African-American history

The history of African-Americans in the Pensacola area is heavily intertwined with the history of the area itself.

Timeline

List incomplete. Please add dates and details as available.

• April 1, 1867 – African-Americans in Pensacola, including recently emancipated slaves, vote for the first time.
• March 12, 1912 – Booker T. Washington visits Pensacola and speaks at the Opera House.
• May 21, 1973 – Daniel "Chappie" James, Jr. is promoted to lieutenant general, then the highest ranking African-American in the U.S. military.
• February 24, 1975 – At demonstrations protesting the death of Wendel Blackwell, nearly 50 blacks (including H. K. Matthews and B. J. Brooks) are arrested by sheriff's deputies.
• May 10, 1983 – In the first city election since a federal voting rights lawsuit, African-Americans were elected to three seats on the Pensacola City Council.

See also

• Slavery
• Reconstruction
• Segregation
• Civil rights movement