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*John Audubon (April 26, 1785 - January 27, 1751). He was a French American ornithologist, naturalist, painter, and slave owner. He painted, cataloged, and described the birds of North America.

He was born in Saint Domingue, the son of Jean Audubon, a French sea captain and slave master, and Jeanne Rabin. She was a Black Creole enslaved woman from the Congo and Jean Audobon’s chambermaid and mistress.

He was raised in Nantes, France, by his stepmother. He traveled to the US to avoid the Napoleonic Wars. He caught yellow fever, and the sea captain placed him in a boarding house run by Quaker women who nursed him to recovery and taught him the Quaker form of English. He married Lucy Bakewell (1808).

He managed a family farm near Philadelphia and began the study of natural history by conducting the first bird banding on the continent. He began drawing and painting birds.

They lived in Henderson, Kentucky, they had nine enslaved people working for them in their household. They acquired several more enslaved people during the 1820s but sold them in 1830; He pursued his nature study and painting more.

He moved to New Orleans in the spring of 1821. He followed his Birds of America up with a companion work, Ornithological Biographies, and life histories of each species written with Scottish ornithologist William MacGillivray. Both the books of paintings and the biographies were published between 1827 and 1839. He continued making expeditions in North America and bought an estate on the Hudson River. In 1842 he published a popular edition of Birds of America in the US. His final work was on mammals, the Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America, which was written in collaboration with his good friend Rev. John Bachman (of Charleston, South Carolina), who supplied much of the scientific text. It was completed by his sons and son-in-law and published posthumously. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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”Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” Job‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬ ‭NIV‬‬

”After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as much as he had before.“ Job‬ ‭42‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You may face trials and tribulations that are ordained by God, they appear to make no sense to you but to God, there is a purpose. It may appear that God has abandoned you, but God is ALWAYS there, He is testing you. Do not lean on your understanding. Always seek God for Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, and Discernment before taking action. ALWAYS know God's ways, actions, and thoughts are ALWAYS higher than yours. You have to be steadfast on your journey and purposeful towards your destiny. Seek the Lord at all times, there may be temporary losses but the reward is the light at the end of the tunnel. Love your haters and pray for your friends despite the circumstances. Seek God FIRST, study His Word, pray, praise, worship, repent, celebrate, meditate, observe, believe, ask, surrender, fellowship, forgive, give, and be grateful and obedient.

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Mayor Justin Morris Bibb (born April 26, 1987) is a politician, former non-profit leader, and the Mayor of Cleveland. He is the Co-Chair of Teach for America – Ohio, and a board member for Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority, Destination Cleveland, and LAND Studio.

On November 2, 2021, he won the city’s mayoral election, becoming Cleveland’s 4th African American and 2nd youngest mayor.

He was born in Cleveland. He graduated from American University and earned a BA in Urban Studies. He was awarded a scholarship to study abroad at the London School of Economics where he completed The General Course program in Social Policy and Economics. He returned to Cleveland and attended Case Western Reserve University School of Law and Weatherhead School of Management and received his JD and MBA.

He interned for then-Senator Barack Obama and began working in local government as a Special Assistant for Education & Economic Development for Cuyahoga County, where he established the Cuyahoga County Public Policy Fellowship Program. He spent two years working in corporate strategy for Knowledge Generation Bureau before taking senior positions at Gallup, becoming the Head of Global Cities Practice. After working in New York and DC, he returned to Cleveland to serve as Vice President at KeyBank. He serves as the Chief Strategy Officer at Urbanova, a start-up focused on smart cities.

He is a nonprofit leader and co-founded Hack Cleveland following the shooting of Tamir Rice to advocate for criminal justice reform using civic technology. He founded Cleveland Can’t Wait, which is focused on advancing racial equity and economic opportunity in Cleveland’s underserved neighborhoods. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #alphaphialpha

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Darris Love (born April 26, 1980) is an actor, most notable for his role as Raymond ‘Ray’ Alvarado in The Secret World of Alex Mack. He has made appearances in episodes of numerous television shows, including Angel, ER, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Without a Trace, and Undressed, “It’s Not Fair” by singer Glenn Lewis, Janet Jackson’s music video All For You (song) “Someone to Call My Lover” and in the Monica music video “All Eyez On Me”.

