1980 In January Willie Lewis Brown, Jr. becomes the first African American Speaker in a state legislature when he is selected for the post in the California Assembly. Brown holds the Speakership until 1995 when he is elected Mayor of San Francisco. 1901-2000 United States California Black Western Politics 1982 In November California Attorney General George Deukmejian narrowly defeats Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley for governor of the state of California. Bradley, then a three term mayor of the largest city in the state, had hoped to become the first African American popularly elected chief executive of a state. 1901-2000 United States California Black Western Politics 1983 Robert C. Maynard and his wife, Nancy, purchase the Oakland Tribune. The Maynards are the first African Americans to own a major daily newspaper. 1901-2000 United States California Western Blacks and the Media 1984 In August Carl Lewis of Houston wins four Gold Medals at the Olympics in Los Angeles, matching the record set by Jesse Owens in 1936. 1901-2000 United States California Black Athletes in the West 1984 In September The Cosby Show makes its television debut. The show runs for eight seasons and will become the most successful series in television history featuring a mostly African American cast. 1901-2000 United States California Western Blacks and the Media 1986 Filmmaker Spike Lee releases his first feature film, Shes Gotta Have It, initiating a new wave of interest in black films and African American filmmakers. 1901-2000 United States California Black Hollywood 1986 William A. Hilliard becomes editor of the Portland Oregonian. 1901-2000 United States Oregon Western Blacks and the Media 1986 The 1986 California gubernatorial election is a rematch of the 1982 campaign although now Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley opposes the incumbent governor, George Deukmejian. In this contest Governor Deukmejian wins by a 61 percent to 37 percent margin. 1901-2000 United States California Black Western Politics 1989 Houston, Texas Congressman George Thomas Mickey Leland is killed in a plane crash near Gambela, Ethiopia on August 7. 1901-2000 Ethiopia Texas Blackj Western Politics 1989 On November 7, Norm Rice is elected the first African American mayor of Seattle. 1901-2000 United States Washington Black Western Politics 1989 Martinique-born Euzhan Palcy directs the anti-apartheid film, A Dry White Season. In doing so she becomes the first woman of African descent to direct a Hollywood studio movie. 1901-2000 United States California Black Hollywood 1990 Seattle playwright August Wilson wins a Pulitzer Prize for the play, The Piano Lesson. 1901-2000 United States Washington Art and Literature 1991 Julie Dash releases Daughters of the Dust, the first feature film by an African American woman. 1901-2000 United States California Black Hollywood 1991 On March 3, Los Angeles police use force to arrest Rodney King after a San Fernando Valley traffic stop. The beating of King is captured on videotape and broadcast widely, prompting an investigation and subsequent trial of three officers. 1901-2000 United States California Crime and Punishment 1991 On June 18, Wellington Webb becomes the first African American mayor of Denver, Colorado. 1901-2000 United States Colorado Black Western Politics 1992 On April 29, a Simi Valley, California Jury acquits the three officers accused of beating Rodney King. The verdict triggers a three day uprising in Los Angeles called the Rodney King Riot that results in over 50 people killed, over 2,000 injured and 8,000 arrested. 1901-2000 United States California Crime and Punishment 1992 In November Pearl Stewart is named editor of the Oakland Tribute. She is the first black woman to hold that post in a major daily newspaper. 1901-2000 United States California Western Blacks and the Media 1994 On June 12, O.J. Simpsons former wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman are found stabbed to death. Simpson, a leading sports and film celebrity, emerges as the leading suspect and is subsequently arrested on June 17 after a two hour low speed pursuit of Simpson and his friend, Al Cowlings, which is seen on television by an estimated 95 million people. 1901-2000 United States California Crime and Punishment 1995 On October 3, after an eight month televised trial, O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the charges of murder in the deaths of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. 1901-2000 United States California Crime and Punishment 1995 Ronald Ron Kirk is elected the first African American mayor of Dallas, Texas. 1901-2000 United States Texas Black Western Politics 1996 On November 5, California voters pass Proposition 209 which outlaws affirmative action throughout the state. 1901-2000 United States California Affirmative Action in the West 1996 Willie Brown, Jr. is elected the first African American mayor of San Francisco. 1901-2000 United States California Black Western Politics 1997 Lee P. Brown is elected as the first African American mayor of Houston. 1901-2000 United States Texas Black Western Politics 1998 On November 4, Washington voters pass Initiative 200, which like the California measure, effectively ends government-sponsored affirmative action programs in the state. 1901-2000 United States Washington Affirmative Action in the West 2002 In March, Halle Berry and Denzel Washington win Oscars for best actress and best actor for their portrayals in Monster’s Ball and Training Day respectively. 2001- United States California Black Hollywood 2003 Significant population shifts and reduced resistance to residential integration result in more African Americans living in the suburbs of Los Angeles and Seattle than in their city limits. 2001- United States Washington The Urban West 2007 Carl Brewer becomes the first African American elected mayor of Wichita, Kansas. 2001- United States Kansas Black Western Politics 2008 Former NBA basketball player Kevin M. Johnson is elected the first African American mayor of Sacramento. 2001- United States California Black Western Politics
Posted on: Sun, 27 Oct 2013 14:07:27 +0000
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