KRLemmons African American History

March 7 African American Historical Events

* Today in Black History – March 7 *

1539 – The first person of African descent to traverse the southern
portion of, what is now, the United States is Estevanico, or
Esteban, explorer from Azamov, Morocco. He discovers Arizona
and New Mexico. His journey lasted eight years. He was
leading an advance scouting party when he joins the ancestors
after being killed at Hawikuh Pueblo, New Mexico.

1870 – Governor William W. Holden of North Carolina, denounces Klan
violence and issues a proclamation declaring Alamance County
in a state of insurrection.

1917 – Janet Collins is born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She will
become a prima ballerina and the first African American
ballerina to perform on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York City. She will be one of the few classically
trained African American dancers of her generation. In 1951
she will win the Donaldson Award for best dancer on Broadway
for her work in Cole Porter’s “Out of This World” (musical).
She also will perform in Aida and Carmen. She will join the
ancestors on May 28, 2003 in Fort Worth, Texas.

1927 – In Nixon v. Hearn, the United States Supreme Court strikes
down a Texas law prohibiting African Americans from voting in
a “white” primary.

1930 – “The New York Times” capitalizes the word Negro “in recognition
of racial self-respect for those who have been for generations
in the lowercase.”

1941 – British troops invade Abyssinia (Ethiopia). This invasion will
result in the liberation of Ethiopia from fascist Italian
occupation (1936 – 1941).

1942 – The first five cadets graduate from the Tuskegee Flying School:
Captain Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. and Second Lieutenants Mac Ross,
Charles DeBow, L.R. Curtis, and George S. Roberts. They will
become part of the famous 99th Pursuit Squadron.

1945 – Photographer Anthony Bonair is born in Trinidad. He will emigrate
to the United States in 1969. A photographer since the early 1970’s,
Bonair’s work will explore dance, Carnival, and the streets as
well as new directions utilizing multiple-exposure techniques.
He will join the ancestors on March 14, 2011.

1950 – Franco Harris is born in Fort Dix, New Jersey. He will become
a NFL fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle
Seahawks. In his career, he will be All-AFC three times, play
in eight Pro Bowls, MVP in Super Bowl IX, rush for 1,000 yards
for nine seasons, rush for 100 yards in 47 games, rush for
12,120 career yards, 91 touchdowns rushing, 9 TDs receiving,
14,622 combined net yards, and 1,556 yards rushing in 19 post-
season games. One of his most memorable plays will be “The
Immaculate Reception” in a Steeler win against the Oakland
Raiders. This play will be voted the play of the 20th Century
on Superbowl Sunday, January 30, 2000. He will be elected to
the Pro Football Hall of Fame on January 27, 1990 and enshrined
on August 8, 1990.

1951 – Ezzard Charles wins a 15-round heavyweight decision against
Jersey Joe Walcott.

1952 – Lynn Curtis Swann is born in Alcoa, Tennessee. He will become a
NFL wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will be
elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Though
his professional career didn’t yield large statistics, he will
be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He will
also be selected to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team by Hall of
Fame voters. After retiring from football, he will become a
network sportscaster.

1965 – John Lewis leads a group of civil rights marchers across the
Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where they are attacked
by Alabama state troopers and sheriff’s deputies with tear gas
and billy clubs. This violent confrontation will be known as
“Bloody Sunday,” and will spark the historic Selma-to-
Montgomery voting rights march led by Martin Luther King Jr.

1985 – The record “We Are the World” is released as a single. The
song, whose proceeds benefit African famine relief efforts, is
written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson and produced by
Quincy Jones, with the singing participants organized by Jones,
Harry Belafonte, and Ken Kragen. To insure that the all-night
recording session went off without a hitch and that the true
cause of the song was etched into the hearts and minds of the
wide array of internationally known talent performing, a hand-
written sign is placed outside the studio at A&M Records in
Hollywood which simply said, “Check Your Egos at the Door.”

