(Photo By Flickr User Dennis Amith)

Black History Today for February 5th:

1866- Congressman Thaddeus Stevens offered an amendment to Freedmen’s Bureau bill authorizing the distribution of public land and confiscated land to freedmen and loyal refugees in forty acre lots. The measure was defeated in the House by a vote of 126 to 37. A Black delegation, led by Frederick Douglas called on President Johnson and urged ballots for former slaves. Meeting ended in disagreement and controversy after Johnson reiterated his opposition to Black suffrage.

1900- U.S. Rep. Jefferson Long, elected from the state of Georgia, died in Washington D.C. Long was the only candidate interested in running for the 60-day term and he was duly elected.

1934- Henry Louis ” Hammerin’ Hank & Home Run King” Aaron, baseball superstar was born in Mobile AL.

1950- Singer Natalie Maria Cole, daughter of legenblackdary singer Nat Cole, born in Los Angeles, CA. Singing professionally at age 11, by 1976 Cole had won Grammys for New Artist of the Year and Best R&B Female Vocalist. Cole died on December 31, 2015.

1958- Clifton R. Wharton Sr. confirmed as minister to Rumania. Career diplomat was the first Black to head a U.S. embassy in Europe.

1990- Columbia University graduate and Harvard University law student (now POTUS) Barack Obama became the first African-American named president of the Harvard Law Review.

(Information courtesy of blackfacts.com)