September 11 African American Historical Events

Today in Black History – September 11          *

1740 – An issue of the Pennsylvania Gazette reports on a Negro
        named Simon who reportedly can “bleed and draw teeth.”
        It is the first mention of an African American doctor or
        dentist in the American Colonies.

1885 – Moses A. Hopkins, minister and educator, is named minister
        to Liberia.

1923 – Charles Evers is born in Decatur, Mississippi. He will
        become a civil rights worker who will assume the post of
        field director of the Mississippi NAACP after his
        brother, Medgar, is assassinated in 1963. He will be
        elected mayor of Fayette, Mississippi, in 1969.

1943 – Loletha Elaine “Lola” Falana is born in Camden, New
        Jersey. She will become a dancer, most notably in
        Broadway’s “Golden Boy”, and be a successful performer
        on television and in Las Vegas, where she will be called
        “The First Lady of Las Vegas.” In the late 1980s, she
        will suffer from a relapse of multiple sclerosis. Her
        relapse will be severe, leaving her left side paralyzed
        and becoming partially blind with her voice and hearing
        impaired. Recovery will last a year and a half, during
        which she will spend most of her time praying. She will
        attribute her recovery to a spiritual experience
        described as “Being able to feel the presence of the
        Lord.” She will convert to Roman Catholicism and work
        her newly-found spirituality into her everyday life.
        Though she will perform again in Las Vegas shows in 1987,
        her practice of religion and faith will become the center
        of her life. After another bout with multiple sclerosis
        in 1996, she will return to Philadelphia and live with
        her parents for a short time. No longer performing, she
        will tour the country with a message of hope and
        spirituality. When not on tour, she will live a quiet
        life in Las Vegas, working on the apostolate she will
        found, “The Lambs of God Ministry.” The ministry will be
        focused on helping children who have been orphaned in
        Sub-Saharan Africa, and will work closely with the group,
        “Save Sub-Saharan Orphans.”

1953 – J. H. Jackson, pastor of Olivet Baptist Church, Chicago,
        Illinois, is elected president of the National Baptist
        Convention at its Miami meeting.

1956 – Cincinnati Red’s Frank Robinson ties the rookie record
        with his 38th home run.

1959 – Duke Ellington receives the NAACP’s Spingarn Medal for
        his outstanding musical achievements and contributions
        to the field of music.

1962 – Two youths involved in a voter registration drive in
        Mississippi are wounded by shotgun blasts fired through
        the window of a home in Ruleville. A spokesperson for
        SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) asks
        the president to “convene a special White House
        Conference to discuss means of stopping the wave of
        terror sweeping through the South, especially where
        SNCC is working on voter registration.”

1977 – Quincy Jones wins an Emmy for outstanding achievement in
        musical composition for the miniseries “Roots”.  It is
        one of nine Emmys for the series, an unprecedented
        number.

1999 – Serena Williams wins the U.S. Open women’s title,
        beating top-seeded Martina Hingis, 6-3, 7-6 (7-4).

Information retrieved from the Munirah Chronicle  and is edited by Rene’ A. Perry.