William Still Welcome to Black Mail, where we bring you Black History—Special Delivery! Underground Railroad Map The Underground Railroad was a network of individuals and organizations that helped people of African descent escape enslavement. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, was a pivotal hub and a frequent stop for those enslaved seeking to reach freedom in Canada or other northern cities. The city had assembled an extensive network of abolitionists and activists to assist those seeking freedom. Born free in New Jersey, William Still (1821–1902) was a leader in this effort. He dedicated his life t ..read more

Elaine 12 Defendants Welcome to Black Mail, where we bring you Black History—Special Delivery! The 1919 Elaine Massacre took place in Elaine, Arkansas. One of the deadliest racial lynchings in U.S. history, the massacre began when black sharecroppers formed the Progressive Farmers and Household Union of America to demand higher wages and better cotton prices. Even with cotton prices soaring exponentially, black sharecroppers were still being paid low wages. The union planned to have white attorney Ulysses Branton represent them. Many of the sharecroppers were also World War One veterans who ha ..read more

Welcome to Black Mail, where we bring you Black History–Special Delivery! On August 7, 1831, thirty-year-old Nat Turner believed that a solar eclipse was a sign for him to embark on a slave uprising. A devout Christian, Turner documented experiencing several visions over the course of his life, which he believed God had given him as directions to free the enslaved.   Nat Turner was born enslaved in Southampton County, Virginia, around October 1800. His African-born mother raised him. At birth, he reportedly had several markings on his chest, which his family believed were signs from ..read more

Public Domain Welcome to Black Mail, where we bring you Black History—Special Delivery! The National League For The Protection Of Colored Women was founded in 1906 by Frances Kellor and S.W. Layton. Layton was a black woman suffragist, religious leader, and civil rights activist. Kellor was a white social worker, author, and immigration reformer. The League focused its efforts on aiding women domestic workers in northern U.S. cities. At that time, nearly 90% of jobs for black women were restricted to domestic work. The pay was low, and the hours were long in these roles. Layton and Kellor join ..read more

Black Senator and Representatives in the 41st and 42nd Congress of the United States – 1872 Welcome to Black Mail, where we bring you Black History—Special Delivery! During the Reconstruction era period of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the Black and Tan Republican Party emerged. The party was comprised of African Americans who supported the Republican Party, hoping to achieve equality, political representation, and economic opportunity. The Reconstruction era, which ensued following the Civil War, provided opportunities for political representation and engagement for formerly enslav ..read more

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Photographs and Prints Division, The New York Public Library. “Dancers performing the Cakewalk” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. https://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/7f1c693a-9d78-e4f8-e040-e00a18061c4a Welcome to Black Mail, where we bring you Black History—Special Delivery!! Originating in the Southern United States, the cakewalk gained popularity In the late 19th century. First called the “prize walk,” the dance was a satirical performance and contest featuring enslaved Africans. The dance performance mimicked the for ..read more

Michele Roberts Welcome to Black Mail, where we bring you Black History–Special Delivery! Born in 1956, Michele A. Roberts has blazed an incredible trail of sports leadership in the United States. She was the first woman executive director of the National Basketball Players Association Union (NBPA) and the first woman to hold such a pivotal position in a major professional sports union in North America. Roberts grew up in a New York City South Bronx housing project. Roberts earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wesleyan University in 1977 and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Califo ..read more

Welcome to Black Mail, where we bring you Black History—Special Delivery! Named after a Dutch word for “pirate,” the filibuster has long been a contentious tradition in American politics, specifically within the U.S. Senate. A filibuster is a method used in the United States Senate to delay or block a vote on a measure by preventing debate on it from ending. The Senate’s rules place minimal restrictions on debate. Typically, if no other senator is speaking, a senator who seeks recognition is entitled to speak for as long as they wish. While supporters argue it protects minority rights and bo ..read more

Georgia Gilmore Welcome to Black Mail, where we bring you Black History—Special Delivery! Throughout the Montgomery Bus Boycott, there was an untold number of unsung heroes who worked tirelessly. In today’s post, we honor one of these unsung heroes, Georgia Gilmore. Using her culinary skills, she became a community organizer and change agent. The Montgomery Bus Boycott was an expensive and complex undertaking that required both coordination and cash. The coordination included fundraising, marketing, communications, legal counsel, and security, all supporting a network of volunteers and vehicl ..read more

Welcome to Black Mail, where we bring you Black History—Special Delivery! The Compromise of 1877 was an informal agreement between southern Democrats and allies of Republican candidate Rutherford Hayes to settle the result of the 1876 presidential election. This period also marked the end of the Reconstruction era. During Reconstruction, efforts were made to mitigate the social, political, and economic inequities of slavery. Its aim was also to facilitate readmission to the Union of the 11 states that had seceded during and leading up to the Civil War. African American Senator and Republicans ..read more