1987 – World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champ, “Iron Mike” Tyson
becomes the youngest heavyweight titlist ever as he beats James
“Bonecrusher” Smith in a decision during a 12-round bout in Las
Vegas, Nevada.

2006 – Gordon Parks, renowned photographer, writer and director, joins
the ancestors at the age of 93.
Information retrieved from the Munirah Chronicle and is edited by Mr. Rene’ A. Perry.

KRLemmons African American History

February 21 African American Historical Events

* Today in Black History – February 21 *

***********************************************************************
* Subscribe to the Munirah Chronicle and receive *
* Black Facts every day of the year. *
* To SUBSCRIBE send E-mail to: <[log in to unmask]> *
* In the E-mail body place: Subscribe Munirah Your FULL Name *
***********************************************************************

1864 – Saint Francis Xavier Church in Baltimore, Maryland is dedicated.
It is the first exclusively African American parish in the
United States.

1895 – The North Carolina Legislature adjourns for the day to mark the
death of Frederick Douglass.

1933 – Eunice Waymon (Nina Simone) is born in Tryon, North Carolina.
She will begin her entertaining career in 1954 and bolstered
by critical praise for her 1959 recording of “I Loves You,
Porgy,” she will tour in the U.S. and Europe during the 1960’s
and early 1970’s. Returning to the concert stage and
recording studio in 1977, she will be called the “High
Priestess of Soul.” She will record rarely in the 1970’s and
1980’s, but will experience a career comeback in the United
States with her 1993 album release, “A Single Woman.” She
will join the ancestors in Carry-le-Rouet (South of France) on
April 21, 2003. As she wished, her ashes will be spread in
different African countries.

1936 – Barbara Jordan is born in Houston, Texas. The first African
American state senator in the Texas legislature since 1883
and a three-term congresswoman, she will play a key role in
the 1974 Watergate hearings. In 1976, she will be the first
woman and first African American to make a keynote speech
before the Democratic National Convention. She will join the
ancestors on January 17, 1996 in Austin, Texas.

1940 – John Lewis is born in Troy, Alabama. He will become founder
and chairman of SNCC, organizer of the Selma-to-Montgomery
March in 1965, executive director of the Voter Education
Project, and congressman from Georgia’s 5th District. Lewis’
power will continue to be felt when he is named Democratic
deputy whip by Speaker of the House Thomas S. Foley in 1991.

1965 – El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) joins the ancestors after
being assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem at the
age of 39. He was best known for his doctrine of
self-determination for African American people, including
their right to fight for their rights and protect themselves
in a hostile America by “whatever means necessary.”

1976 – Florence Ballard, one of the original Supremes, joins the
ancestors in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 32. Ballard
had said that she never received a royalty check prior to
1967 for any of her work with the Supremes, who featured
Diana Ross and included Mary Wilson.

1998 – Julian Bond, civil rights leader from the 1960’s, former
Georgia state legislator, and college professor, becomes the
new chairperson of the NAACP.

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

KRLemmons African American History

February 21 African American Historical Events

Today in Black History – February 21 *

1864 – Saint Francis Xavier Church in Baltimore, Maryland is dedicated.
It is the first exclusively African American parish in the
United States.

1895 – The North Carolina Legislature adjourns for the day to mark the
death of Frederick Douglass.

1933 – Eunice Waymon (Nina Simone) is born in Tryon, North Carolina.
She will begin her entertaining career in 1954 and bolstered
by critical praise for her 1959 recording of “I Loves You,
Porgy,” she will tour in the U.S. and Europe during the 1960’s
and early 1970’s. Returning to the concert stage and
recording studio in 1977, she will be called the “High
Priestess of Soul.” She will record rarely in the 1970’s and
1980’s, but will experience a career comeback in the United
States with her 1993 album release, “A Single Woman.” She
will join the ancestors in Carry-le-Rouet (South of France) on
April 21, 2003. As she wished, her ashes will be spread in
different African countries.