His other credits include the films Gang Tapes (2001), Sucker Free City (2004), and Janky Promoters (2009).

He was in the music video How to Love by Lil Wayne (2011). #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Myron Lavell Avant (born April 26, 1978) mononymously known as Avant, is an R&B singer. He is known for his songs “Separated”, “Read Your Mind”, and “Makin’ Good Love”. He has produced three Platinum-selling albums. He has released 15 singles and 7 albums.

He was born in Cleveland, the youngest of five siblings.

He began writing songs at the age of 14. He released his debut single “Separated” in 2000. The single created a buzz and was played on the radio. In 2000, he released his debut album, My Thoughts, which sold more than 1.3 million copies in the US and 4.4 million worldwide. His debut album featured a remake with fellow R&B singer Keke Wyatt of the 1983 René & Angela ballad “My First Love”. It reached the top 5 of the R&B chart. He released his second album, Ecstasy, in 2002. It featured another of his top ten hits, “Makin’ Good Love”. His third album, Private Room, was released in 2003, and reached number four on Billboard’s R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. A track from the album, “Read Your Mind”, was ranked 13th on the Hot 100. A remix featuring Snoop Dogg appeared on the promotional vinyl and was released on September 30, 2003.

In 2006, he released his fourth album Director, which topped the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200. Its lead single, “When It Hurts”, reached #91 on the Hot 100.

He was featured in the remix of Lloyd Banks’ song “Karma” from the 2004 album The Hunger for More. He made a cameo appearance in BarberShop 2: Back in Business.

In 2009, he collaborated with Maze on a cover of “Joy and Pain” as a tribute to the band for an album called Silky Soul Music: An All-Star Tribute to Maze Featuring Frankie Beverly.

His self-titled fifth album, Avant, was released on December 9, 2008. He released his sixth studio album The Letter (formerly titled Wake Up) on December 21, 2010. His eighth album The VIII was released on September 25, 2015.

In 2019, he returned with the single “Not Gone Lose” and signed a label deal to release the album Can We Fall in Love, which was released in July 2020. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Commanding Officer Zeita Merchant (born April 26, 1976) is the Commanding Officer of the Coast Guard Sector New York, the largest port on the east coast of the US. Upon her appointment in 2021, she became the first person of an ethnic minority and the second woman to hold this position. On Veterans Day in 2021, she received a Women in Service award from the American Red Cross.

She graduated from Tougaloo College with a BS in Biology. She earned an MPA from George Washington University. She joined the Coast Guard in 1997 and noted the following about the organization’s gender bias at the time: “Everywhere I served I saw other women but they were juniors, there were no senior African American women in the Coast Guard at that point in time. So I really couldn’t see what I wanted to be”.

After more than 24 years of active-duty service, she is a recognized authority on environmental matters, maritime safety and security, and emergency management, having served in a variety of assignments across the country. She was a National Security Fellow at Harvard University’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs.

One of her role models and mentors was Dr Olivia Hooker, who was the first African American woman to join the Coast Guard. Dr Hooker joined the Coast Guard during WWII and the galley on the Coast Guard’s Staten Island, New York base is named after her. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Shondrella Dupre Avery (born April 26, 1971) is an actress, model, and comedian. Her film roles include as LaFawnduh Lucas-Dynamite in Napoleon Dynamite (2004), and supporting roles in Domino (2005) and The Secret Life of Bees (2008).

She was born in Los Angeles, as the oldest of 10 children. She has created a one-woman show titled “Ain’t I Enough.”

She graduated from Los Angeles County High School for the Arts and studied for her BFA from California State University, Los Angeles.

She began her career as a comic, performing as a member of the improvisational comedy groups The Groundlings in Los Angeles, and The Second City in Chicago. She and her family produced four different “workout” spots for up-and-coming and seasoned comics throughout Los Angeles County while working a corporate job.

She had a recurring role as Candy Taylor on One on One and became a cast member on the spinoff Cuts. She was a cast member for five seasons of Girls Behaving Badly.

She had supporting roles in the films Trippin’ and Domino. She appeared in Déjà Vu. She appeared in End of Watch.

