KRLemmons African American History

November 4 African American Historical Events

* Today in Black History – November 4 *

1872 – Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback is elected as a U.S.
congressman from Louisiana. 

1872 – Three African Americans are elected to major offices in 
Louisiana elections: C.C Antoine, lieutenant governor;
P.G. Deslonde, secretary of state; W.B. Brown, 
superintendent of public education.

1879 – T. Elkins receives a patent on the refrigeration 
apparatus.

1953 – Hulan Jack becomes first African American Manhattan 
Borough President in New York City. 

1958 – World renowned opera singer, Shirley Verrett, makes her 
debut in New York City.

1959 – Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs shortstop, wins the National 
League MVP.

1969 – Howard N. Lee and Charles Evers are elected the first 
African American mayors of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 
and Fayette, Mississippi respectively. 

1971 – Elgin Baylor announces his retirement from the Los 
Angeles Lakers. After 14 years in the NBA, Baylor had 
scored 23,149 points, the third highest in the league, 
and was the fifth-highest career rebounder. 

1978 – William Howard Jr. is elected president of the National 
Council of Churches, at the age of 32.

1982 – Rayford Logan joins the ancestors in Washington, DC. He 
was an educator, historian, and author of numerous books 
on African Americans, including the “Dictionary of 
American Negro Biography.” Among his honors was a 1980 
NAACP Spingarn Medal. 

1988 – Bill and Camille Cosby make a $20 million gift to Spelman 
College. In his remarks to newly inaugurated President 
Johnetta B. Cole, Cosby states, “I want Johnetta Cole to
understand the love that Camille and I have for this 
college, the love we have for women who, in spite of odds 
against them, come to this school to challenge themselves, 
to challenge the school, then to challenge what we call 
‘the outside world.'” 

1988 – The Martin L. King, Jr. Federal Building is dedicated in 
Atlanta, Georgia. It is the first federal building in the 
nation to bear the name of the slain civil rights leader.

1999 – Daisy Bates, who is best known for counseling the “Little 
Rock Nine,” joins the ancestors at the age of 84. The 
“Little Rock Nine” were the students who broke the color 
barrier at all-white Central High School in Little Rock, 
Arkansas in 1957, Her leadership helped to inch America
toward desegregated schools. She had dedicated her entire 
life to service in the civil rights struggle.

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

KRLemmons African American History

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.

KRLemmons African American History

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.

KRLemmons African American History

November 4 African American Historical Events

Today in Black History – November 4            *

1872 – Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback is elected as a U.S.
congressman from Louisiana.

1872 – Three African Americans are elected to major offices in
Louisiana elections: C.C Antoine, lieutenant governor;
P.G. Deslonde, secretary of state; W.B. Brown,
superintendent of public education.

1879 – T. Elkins receives a patent on the refrigeration
apparatus.

1953 – Hulan Jack becomes first African American Manhattan
Borough President in New York City.

1958 – World renowned opera singer, Shirley Verrett, makes her
debut in New York City.

1959 – Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs shortstop, wins the National
League MVP.

1969 – Howard N. Lee and Charles Evers are elected the first
African American mayors of Chapel Hill, North Carolina,
and Fayette, Mississippi respectively.

1971 – Elgin Baylor announces his retirement from the Los
Angeles Lakers.  After 14 years in the NBA, Baylor had
scored 23,149 points, the third highest in the league,
and was the fifth-highest career rebounder.

1978 – William Howard Jr. is elected president of the National
Council of Churches, at the age of 32.

1982 – Rayford Logan joins the ancestors in Washington, DC.  He
was an educator, historian, and author of numerous books
on African Americans, including the “Dictionary of
American Negro Biography.” Among his honors was a 1980
NAACP Spingarn Medal.

1988 – Bill and Camille Cosby make a $20 million gift to Spelman
College.  In his remarks to newly inaugurated President
Johnetta B. Cole, Cosby states, “I want Johnetta Cole to
understand the love that Camille and I have for this
college, the love we have for women who, in spite of odds
against them, come to this school to challenge themselves,
to challenge the school, then to challenge what we call
‘the outside world.'”

1988 – The Martin L. King, Jr. Federal Building is dedicated in
Atlanta, Georgia. It is the first federal building in the
nation to bear the name of the slain civil rights leader.

1999 – Daisy Bates, who is best known for counseling the “Little
Rock Nine,” joins the ancestors at the age of 84.  The
“Little Rock Nine” were the students who broke the color
barrier at all-white Central High School in Little Rock,
Arkansas in 1957,   Her leadership helped to inch America
toward desegregated schools. She had dedicated her entire
life to service in the civil rights struggle.

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