Little Known Black History Fact: Clifford Alexander, Jr.
Clifford Alexander Jr. has held several prominent government positions and made history by being appointed as the first African-American Secretary of the U.S. Army. The New York City native was born...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Alma Thomas
Alma Woodsey Thomas passed over four decades ago but her work has enjoyed renewed popularity partly due to First Lady Michelle Obama. She was born September 22, 1891 in Columbus, Ga. before moving to...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Byron Brown
Byron Brown made history twice, most notably in 2005 when he was sworn in as the mayor of Buffalo, N.Y. The Hollis, Queens native was born September 24, 1958. Byron William Brown II attended Buffalo...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Bob McAdoo
The modern NBA features plenty of hybrid big men that can shoot the ball, but Bob McAdoo may have set the standard in the ‘70s. The talented Hall of Fame forward-center was born September 25, 1951 in...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Bumpy Johnson
This coming Sunday, Bumpy Johnson’s story will come to life via the EPIX network’s “Godfather of Harlem” series, starring Forrest Whitaker in the lead role. Johnson was one of the most feared gangsters...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Don Cornelius
The late Don Cornelius, with his distinctive baritone voice, was the creator and host of the long-running dance show, “Soul Train.” The Chicago native was born September 27, 1936. Donald Cortez...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Eddie Tolan
Eddie Tolan was not the prototypical physical specimen one would expect a world-class sprinter to be, but he was a force nonetheless. The “Midnight Express” was not only the first Black athlete to win...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Virginia Proctor Powell Florence
Virginia Proctor Powell Florence blazed trails as the first Black woman to earn a Library Science degree, and just the second Black person to do so. The Pennsylvania native was born October 1, 1897....
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Jessye Norman
Jessye Norman was one of the reigning divas of opera, and now the world is gathered in remembering the legendary soprano singer after her passing on Monday. The Augusta, Ga. native was born September...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: The Elaine Massacre
Some historians consider the Elaine Race Riots of 1919, also known as the Elaine Massacre, as the deadliest racial conflict in America. The centennial of the event has dredged up memories and renewed...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon
Dr. Bernice Johnson Reagon has been on the frontlines of the civil rights movement, academics, and the arts for decades. The founder of the a capella vocal group Sweet Honey In The Rock was born...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Diahann Carroll
The acting world last one of hits most regal leading ladies in Diahann Carroll, who passed last week. Carol Diahann Johnson was born on July 17, 1935 in The Bronx, and raised primarily in Harlem. She...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Amiri Baraka
The late Amiri Baraka was a poet, activist, playwright and educator whose poetry and writings gained him fame and criticism. The Newark, N.J. native was born October 7, 1934. Born Everett LeRoi Jones,...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Eugene Ballard
Eugene Ballard is considered to be the first African-American military pilot, although he never flew for the United States. Known as the “Black Swallow of Death,” the Columbus, Ga. native was born...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Month: Dr. Frederick D. Patterson
Dr. Frederick D. Patterson was a veterinarian and educator who made significant contributions to Black collegiate excellence. The founder of the United Negro College Fund was born October 10, 1901....
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Lincoln Motion Picture Company
The grand opening of Tyler Perry Studios in Southwest Atlanta was a momentous achievement for the writer, director and filmmaker. But he was not the first to seek complete control of his work in the...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Facts: William Boyd Allison Davis
William Boyd Allison Davis, widely as Allison Davis, was a pioneering educator and anthropologist who made history by becoming the first African-American to hold a faculty position at a major white...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Fela Kuti
Fela Kuti was a pioneer of the Afrobeat musical movement whose intense and pointed lyrics made him a target of the Nigerian government. The late musician was born October 15, 1938. Kuti was born...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: Million Man March
The first Million Man March was held on October 16, 1995 in Washington, D.C., bringing together a large gathering of Black men on the grounds of the National Mall. While official numbers have been...
View ArticleLittle Known Black History Fact: 1921 Tulsa Race Riots
The 1921 destruction of Tulsa, Okla.’s “Black Wall Street” district, also known as the “Tulsa Race Riot,” remains one of the most explosive racial incidents of the early 20th Century. Angry white...
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