1936 – Barbara Jordan is born in Houston, Texas. The first African
American state senator in the Texas legislature since 1883
and a three-term congresswoman, she will play a key role in
the 1974 Watergate hearings. In 1976, she will be the first
woman and first African American to make a keynote speech
before the Democratic National Convention. She will join the
ancestors on January 17, 1996 in Austin, Texas.

1940 – John Lewis is born in Troy, Alabama. He will become founder
and chairman of SNCC, organizer of the Selma-to-Montgomery
March in 1965, executive director of the Voter Education
Project, and congressman from Georgia’s 5th District. Lewis’
power will continue to be felt when he is named Democratic
deputy whip by Speaker of the House Thomas S. Foley in 1991.

1965 – El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) joins the ancestors after
being assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem at the
age of 39. He was best known for his doctrine of
self-determination for African American people, including
their right to fight for their rights and protect themselves
in a hostile America by “whatever means necessary.”

1976 – Florence Ballard, one of the original Supremes, joins the
ancestors in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 32. Ballard
had said that she never received a royalty check prior to
1967 for any of her work with the Supremes, who featured
Diana Ross and included Mary Wilson.

1998 – Julian Bond, civil rights leader from the 1960’s, former
Georgia state legislator, and college professor, becomes the
new chairperson of the NAACP.

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

KRLemmons African American History

March 7 African American Historical Events

Today in Black History – March 7 *

1539 – The first person of African descent to traverse the southern
portion of, what is now, the United States is Estevanico, or
Esteban, explorer from Azamov, Morocco. He discovers Arizona
and New Mexico. His journey lasted eight years. He was
leading an advance scouting party when he joins the ancestors
after being killed at Hawikuh Pueblo, New Mexico.

1870 – Governor William W. Holden of North Carolina, denounces Klan
violence and issues a proclamation declaring Alamance County
in a state of insurrection.

1917 – Janet Collins is born in New Orleans, Louisiana. She will
become a prima ballerina and the first African American
ballerina to perform on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera
House in New York City. She will be one of the few classically
trained African American dancers of her generation. In 1951
she will win the Donaldson Award for best dancer on Broadway
for her work in Cole Porter’s “Out of This World” (musical).
She also will perform in Aida and Carmen. She will join the
ancestors on May 28, 2003 in Fort Worth, Texas.

1927 – In Nixon v. Hearn, the United States Supreme Court strikes
down a Texas law prohibiting African Americans from voting in
a “white” primary.

1930 – “The New York Times” capitalizes the word Negro “in recognition
of racial self-respect for those who have been for generations
in the lowercase.”

1941 – British troops invade Abyssinia (Ethiopia). This invasion will
result in the liberation of Ethiopia from fascist Italian
occupation (1936 – 1941).

1942 – The first five cadets graduate from the Tuskegee Flying School:
Captain Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. and Second Lieutenants Mac Ross,
Charles DeBow, L.R. Curtis, and George S. Roberts. They will
become part of the famous 99th Pursuit Squadron.

1945 – Photographer Anthony Bonair is born in Trinidad. He will emigrate
to the United States in 1969. A photographer since the early 1970’s,
Bonair’s work will explore dance, Carnival, and the streets as
well as new directions utilizing multiple-exposure techniques.

1950 – Franco Harris is born in Fort Dix, New Jersey. He will become
a NFL fullback for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Seattle
Seahawks. In his career, he will be All-AFC three times, play
in eight Pro Bowls, MVP in Super Bowl IX, rush for 1,000 yards
for nine seasons, rush for 100 yards in 47 games, rush for
12,120 career yards, 91 touchdowns rushing, 9 TDs receiving,
14,622 combined net yards, and 1,556 yards rushing in 19 post-
season games. One of his most memorable plays will be “The
Immaculate Reception” in a Steeler win against the Oakland
Raiders. This play will be voted the play of the 20th Century
on Superbowl Sunday, January 30, 2000. He will be elected to
the Pro Football Hall of Fame on January 27, 1990 and enshrined
on August 8, 1990.

