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Sullivan, Louis Wade (1933- )
After witnessing poverty and discrimination in Depression-era Georgia, Louis Wade Sullivan committed his career to education and public service, rising to become Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George H.W. Bush.  He also was the founder and long-time president of Morehouse
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Birthday of Anita Baker, Grammy award winning singer.
Birthday of Anita Baker, Grammy award winning singer.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
26
1958
Angela Davis
Born: /26/944 Birmingham, AlabamaAngela Davis is an American political activist, scholar, and author. She emerged as a prominent counterculture activist and radical in the 960s as a leader of the Communist Party USA, and had close relations with the Black Panther Party through her involvement in
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Boseman, Benjamin Anthony (1840-1881)
Benjamin A. Boseman, physician, politician, and postmaster, was free born in New York in 1840 to Benjamin A. and Annaretta Boseman.  He was the oldest of five children, two girls and three boys.  Boseman grew up in Troy, New York where his father served as a steward on the steamboat Empire in the
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
Feb
23
1881
Spingarn Medal: Wilson C. Riles
Spingarn Medal presented to Wilson C. Riles, superintendent of public instruction, California, in recognition of the stature he has attained as a national leader in the field of education.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Boston Metropolitan Chapter
Nov
6
1973
Zhou Enlai's African "Safari" (1963-1964)
Zhou Enlai’s first tour of Africa, popularly known as Zhou’s “Safari,” was a series of state visits to ten independent African countries, undertaken between December 1963 and February 1964 by the Chinese Premier. These visits, which occurred during a period when many countries were
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Source: Black Past
Dash, Julie (1952- )
Filmmaker Julie Dash was born on October 22, 1952 in Queens, New York. She received her B.A. in film production from City College of New York in 1974 and went on to earn a two-year fellowship to the Center for Advanced Film Studies at the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles.  At AFI, Dash
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Source: Black Past
Oct
22
1952
Rhue, Sylvia (1947- )
Sylvia Rhue is a distinguished writer, religious scholar, documentarian, and public speaker. She has engaged in significant work in religious communities around lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) rights and sexuality as well as co-produced an award-winning
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Sommersett, James (c1741-c1772)
James Sommersett was the subject of a landmark legal case in Great Britain, which was the first major step in imposing limits on Trans-Atlantic African slavery. Sommersett entered the pages of history when in 1771, he fled his North American owner, Charles Stewart, while both were living in
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Source: Black Past
Jun
22
1772
Massey, Walter E. (1938 - )
Prominent educator Walter Eugene Massey was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on April 5, 1938.  His father, Almar, was a steelworker and his mother, Essie, a teacher.  Massey had an exceptional mind, even at an early age.  By the time he finished 10th grade, his skills in mathematics were strong
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Source: Black Past
Apr
5
1938
Grammy Awards
On this day at the Grammy Awards ceremony, African-American musicians won awards in several categories. Lionel Richies Cant Slow Down won best album of 1984. Tina Turners Whats Love Got to Do With It took the best record slot and earned her the title Best Female Pop Vocalist. The Pointer Sisters
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Feb
26
1985
Keyes, Alan L. (1950- )
A controversial and conservative Republican, Alan Lee Keyes has perhaps one of the most extensive resumes to date in public and political
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Herndon, Wanda J. (1952- )
In 1978, Wanda J. Herndon launched her successful career in corporate America when she became the first African American exempt professional and external hire in the Communicator Development Program of The Dow Chemical Company.  Later, she made significant contributions at other major
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Source: Black Past
Jul
31
1952
McFerrin, Robert Keith, Sr. (1921–2006)
In 1953 baritone Robert McFerrin Sr. made history as the first African American to win the Metropolitan Opera House’s Auditions of the Air radio contest.  On January 27, 1955, in the role of Ethiopian King Amonasro in Verdi’s Aida, McFerrin made history again by becoming the first African American
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Source: Black Past
Rollins, Ida Gray Nelson (1867-1953)
Ida Gray Nelson Rollins, the first African American Woman dentist, was born in Clarksville, Tennessee, on March 4, 1867.  She became an orphan when her mother, Jennie Gray, died in her early teens.  Rollins’ white father, whose name is not known, played no role in her childhood or education.  After