Her husband is Ade Kester. She has been linked to many philanthropic causes. She is a children’s advocate, mentoring kids at “A Place Called Home” in South Central. She is involved with the WGA Writer’s Program for teens, speaking at high schools and universities. She gives time at Los Angeles children’s charity Penny Lane and is a sitting board member of the Sickle Cell Disease Foundation of California. She works with Coach Art, a charity offering free athletic and arts training to chronically ill children. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Tionne Tenese Watkins (born April 26, 1970) known by her stage name T-Boz, is a singer and actress. Born in Des Moines to James and Gayle Watkins, she rose to fame as a member of the girl group TLC. She has won four Grammy Awards for her work with TLC.

The group sold more than 65 million records. Since Lopes died in 2002, she and Chilli have performed as a duo.

In late 2011, plans were announced to produce a biopic on the group. Watkins and Thomas signed on as producers. The film, CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, premiered October 21, 2013. The role of Watkins was portrayed by actress/singer Drew Sidora. Her daughter, Chase, portrayed a younger her.

She has recorded solo singles like “Touch Myself” and “My Getaway”. She has been a featured vocalist on songs such as “Ghetto Love” with Da Brat, “Changes” with Society of Soul, “He Say She Say” with Keith Sweat, “Different Times” with Raphael Saadiq, and “Be Somebody” with Paula Cole. She featured on the song “It’s Good” by YoungBloodZ. She released her first solo single in over 15 years titled “Champion”. The song was released digitally, and proceeds went to help raise awareness for people suffering from blood conditions such as sickle cell and leukemia. She released her latest single digitally from her audiobook “A Sick Life” titled “mm

She appeared in Belly. She appeared in two episodes of Living Single. She served as one of the executive producers for ATL. She appeared on The Real Housewives of Atlanta. She made a guest appearance as Pam Grier in Black Dynamite. In 2009, Watkins was a participant in the eighth season of The Apprentice, finishing in 11th place. Watkins’ reality TV show Totally T-Boz, premiered on January 1, 2013, on the TLC network, and ran four episodes. The show chronicled Watkins’ quest to create a solo album, reunite with band member, Chilli, and her life with her daughter Chase.

She published a book of semi-autobiographical poetry called Thoughts. She is a national co-chair of the progressive organization Health Care Voter.

She married rapper Mack 10 (2000-2004) and they have a daughter. She had adopted a 10-month-old boy. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Marianne Raigipcien Jean-Baptiste (born April 26, 1967) is an English actress. She is known for her role in Secrets & Lies, for which she received acclaim and earned nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Golden Globe and BAFTA Award in the same category. She is known for her role as Vivian Johnson on Without a Trace (2002-09) and has since starred in television shows such as Blindspot (2015–16) and Homecoming (2018).

She was born in London to a mother from Antigua and a father from Saint Lucia, growing up in Peckham. She was classically trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London and performed at the Royal National Theatre. She was nominated for an Ian Charleson Award for her performance in Measure For Measure with the theatre company Cheek by Jowl.

She became the first Black British actress to be nominated for an Academy Award and the second Black Briton to be nominated, succeeding. She collaborated onstage in It’s a Great Big Shame.

She recorded an album of blues songs and composed the musical score for Career Girls. She performed in Paris in The Suit (Le Costume). She was acclaimed for her role as Doreen Lawrence in The Murder of Stephen Lawrence.

Jean-Baptiste relocated to the US with her husband and two daughters. She has appeared in such films as Takers, Secrets in the Walls, and Harry’s Law. She played Detroit police chief Karen Dean in RoboCop.

She was praised for her stage performance in the 2013 National Theatre production of The Amen Corner.

She attended the Women’s Image Network Awards and on Bassett’s behalf picked up an award, reading Bassett’s poetic acceptance speech for her winning role in Betty & Coretta. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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The Zanzibar Révolution of 1964, the most violent outbreak of anti-Arab violence in postcolonial African history, led to the demise of the Sultan of Zanzibar and his Arab government and the merging of the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba with the then-British colony of Tanganyika into the nation of Tanzania.

Arab control of what were once called the Spice Islands because they produced cloves, began in 1840 when Said bin Sultan, the Sultan of Oman, moved his capital from Muscat, Oman at the southern end of the Arabian Peninsula to Stone Town, Zanzibar. Arabs from Oman and other areas of the Arabian Peninsula had long inhabited the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba and from that base had established an extensive trading network that extended west into East and Central Africa and east to present-day India and Indonesia.

