TIMELINE OF BLACK HISTORY AND EXCELLENCE
Harlem Renaissance-World War II
Untold Stories
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1920-In a strategy to rectify years of discrimination against Black baseball players on major league teams, Andrew "Rube" Foster, a professional Black baseball player, and his colleagues initiated the Negro National League. Black baseball players throughout the Midwest were drafted into different teams in the league. As the athletes competed around the country, they demonstrated their capability of succeeding at a professional level, captivating people of all races.
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1921-Broadway showcased Black performers in a new light with the debut of the musical Shuffle Along, comprising an all-Black cast of actors and dancers. The musical drew enormous audiences, as people were amazed by its romance-themed synopsis and the dancers' coordination and authenticity. Shuffle Along paved the way for a multitude of Black musicals in the succeeding years.
1925-An alliance of Black attorneys in Des Moines, Iowa created the Negro Bar Association, which has since been formerly renamed the National Bar Association. This association served as a representation of Black lawyers in the U.S. and was beneficial in helping them obtain obtain equal rights, opportunities, and credibility in the legal field.
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1928-William Alexander Scott II, a southern journalist, commenced The Atlanta Daily World, the first thriving Black newspaper published routinely. The newspaper spotlighted a myriad of political and social issues impacting the lives of African Americans, such as institutionalized racism, lynchings, etc. The Atlanta Daily World also incentivized Black citizens to vote and support businesses run by Black entrepreneurs.
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1933-The Federal Council of Negro Affairs, also referred to as the "Black Cabinet" was formed during President Franklin D. Roosevelt's first term. The Black Cabinet consisted of African American federal workers and Civil Rights activists, including Mary McLeod Bethune, who collectively helped improve the lives of Black Americans by increasing employment, expanding access to education, and guaranteeing advantages from FDR's New Deal plan. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt also worked diligently with the Black Cabinet to help them achieve their objectives.
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1934-Zora Neale Hurston, an anthropologist, folklorist, and Harlem Renaissance writer, officially beame a published author following the publication of her book, Jonah's Gourd Vine.
1937-Several Black actors and actresses strarted the Negro Actors Guild of America to foster a support system for Black performers in the theatre industry. This association was geared toward advocating for Black performers to be considered for non-stereotypical roles, helping Black actors further develop their craft, and offering social and monetary assistance.
1941-With the advocacy of several Black newspapers, thousands of young Black men from across the nation are selected and trained in Tuskegee, Alabama, to become the first African American military pilots in the U.S. Army Air Forces. These aviators, known as the Tuskegee Airmen, helped the Allied Powers win World War 2 through flying missions and annihilating German aircraft and other vehicles.
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1941-Dr. Charles Drew changed the face of the American Red Cross Blood Bank as its first African American surgeon to supervise the program. During World War 2, he conceptualized a method for placing, analyzing, and dispersing blood plasma through blood banking, which helped many wounded European soldiers survive.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bernardo, J. (2008). Negro Actors Guild of America (1937-). https://blackpast.org/african-american-history/negro-actors-guild-america/
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Evans, F. (2023). What Was the Role of FDR's 'Black Cabinet'? https://www.history.com/articles/franklin-roosevelt-black-cabinet-bethune
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HISTORY.com Editors, (2009). Tuskegee Airmen. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/tuskegee-airmen
Kelly, M. The Negro National League is Founded. https://baseballhall.org/discover-more/stories/inside-pitch/negro-national-league-is-founded
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Kratz, J. (2023). Dr. Charles Drew: A Pioneer in Blood Transfusions, National Archives. https://prologue.blogs.archives.gov/2023/02/08/dr-charles-drew-a-pioneer-in-blood-transfusions/
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Pbs.org, Founder Editor- William Alexander Scott II https://www.pbs.org/blackpress/news_bios/newbios/nwsppr/atlnta/atlnta.html
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Richardson, D. 100 Years of Justice: Celebrating the Legacy of the National Bar Association, 2025. https://ourlegacybriefed.com/2025/08/01/national-bar-association/
Tanner, J. (1990-2026). Shuffle Along: The Musical at the Center of the Harlem Renaissance, https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/interactives/drop-me-off-in-harlem/theme-and-variations/shuffle-along/
Trump Kennedy Center. https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/media-and-interactives/interactives/drop-me-off-in-harlem/theme-and-variations/shuffle-along/
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Zoranealehurston.com, (2026). Jonah's Gourd Vine, The New Dynamic. https://www.zoranealehurston.com/books/jonah-s-gourd-vine/
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