Want to know what happened Today in History Africa: 6 January? These are two historical events that took place today, in the continent of Africa and the African diaspora.
The continent of Africa has an immensely rich history; hidden African history is becoming more accessible as it is finally coming to light. African history, people, culture and books have influenced and inspired the world for time immemorial; it is now time for Africa to shine!
In this post you will learn about an influential speech by Robert B. Elliot that granted civil rights to African Americans and made an impact around the world.
After reading this post you will know tons of facts about Africa and what happened today in history in Africa and in the African diaspora in relation to: The Civil Rights Act, Robert B. Elliot, and a little of astronomy.
This post is all about what happened Today in History Africa 6 January.
Today in History Africa: 6 January
Astronomical Events
Full Moon
Tonight will be the first full moon of the year. If you can, go outside tonight and look at the magnificent moon.
African historical events
“The shackle broken – by the genius of freedom”, Robert B. Elliot
On this day, 6 January 1874, Robert B. Elliot delivered an hour long speech advocating for the Civil Rights Act. Elliot was an British-born American lawyer and congressman who fought for civil rights for African Americans. As the first black person to command the South Carolina National Guard he protected Black citizens from the Ku Klux Klan. He continued his fight for human rights until his premature death 10 years after his speech. The Civil Rights Act was passed about a year after Elliot’s speech.
“What you give to one class you must give to all. What you deny to one class, you deny to all.”
-Robert B. Elliot
What Robert B. Elliot did was – and still is – an staggering feat: he delivered his speech ten years after Juneteenth, the nominal emancipation of enslaved African Americans, as a highly educated black man in America when the vast majority of African Americans were held in captivity as slaves by their white counterparts. Though Africans around the world still face discrimination on the basis of their skin colour, it is with the efforts of people like Hon. Robert B. Elliot that change was made possible for the better of all people.
Link to the entire speech: https://teachingamericanhistory.org/document/speech-on-the-proposed-civil-rights-bill/
This post was all about what happened today in history Africa 6 January.
Today in History Africa series:
Previous Day: Today in History Africa: 5 January
Next Day: Today in History Africa: 7 January
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