On December 10, 1963, Zanzibar became an independent constitutional monarchy under Sultan Jamshid Bin Abdullah. The formal declaration of Zanzibari's independence by the UK, however, exposed long-simmering racial, cultural, and economic tensions on the islands. The African majority, which could not envision social progress while power was in Arab hands, rose in rebellion only one month after independence was declared.

On January 12, 1964, African insurgents, led by John Okello, an immigrant from Uganda, and leader of the Afro-Shirazi Party, led approximately 800 followers who overwhelmed the nation’s small police force and overthrew Sultan Abdullah. An estimated 17,000 people were killed and thousands of refugees fled to Oman and other nations. Although Okello led the uprising, more moderate forces took control of the Revolution and established a new government led by Abeid Karume who was appointed President of Zanzibar. He immediately dismantled government policies that were racially biased in favor of the Arabs and instituted land reform and redistribution. He began working with the political leaders of soon-to-be independent Tanganyika. Those efforts were successful and led to the union of Zanzibar and mainland Tanganyika into the nation of Tanzania on April 26, 1964. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Debra Wilson (born April 26, 1962) known as Debra Wilson Skelton or Debra Skelton, is an actress and comedian. She is known for being the longest-serving original cast member on Mad TV. As a voice actress, she has voiced various characters on television, including Ramaraffe on Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart (2019-2020), and Grandma Shark on Baby Shark’s Big Show! (2020–present), and Kira on Dogs in Space (2021–present). She has voiced multiple characters on Black Dynamite (2012–15), All Hail King Julien (2014–16), and Spitting Image (2020–22). She starred in the films The Summerland Project (2016) and Bodied (2017).

She has had lead voice roles in video games such as Rebecca Thane in Mirror’s Edge Catalyst (2016), Amanda Waller in Batman: The Enemy Within (2017–18) and Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League (2023), Grace Walker in the Wolfenstein series (2017-19), General Lyons in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019), Sophia Akande in The Outer Worlds (2019), Cere Junda in Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (2019), Kit in Ratchet & Clank: Rift Apart (2021), Savathûn in Destiny 2 (2021–22), Harbinger in Halo Infinite (2021), Renata Glasc in League of Legends (2022–present) Batari in Far Cry Primal (2014).

She became the voice of Daisy Duck, making her the first African-American performer of the character.

She was born and raised in New York City and attended the New York City High School of the Performing Arts. She studied television and radio broadcasting at Syracuse University. She worked as a preschool teacher during the 1980s for the All Saints Church.

She made her television acting debut on The Apollo Comedy Hour and The Uptown Comedy Club, where she became a series regular. She co-hosted Can We Shop? She continued her work in television working as a spokesperson for Burger King and guest starring in New York Uncover.

She performed off-Broadway with the improvisational comedy troupe Noo Yawk Tawk.

She married writer and director Cliff Skelton (2006-10). #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Giancarlo Giuseppe Alessandro Esposito (born April 26, 1958) is an actor. He is known for portraying Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and its prequel series Better Call Saul. For this role, he won the Critics’ Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series and earned three nominations for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.

His other television roles include Federal Agent Mike Giardello in Homicide: Life on the Street, Sidney Glass / Magic Mirror in Once Upon a Time, Tom Neville in Revolution, Dr. Edward Ruskins in Dear White People, Stan Edgar in The Boys, and Moff Gideon in The Mandalorian, the lattermost of which earned him two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He portrayed Adam Clayton Powell Jr. in Godfather of Harlem. He voices Antón Castillo, the main antagonist of the video game Far Cry 6, who was modeled after his appearance. He was included in the videogame Payday 2, as “The Dentist”.

He is known for his appearances in School Daze, Do the Right Thing, Mo’ Better Blues, and Malcolm X. His other major films include Taps, King of New York, Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man, Fresh, The Usual Suspects, Ali, Last Holiday, Gospel Hill, Rabbit Hole, Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials, The Jungle Book, Money Monster, Okja, Maze Runner: The Death Cure, and Stargirl.

He attended Elizabeth Seton College in New York and earned an AA in Radio and Television Communications.