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Source: Black Past
Top 10 Most Famous Black Actors of All Time
Hollywood is a giant industry which provides work to hundreds of actors. At the advent of this industry only white actors ruled the silver screen and the blacks were given only minor roles. As the time progressed, blacks were given the voice in the society and eventually allowed white collar
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Source: Black History Resources
Church Of God In Christ, Memphis (1907- )
The Church of God In Christ (COGIC) with over six million members worldwide is one the largest Pentecostal churches in the world.  It was founded by Bishop Charles Harrison Mason in
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
McGee, Henry Wadsworth, Sr. (1910-2000)
The first African American Postmaster of a major postal facility, Henry W. McGee, Sr. was born in Hillsboro, Texas, in 1910, and moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1927.  McGee was the first person to rise from the ranks of letter carriers to achieve the status of Postmaster, a post to which he was
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Michael Jackson, entertainer wins 8 Grammys
Musician and entertainer Michael Jackson wins eight Grammy Awards. His album, Thriller, broke all sales records to-date, and remains one of the top-grossing albums of all time.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Feb
28
1984
Documentary Films on Blackpast.org - African American History - Director
A&E Television Americas Black Warriors (on World War II) 1998
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Source: Black Past
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe, a landlocked country in south-central Africa, is slightly smaller than California. It is bordered by Botswana on the west, Zambia on the north, Mozambique on the east, and South Africa on the
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Source: Fact Monster - Black History
Sponsored by Diversity In Action
Owens, Major Robert (1936- )
Former New York Congressman Major Robert Owens was born on June 28, 1936 in Collierville, Tennessee.  He graduated from Hamilton High School in Memphis in 1952 at the age of 16.  Owens received a bachelor’s degree from Morehouse College in 1956, and an M.S. in Library Science from Atlanta
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Source: Black Past
Jun
28
1936
Singer Roy Hamilton born
Baritone singer Roy Hamilton was born in Leesburg, Georgia. Hamiltons biggest hits of the 50s were Unchained Melody and Youll Never Walk Alone.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Intellitech
Apr
16
1929
Prosper, Pierre-Richard (1963– )
Pierre-Richard Prosper is an attorney and diplomat who turned his passion for the rule of law into a global pursuit for justice for victims of the worst crimes of humanity, and accountability for the perpetrators of those
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Source: Black Past
Sep
11
2001
Patricia Louise Holte is born
Patricia Louise Holte is born in Philadelphia, Pa. She will be better known as Patti LaBelle, organizer and lead singer of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebells in 1960. In the 1970s she will reconfigure the group and later reteam with Nona Hendryx and Sara Dash as LaBelle. In 1976, LaBelle will pursue
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
24
1944
Tina Turner
Born: 11/26/1939 Nutbush, TennesseeAnna Mae Bullock, better known by her stage name Tina Turner, is a singer, dancer, actress, and author, whose career has spanned more than half a century, earning her widespread recognition and numerous awards.Awards / Achievements:
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA)
Julian Dixon
Julian Dixon, elected to Congress representing Californias 28th District in 1978, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Boston Professional Chapter
Aug
8
1934
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
The leading scorer in the history of NBA, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won 6 of the most prestigious NBA titles, five of which were with the Los Angeles Lakers over a period of 20 years. His list of achievements is one of the most extraordinary in league’s history. Not only was Kareem a member of six NBA
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Source: Black History Resources
Sponsored by Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA)
Apr
16
1947
Political Upset
Lt. Gov. Mervyn Dymally defeated in California election. Senator Edward W. Brooke defeated in Massachusetts election.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
7
1978
Dziko, Trish Millines (1957- )
Trish Millines Dziko is the co-founder and Executive Director of the Technology Access Foundation. A native of New Jersey, Dziko focused on college and ultimately became a first-generation college student. Ms. Dziko also made history by becoming the first woman to be awarded a full basketball
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Source: Black Past
Oct
1
1996
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