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Miller, Rosalie Reddick (1925-2005)
Dr. Rosalie Reddick Miller was the first African American woman dentist to practice in the State of Washington.  She was born on December 29, 1925 in Waycross, Georgia.  She attended the all-black public schools in Columbus, Georgia and in 1946 received a B. A. degree from Fisk University in
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Source: Black Past
Dec
29
1925
Charles "Chuck" Cooper
Charles Chuck Cooper first African American ever drafted by an NBA team; picked by the Boston Celtics
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
25
1950
Black students are banned from a Little Rock high school, by Arkansas governor O
Black students are banned from a Little Rock high school, by Arkansas governor Oval Faubus who calls out the National Guard, 1957
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Sep
4
1957
Balewa, Sir Abubakar Tafawa (1912-1966)
Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was the first Prime Minister ofNigeria before and after Nigerian independence from Great Britain in
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Source: Black Past
George Gervin
Born on April 27, 1952 in Detroit, Michigan, George Gervin is a retired professional basketball player who is known to be one of the greatest shooting guards in NBA
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Source: Black History Resources
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Apr
27
1952
University of Mississippi students Caused A Riot
University of Mississippi students and adults from Oxford, Miss., and other Southern communities rioted on the university campus. Two persons were killed and one hundred or more were wounded.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
30
1962
Naval Frigate named after African American
The Navy frigate USS Jesse L. Brown was commissioned. The ship was named for Ensign Jesse L. Brown, the first African American naval aviator killed in combat over Korea.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
17
1973
Archie A. Alexander, architectural engineer and formergovernor of the Virgin I
Archie A. Alexander, architectural engineer and former
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
4
1958
Pam Grier
American actress Pamela Suzette Grier was born on May 26, 1949, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Her parents were Gwendolyn Sylvia who worked as a nurse, and Clarence Ransom Grier, Jr. who worked as a mechanic in U.S. Air Force. As a result, the family travelled a lot, and Grier lived in several
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Source: Black History Resources
Sponsored by NSBE Boston
May
26
1949
Thornton, Willie Mae “Big Mama” (1926-1984)
Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton was a blues singer and songwriter whose recordings of “Hound Dog” and “Ball ‘n’ Chain” later were transformed into huge hits by Elvis Presley and Janis
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Greater Boston Veterans Collaborative
Jul
25
1984
Glenn Harrington, Carmel, California
Glenn Harrington, is a native of Massachusetts, who has lived in the Seattle area since 1968.  He was educated at Gordon College and Suffolk University Law School, both in Massachusetts.  His business career was primarily as an Insurance Executive, serving as Vice President of Marketing and
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Source: Black Past
Charles W. Follis
Charles W. Follis, first African American to play professional football, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
10
1910
football
Fritz Pollard becomes the first black to play Professional football for a major team, the Akron Indians. Pollard was also the first Black to play in the Rose Bowl.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA)
Sep
18
1919
Bert Williams--a Leading Comedian
At the turn of the century Bert Williams was one of Americas top comedians. Comedian Eddie Cantor called him a comic genius, W.C. Fields, a comic genius himself, once described Williams as the funniest man I ever
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
4
1922
Smalls, Robert (1839-1915)
Robert Smalls was born in Beaufort, South Carolina, on April 5, 1839 and worked as a house slave until the age of 12. At that point his owner, John K. McKee, sent him to Charleston to work as a waiter, ship rigger, and sailor, with all earnings going to McKee. This arrangement continued until
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Source: Black Past
May
13
1862
drj
Julius Winfield( Dr.J) Erving, 49, former basketball player, born Roosevelt, NY, Feb 22, 1950
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Association of Latino Professionals For America (ALPFA) Boston Professional Chapter
Feb
22
1950
Nine Black students started Little Rock high school, 1957
Nine Black students started Little Rock high school, 1957
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Sep
24
1957
First African American Intercollegiate football
Livingstone and Biddle College (now Johnson C. Smith) play the first African American intercollegiate football game
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
27
1892
Barnett, Powell S. (1883-1971)
Powell S. Barnett was a child when his father arrived in Roslyn to work in the coal mines.  Seeing no future in mining, Powell left for Seattle in 1906, and quickly found work. Years later, after working in construction and for hotels, he served as a clerk for State Senator Frank Connor.  Barnett
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Source: Black Past
Mary Frances Berry born
On this day Mary Frances Berry, who will become the first woman to serve as a chancellor of a major research university, is born in Nashville, Tenn.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Boston Metropolitan Chapter
Feb
17
1938
Bob Jones University v. United States (1983)
CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Andre Ware of the University of Houston becomes the first African American quart
Andre Ware of the University of Houston becomes the first African American quarterback to win the Heisman Trophy.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by APEX Museum
Dec
2
1989
Thelonious Monk
Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz musician who is widely credited as being one of the creators of modern day jazz. He was born on October 10, 1917, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina to Thelonious and Barbara Monk. He had an older sister named Marion and a younger brother named Thomas. When
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Source: Black History Resources
Oct
10
1917
Johnson, Gregory Lee (1945- )
On August 5, 1999 President William Clinton appointed Gregory Lee Johnson U.S. Ambassador to Swaziland.  He served in that post from November 16, 1999 to October 18, 2001. Johnson began his career in the Foreign Service in 1968 and has served in Vietnam (1968-1971).  His next posts were in Japan
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
First Black Mayor of Houston, Texas
Lee Brown became Houstons first black mayor narrowly defeating businessman Rob Mosbacher.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
6
1997
Football player and actor Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith was born in Orange, Texas.
Football player and actor Charles Aaron Bubba Smith was born in Orange, Texas. Smith began his professional football career with the Baltimore Colts. He later played for the Houston Oilers and Oakland Raiders before retiring and making a name for himself in movies.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Jan
29
1945
Alcorn State University (1871-- )
Founded in 1871, Alcorn State University is the oldest historically black land-grant institution in the United States and the second oldest state supported institution in the state of Mississippi.  The college is located outside of Lorman in Claiborne County.  Alcorn was founded in vacated Oakland
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Greater Boston Veterans Collaborative
Mordecai Wyatt Johnson
Mordecai Wyatt Johnson was born on December 12, 1890. He was a college and university president, Educator and minister.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
12
1890
James Weldon Johnson
James Weldon Johnson was a prominent African American leader born on June 17, 1871 in Jacksonville, Florida. He was brought up in a liberal environment where his parents encouraged him to acquire an education and pursue his dreams. His mother taught him and his brother the works of classical
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Source: Black History Resources
Jun
26
1938
Warren Moon
Warren Moon is a retired football player, who played for the Canadian and American football leagues. He was born in Los Angeles, California on November 18, 1956 and was the only brother of 6 sisters. His father was a laborer who died of liver disease when Warren was a young child and his mother was
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Source: Black History Resources
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Nov
18
1956
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