Black History – The Road to Freedom




One hundred and fifty years ago, on January 1, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation as the nation entered its third year of bloody civil war. Throughout February, the Cuyamaca College library honors African Americans and their tremendous contributions to American History. One transformational figure being featured is none other than the great, great, great uncle of our own Interim Vice President Danene Brown. Mr. J.R. Clifford was born in 1848 in Moorefield, WV to free black parents. He fought for the Union during the Civil War, attended Storer College, was a school principal in Martinsburg, WV and established the Pioneer Press, the state’s first black newspaper. In 1887 Mr. Clifford became the first African American to pass the West Virginia bar examination. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. Come learn more about this accomplished man and celebrate Black History month with us at the Cuyamaca College library! We will showcase Black History timelines with posters displayed on both floors in the library as well as books featuring famous African Americans and landmark historical topics.

For more information and ideas for celebrating African American History, visit The Library of Congress, African American History Month hosted by The Library of Congress, Black History Month hosted by History.com and Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.