February 27, 2010 in Black History

The Dominican Republic gained its independence on this date in 1844.


John Willis Menard, the first Black elected to Congress, presented his case for having been denied the Louisiana Second Congressional District seat on this date in 1869. In doing so, Menard became the first Black to speak on the floor of the House.


Charlotte E. Ray, the first Black woman lawyer, graduated from Howard University on this date in 1872.Ray was born in New York City on January 13, 1850, the daughter of one of the conductors on the Underground Railroad.In addition to being the first Black woman to be granted admission to any Bar in the U.S., Ray was also the first woman admitted to practice in D.C.


Ray attempted to open her own law firm in D.C., but racial prejudice of the time proved too strong, and she was forced to shut her doors. She moved back to her home town of New York City, and she lived out the rest of her career as a teacher in the public school system. She died on January 4, 1911 in Woodside, NY.

W. B. Purvis, inventor, patented the Hand Stamp, which can be found at almost any business, on this date in 1883. Patent # 273,149. eceived a patent for the fountain pen. Purvis saw the need for a more convenient way to sign letters and documents and decided to take action. The fountain pen made the use of an ink bottle obsolete by storing ink within a reservoir within the pen which is then fed to the tip of the pen.

Of his accomplishment, Purvis said, "the object of my invention is to provide a simple, durable, and inexpensive construction of a fountain pen adapted to general use and which may be carried in the pocket." The invention of the fountain pen is something that individuals and businesses all over the world are thankful for. They are cleaner and more efficient to use than a bottle of ink.

Between 1884 and 1897 Purvis, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native, patented paper bag machines, a bag fastener, a hand stamp, an electric railway device, an electric railway switch and a magnetic car-balancing device.

Marian Anderson, famous contralto opera singer, was born in Philadelphia, PA, on this date in 1902.


Debi Thomas, figure skater, became the first Black American to win a medal (Bronze) at the Winter Olympics on this date in 1988.