He made his Broadway debut in 1968, playing an enslaved child in Maggie Flynn. He was a member of the youthful cast of Merrily We Roll Along.

He appeared in films such as Maximum Overdrive, and Trading Places. He performed in TV shows such as Miami Vice and Spenser: For Hire.

He appeared in the acclaimed indie films Night on Earth, Smoke, as well as its sequel Blue in the Face. He appeared in Reckless and Waiting to Exhale. He was featured in the music video “California”. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Secretary Benedita Souza da Silva Sampaio (born April 26, 1942) prominent Brazilian politician and the first Afro-Brazilian member of the senate in the country, was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to José Tobias de Souza and Maria da Conceição de Souza. Mother of two children, she is married to the Brazilian actor Antonio Pitanga.

Trained as a social worker, “Bene,” entered politics in 1983 as a member of the Rio de Janeiro city government. She was elected to the Brazilian Congress in 1991 and the Senate in 1995. In 1998, she was deputy governor for the state of Rio de Janeiro. In 2004, she became Federal Secretary for Social Services and occupied a similar position in the state government of Rio de Janeiro.

She worked as a teacher and social worker before pursuing her political career. She championed the cause of Afro-Brazilian women in particular, seeking to raise awareness about their actual condition and their contribution to Brazilian history and society. She was a force behind the establishment of the National Awareness Day of Black Consciousness, celebrating Zumbi dos Palmares, the Afro-Brazilian hero.

She has occupied groundbreaking positions for women in general and Afro-Brazilian women in particular in legislative and executive functions. As Rio de Janeiro State Secretary for Social Services, she has worked on many social issues, including human trafficking, poverty, and access to education and healthcare.

Her remarkable and inspirational life has been chronicled in print and on film. Her memoir Benedita da Silva: An Afro-Brazilian Woman’s Story of Politics and Love was published in 1997, and a documentary, Nasci Mulher Negra, was released in 2000. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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John Eric Teamer (April 26, 1941 - December 21, 1994) was a gay public high school teacher in Sacramento and San Francisco, who emerged as an important community activist in San Francisco and a leader in the nationwide LBGTQ community. He was born in Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated from Blackburn College. He joined the Peace Corps and served in the Philippines for two years (1963-65).

He taught science at Sacramento Senior High School. He was a popular and well-regarded teacher. He earned an MA from Atlanta University.

He began teaching mathematics at Woodrow Wilson High School, a post he would keep until 1992. San Francisco allowed him to become active in numerous LGBTQ organizations without fear of losing his teaching position.

He began to participate in both local and national organizations that fought for LGBTQ persons and civil rights. He served on the executive committee of Community United Against Violence. He co-founded and served as co-chair, of the National Association of Black and White Men Together. The national organization committed itself to challenging racism, sexism, homophobia, and HIV-AIDS discrimination.

He was active during the HIV-AIDS epidemic. He was a member of the board of directors of the Black Coalition on AIDS and served on the National Task Force on AIDS Prevention.

He served on the Anti-Racism Committee of NABAWMT and developed an 8-point anti-racism plan to break down racial barriers against Black LGBTQ people.

The NABAWMT presented him with its Founders Award at a conference held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a “Special Achievement Award”. The City and County of San Francisco were appreciative of his long community service in this area. Mayor Frank Jordan of San Francisco and the board of supervisors presented him with a proclamation declaring November 21, 1992, John E. Teamer Day in San Francisco. This honor recognized his “tireless work in the gay and lesbian community to end racial prejudice and discrimination.” #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Staff Sergeant Golden Asro Frinks (April 26, 1920 - July 19, 2004) was born in Wampee, South Carolina is known for his activism during the Civil Rights Movement and his work with the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. When he was nine, his family, including ten other siblings, moved to Tabor City, North Carolina where his father Mark Frinks worked as a millwright and his mother Kizzie Frinks as a domestic servant. His father died shortly following their move, making his mother the family’s sole parent. Her role led to his dedication to helping those in his community.

At sixteen, he joined the Navy and moved to Norfolk. He had completed tenth grade and had a job on the naval base. He joined the local Black Democratic Club and first worked with the NAACP.

