 1950 - Judge Edith Sampson named first black delegate to
the United Nations.

August 25, 1908 - National Association of Colored Nurses founded.

August 26, 1920 - 19th Amendment to the Constitution ratified, giving women the right to vote.

August 27, 1935 - Mary McLeod Bethune founds the National Council of Negro Women.

August 28, 1888 - Granville T. Woods patents railway telegraphy.

August 29, 1920 - Saxophonist Charlie "Bird" Parker born.

August 30, 1983 - Lt. Col. Guion S. Bluford Jr. becomes the first African American astronaut in space.

August 31, 1836 - Henry Blair patents cotton planter.