This Day in History: 2017-09-09
1773 – “Phillis Wheatley’s ‘Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral’ Published” “Phillis Wheatley, the first professional African-American woman poet, became the first African-American woman whose writings were published with the printing of this volume. The book was published by Archibald Bell, the leading bookseller and printer London at the time, who required proof that Wheatley had written the poems herself. The volume of poems, 39 in all, broke barriers for African-American writers, as it was illegal in several of the states in the U.S. for a slave to learn how to read or write.”
December 14, 1915 - "Red Fox James Pushes for Day Honoring Indigenous Americans"
Red Fox James, also known as Red Fox Skiuhushu, presented at the White House endorsements from 24 state governments for a day to honor indigenous Americans. He rode over 4,000 miles on horseback from state to state seeking these endorsements.He was thought to be from the Blackfoot Tribe of Montana. Although Red Fox James was not successful in his bid to lobby the government to create an indigenous people's day, it laid the groundwork for President Ronald Reagan to create American Indian Day in 1983.