An incident that happened during Battle’s teenage days set him to the path of making history as the first African American NYPD police officer. Battle moved to Connecticut after, then to New York City, where he took a job as a train porter. Battle endured racism and harassment from white officers and civilians, but his peers began to appreciate his effectiveness and legendary strength. He died in New York City on August 7, 1966, at the age of 83. That street corner marked the location where Battle saved a white officer’s life during a racial skirmish in 1919.

Source: The North Africa Journal March 02, 2020 21:00 UTC