He married Mildred Ruth Holley (1942) and they had one child. He rejoined the military, voluntarily enlisting in the Army in WWII. He served as a staff sergeant at Fort McClellan, where he saw the inequality between Blacks and whites. He still did not have the right to vote when he returned home to North Carolina after the war.

He used the GI Bill to enroll in the Scurlock School of Photography, in hopes of bettering his family’s economic status. He used the tactics he learned in DC to combat racism in his hometown. He led one of the first large-scale protests with children similar to the SCLC-inspired demonstrations in the 1963 Birmingham Children’s Crusade.

He worked to desegregate Edenton. He led mostly children in protesting segregated public spaces. He led demonstrations to hire Black policemen on the Edenton police force and to desegregate the public library. He was recognized nationally for his efforts when Martin Luther King Jr., came to Edenton to support the civil rights campaign he organized. After that visit, Dr. King delegated him to be one of the twelve SCLC Field Secretaries nationwide. This job required him to oversee desegregation throughout southeastern states. He was one of the main organizers of the 1963 March on Washington.

He received the Edenton Movement Award, the Rosa Parks Award, and the Hyde County NAACP President’s Award. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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“Ma” Rainey (born Gertrude Pridgett, April 26, 1886 – December 22, 1939) known as the Mother of Blues, was the most popular blues singer/ songwriter of the 1920s. She is considered to be the first woman to introduce blues into her performances. She established her own entertainment company in 1917 and after a successful career in vaudeville managed theaters in her home state of Georgia.

She was born in Columbus, Georgia to parents Thomas and Ella Pridgett. She began singing and performing at a young age: her first known public performance was at the age of 14 in a local talent show. She married William “Pa” Rainey (1904) and began her career as a performer for traveling minstrel and vaudeville shows.

They toured with many groups, including the Rabbit Foot Minstrels and the Tolliver Circus, until their marriage dissolved. They billed themselves as “Rainey and Rainey, Assassinators of the Blues.” She one of the earliest and most respected blues performers on this scene, earned the title “Mother of the Blues.” After her marriage ended, she established her company called Madame Gertrude Rainey and her Georgia Smart Sets.

She met Bessie Smith, a younger artist who sang with many of the same troupes. She made no secret of her interest in a wide variety of young men, and there is some evidence that she was romantically inclined toward women. Her larger-than-life personality was a key part of her music and onstage persona and increased her popularity with both African American and white Southern audiences.

She signed a contract with Paramount Records in 1923, only three years after the first blues recording was produced. She recorded almost 100 records between 1923 and 1928 with a wide variety of the best contemporary musicians, including a young Louis Armstrong. She continued to travel and perform across the South and occasionally in Chicago where she recorded.

She retired to Columbus, Georgia in 1935. She managed theaters in Columbus and Rome until her death of heart failure. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

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Congressman First Lieutenant William Levi Dawson (April 26, 1886 – November 9, 1970) was a politician who represented Chicago for more than 27 years in the House of Representatives. Like his two predecessors representing Illinois’ 1st District, when he was elected, he was the only African American in Congress. In the 1940s, he was active in the civil rights movement and sponsored registration drives. In the late 1940s, he successfully opposed efforts to re-segregate the military. He was the first African American to chair a committee in Congress when he chaired the Committee on Expenditures in Executive Departments. He served as Chair of that committee and its successor for most of the years between 1949 and 1970.

He continued his studies at Fisk University, where he graduated magna cum laude. He moved to the Chicago area in Illinois in 1912 to study at Northwestern University Law School. He was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. He reached Chicago at the beginning of the Great Migration of hundreds of thousands of African Americans from rural areas of the South to industrial cities in the North and Midwest - more than 1.5 million migrated up to 1940, and millions more after that.

With the entry of the US into WWI, he served in France as a first lieutenant with the 366th Infantry Regiment of the US Army. He was admitted to the bar and started a private practice in Chicago.

He entered politics, becoming a member of the Republican Party as a state central committeeman for the First Congressional District of Illinois. He was elected as an alderman for the second ward of Chicago. He served as a Democratic Party committeeman.

He became closely aligned with the Democratic city machine in Chicago, collaborating often with Mayor Richard J. Daley. He focused on patronage for his constituents. He gave no support to the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr. to shake up city politics by demonstrating fair housing. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence #alphaphialpha