Students Timeline (T-Z) By jmgw14 Jan 1, 1940 Benjamin O. Davis promoted to be the first African American General. . Jan 1, 1944 United Negro College Fund . Jan 3, 1945 Adam Clayton Powell Jr. becomes first African American to represent New York in the house of representatives. Jan 1, 1946 California Supreme Court (Mendes vs Westminister) ends segregation of Hispanic children Jan 1, 1947 Jackie Robinson plays his first game for the Brooklyn Dodgers Jan 1, 1957 Southern Christian leadership by Martin Luther King Jr. He is named chairman of the Southern Chrisrian Leadership Conference.