Today in “Hidden” History is a daily listing of important but little-known events illustrating the range of innovators, contributors, or incidents excluded from formal history lessons or common knowledge. Hidden history is intended not as an exhaustive review, but merely as an illustration of how popular narratives "hide" many matters of fundamental importance. Bookmark this page and check daily to quickly expand your knowledge. Suggest entries for Today in “Hidden” History by clicking the Contact Us link. Entries for September 11:
| Date | Type | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1851 |  The Christiana Resistance takes place when Southern "slave catchers" and U.S. Marshals, empowered by the 1850 Fugitive Slave Act, attempt to capture and re-enslave Blacks in Christiana, Pennsylvania, and are confronted and driven away by armed locals, including neighbors, former slaves as well as free black and white abolitionists. Later the Marshals returned with three detachments of US Marines and arrested thirty-eight men, including four white Quakers. They were all charged with treason. The first man brought to trial, the Quaker Castner Hanway—erroneously thought to be the leader of the anti-slavery men—was acquitted. Since authorities thought this was the strongest case, they released the other 37 men. The acquittal of all of the defendants was hailed by Northern abolitionists as a major victory against slavery and especially against the Fugitive Slave Act. Learn more. | |
| 1895 |  South Carolina officials rewrite the state constitution with the express purpose of disenfranchising the state’s African American voters and restoring white supremacy in all matters political. The convention’s most prominent figure was Benjamin Tillman, a senator and former governor affectionately nicknamed “Pitchfork Ben." A renowned orator, Tillman spoke at great length during the convention. "[A]ll that is necessary to bring about chaos," he warned the convention delegates, "is for a sufficient number of white men, actuated by hate, or ambition, or from any unpatriotic motive, to climb up and cut it loose, mobilize and register the negroes, lead them and give them a free vote and fair count under manhood suffrage." The delegates followed Ben Tillman's guidance and enacted a constitution that effectively disenfranchised Black residents, with little federal interference, for nearly 70 years. Today, a statue of Tillman stands in front of the South Carolina State House and his name adorns a number of buildings throughout the state—including the main building on the campus of Clemson University. Learn more. | |
| 2001 |  Godwin Ajala, the only Nigerian listed among the nearly 3,000 people who died because of the 9/11 attack, becomes a U.S. national hero as he fights and ultimately dies saving the lives of countless people as they escaped from the World Trade Center Towers. Ajala had became a lawyer in his native Nigeria. In 1995, Ajala emigrated to the United States to make a better life for himself and his family. When he first arrived in the U.S Ajala bounced between poorly paid jobs but eventually obtained a steady position as a security guard or Access Control Officer at the New York World Trade Center towers at the Concourse (ground floor) level. In this position, Ajala rode elevators and walked floors of the 110-story tower at Two World Trade Center, helping secure the building and attending to small emergencies. On the day of the attack, Ajala demonstrated his self-sacrificing character when, instead of running to save his own life, he helped to evacuate thousands of people from a street-level security post inside the lobby of Two World Trade Center when the second plane hit the building. He held the door open for people running out, and repeatedly went back inside to guide more people out of the blazing structure. Exhausted after helping to guide many out of the attacked building, Ajala reportedly first went into a coma and died the following Sunday. Learn more. | |
| 2001 |  LeRoy Homer Jr. is among the nearly 3,000 killed by terrorists in the 9/11 attacks. Homer joined the Air Force and after graduating from the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and served as a pilot in both the Desert Shield and Desert Storm military operations in the Middle East and later flew aircraft in humanitarian operations in Somalia. Homer served seven years on active duty in the Air Force, eventually becoming a Captain before switching into the reserves, where he rose to the rank of Major. Homer’s life was tragically cut short at the age of 36 when his hijacked plane crashed. Homer was co-piloting United Airlines Flight #93 from Newark, New Jersey to San Francisco, California when four terrorists hidden among the 37 passengers hijacked the plane. It is believed that this particular plane was headed for the United States Capitol, but the plane’s difficult auto-pilot system prevented that. Homer and Captain Jason Dahl were overpowered when the terrorists rushed the plane’s cockpit but it is believed they were not immediately killed as the flight recorder indicated that the terrorists gave orders to groaning men who were on the floor. It is unknown if they died before or during the crash of Flight 93. What is known is that members of the crew and passengers attempted to rush the cockpit to regain control of the plane. Their actions prevented the jet liner from reaching its intended target in Washington, D.C. Flight 93 crashed into a field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania killing all the remaining people on board. LeRoy Homer’s widow, Melodie, created the LeRoy Homer Foundation in 2002, which provides financial support for young people seeking a profession in aviation. Learn more. |
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