People, Locations, Episodes

Black History and Double Dutch (Jumprope), a story

An outline of Double Dutch is celebrated on this date’s Registry. Double Dutch is historically a jump rope game played originally by Black children (mainly girls) in rural and urban areas in America.

William Richmond, Boxing Pioneer born

*William Richmond was born on this date in 1763. He was a Black boxer.

From (Cuckold’s Town) near, Richmond, VA, he moved to Staten Island, New York where he became a free black and the first black professional boxer in America. Richmond worked as a shipyard laborer and was noticed by a British commander named Hugh Percy on the docks having a fight with a dock sailor. Percy convinced Richmond’s parents to let him travel to England where he could establish a better life. Richmond became a cabinetmaker, and took up boxing for self-defense.

York, Black Explorer of North America born

The birth of York in 1770 is celebrated on this date. He was a Black slave and explorer.

York was born in Caroline County, Virginia. He lived near the county’s York River where as a child he ran basically naked and barefoot most of the year. His diet would have been high in starch and low in protein. He lived in a cabin surrounded by a dirt yard.

Tom Molineaux, Boxer born

Tom Molineaux, a Black boxer was born on this date in 1784.

Born a slave in Georgetown, Virginia, he began boxing other slaves while plantation owners wagered on the bouts. Finally after defeating a man from another plantation, he was given his freedom and $500.

Jean Louis, Fencing Legend born

*The birth of Jean Louis in 1785 is celebrated on this date. He was a Black French fencer and teacher.

From Haiti, Louis was arguably the finest fencer who ever lived. In his youth, Jean Louis took part in a winner take all tournament to the death. In the final Jean-Louis, a short, around 5′ 2″, dueled for 1 hour with a Spanish opponent who was 6 ft tall. Then as the Spaniard lost concentration Jean-Louis finished him. Louis served as a soldier in the French army under Napoleon.

George Bonga, Interpreter, and Trapper born

On this date we celebrate the birth of George Bonga in 1802. He was a Black fur trader and trapper.

Aaron Hewlett, Physical Edu. Instructor born

*The birth of Aaron Hewlett is celebrated on this date, c. 1820. He was a Black college instructor and administrator. Aaron Molyneaux Hewlett was born in New York City to Isaac and Rachel Hewlett. He lived in Brooklyn, worked as a Pullman porter, and taught boxing and wrestling. The New York Clipper, the leading New York […]

John Ware, Cowboy, and Rancher born

*John Ware’s birth is celebrated on this date in 1845. He was a Black Canadian cowboy who was influential in the early years of the burgeoning ranching industry in Southern Alberta. John Ware was born into slavery on a plantation near Georgetown, South Carolina. However, on his marriage certificate, Ware stated that he was born […]

George F. Grant, Dentist, and Inventor born

*George Grant was born on this date in 1847. He was a Black inventor, dentist, and the first Black professor at Harvard. George Franklin Grant was born in Oswego, New York, to Phillis Pitt and Tudor Elanor Grant.  Grant entered the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in 1868 and graduated in 1870. He then took […]

Johanna July, Cowgirl born

*The birth of Johanna July is celebrated on this date in 1850.   She was a Black Seminole cowgirl.  From northern Mexico, July was the daughter of a Seminole Native American and a Black African slave.   Her family had left Florida and settled in northern Mexico after the Seminole War ended in 1842.  Around 1871, they […]

George Godfrey, Canadian Boxer born

*George Godfrey was born on this date in 1853. He was a Black Canadian boxer.

From the Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island (P.E.I.) neighborhood known as “The Bog” he left P.E.I. in his youth and worked as a porter in Boston, Massachusetts. It was there that he started training to box at Professor Bailey’s Hub City gym. At age 26, Godfrey began fighting competitively in the bare knuckles tour.

Phillip ‘Daddy’ Reid, Businessman born

*Phillip ‘Daddy’ Reid was born on this date in 1854.  He was a Black businessman, baseball administrator, and manager. Phillip Edward Reid was from Frankfort, Kentucky. Not much is known about his childhood other than that he grew up in a slave-holding state and would have been very young at the end of the American […]

Moses Fleetwood Walker, Baseball Player born

*Moses Walker was born on this date in 1856.  He was a Black professional baseball player and businessman.  Moses Fleetwood Walker was born in Mount Pleasant, Ohio.  Walker’s parents were Moses W. Walker and Caroline O’Harra.    When Walker was three years old, the family moved 20 miles northeast to Steubenville, where his father became one of the first Black […]

Oliver Lewis, Horse Jockey born

*Oliver Lewis’s birth is celebrated on this date in 1856. He was a Black horse jockey in thoroughbred racing. Lewis was born in Fayette County, Kentucky. On May 17, 1875, at 19, Lewis won the very first Kentucky Derby aboard Aristides. The pair won by two reported lengths, setting a new American record time for […]

Bud Fowler, Baseball Player born.

*Bud Fowler was born on this date in 1858. He was a Black baseball player, manager, club organizer, and barber. From Fort Plain, New York, the son of a hop-picker and barber, Bud Fowler, was christened John W. Jackson. His father had escaped from slavery and migrated to New York. In 1859, his family moved […]