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 February 04:
| Date | Type | Event |
|---|---|---|
| 1913 |
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| 1943 |  Hugh MacBeth, Sr., an African American attorney from Los Angeles, organizer and advocate for west coast Japanese Americans subjected to internment after Pearl Harbor, secures a a writ of habeas corpus from a three-judge panel on behalf of his clients, Ernest and Toki Wakayama. However, by that time the Wakayamas, worn down by large-scale beatings and ostracism at the Manzanar internment camp in Northern California, had withdrawn their suit and requested “repatriation” to Japan, despite the fact that both were born and had lived their entire lives in America. Despite this defeat, MacBeth continued to defend Japanese Americans from segregation, internment, and other racial-drivem injustices. Learn more. | |
| 1999 |  At 12:40 am, four plainclothes New York City police officers exit their vehicle and approach Amadou Diallo, a Guinean immigrant, while he is in the vestibule of his building. While it is unclear if they identified themselves as police officers, they nontheless sought to question Diallo who in turn did not respond to their request but instead reached into his back pocket. One of the officers yelled “gun,” and all four officers began to shoot at Diallo. A total of forty-one shots were fired from the officers’ weapons. Nineteen shots hit Diallo’s body, and he was killed instantly. Neighbors called 911 after the shooting, and the attending officers called in the incident on their radios. Once other officers arrived on the scene, an investigation began. It was discovered that there was no gun and all that was lying next to Diallo’s body were a pager and a wallet. The shooting catalyzed protests in the city of New York because many believed the officers had acted without restraint. All four officers were indicted, but acquitted. The Diallo killing would be the first of a series of high-profile police killings of Black people that would over a decade later spark the Black Lives Matter movement. Learn more. |