1951 – Ezzard Charles wins a 15-round heavyweight decision against
Jersey Joe Walcott.

1952 – Lynn Curtis Swann is born in Alcoa, Tennessee. He will become a
NFL wide receiver for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He will be
elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1993. Though
his professional career didn’t yield large statistics, he will
be elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2001. He will
also be selected to the NFL 1970s All-Decade Team by Hall of
Fame voters. After retiring from football, he will become a
network sportscaster.

1965 – John Lewis leads a group of civil rights marchers across the
Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, where they are attacked
by Alabama state troopers and sheriff’s deputies with tear gas
and billy clubs. This violent confrontation will be known as
“Bloody Sunday,” and will spark the historic Selma-to-
Montgomery voting rights march led by Martin Luther King Jr.

1985 – The record “We Are the World” is released as a single. The
song, whose proceeds benefit African famine relief efforts, is
written by Lionel Richie and Michael Jackson and produced by
Quincy Jones, with the singing participants organized by Jones,
Harry Belafonte, and Ken Kragen. To insure that the all-night
recording session went off without a hitch and that the true
cause of the song was etched into the hearts and minds of the
wide array of internationally known talent performing, a hand-
written sign is placed outside the studio at A&M Records in
Hollywood which simply said, “Check Your Egos at the Door.”

1987 – World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champ, “Iron Mike” Tyson
becomes the youngest heavyweight titlist ever as he beats James
“Bonecrusher” Smith in a decision during a 12-round bout in Las
Vegas, Nevada.

2006 – Gordon Parks, renowned photographer, writer and director, joins
the ancestors at the age of 93.

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

KRLemmons African American History

February 21 African American Historical Events

Today in Black History – February 21 *

***********************************************************************
* “Once a year we go through the charade of February being ‘Black *
* History Month.’ Black History Month needs to be a 12-MONTH THING. *
* When we all learn about our history, about how much we’ve *
* accomplished while being handicapped with RACISM, it can only *
* inspire us to greater heights, knowing we’re on the giant shoulders *
* of our ANCESTORS.” Subscribe to the Munirah Chronicle and receive *
* Black Facts every day of the year. *
* To SUBSCRIBE send E-mail to: <[log in to unmask]> *
* In the E-mail body place: Subscribe Munirah Your FULL Name *
***********************************************************************

1864 – Saint Francis Xavier Church in Baltimore, Maryland is dedicated.
It is the first exclusively African American parish in the
United States.

1895 – The North Carolina Legislature adjourns for the day to mark the
death of Frederick Douglass.

1933 – Eunice Waymon (Nina Simone) is born in Tryon, North Carolina.
She will begin her entertaining career in 1954 and bolstered
by critical praise for her 1959 recording of “I Loves You,
Porgy,” she will tour in the U.S. and Europe during the 1960’s
and early 1970’s. Returning to the concert stage and
recording studio in 1977, she will be called the “High
Priestess of Soul.” She will record rarely in the 1970’s and
1980’s, but will experience a career comeback in the United
States with her 1993 album release, “A Single Woman.” She
will join the ancestors in Carry-le-Rouet (South of France) on
April 21, 2003. As she wished, her ashes will be spread in
different African countries.

1936 – Barbara Jordan is born in Houston, Texas. The first African
American state senator in the Texas legislature since 1883
and a three-term congresswoman, she will play a key role in
the 1974 Watergate hearings. In 1976, she will be the first
woman and first African American to make a keynote speech
before the Democratic National Convention. She will join the
ancestors on January 17, 1996 in Austin, Texas.

1940 – John Lewis is born in Troy, Alabama. He will become founder
and chairman of SNCC, organizer of the Selma-to-Montgomery
March in 1965, executive director of the Voter Education
Project, and congressman from Georgia’s 5th District. Lewis’
power will continue to be felt when he is named Democratic
deputy whip by Speaker of the House Thomas S. Foley in 1991.

1965 – El-Hajj Malik El-Shabazz (Malcolm X) joins the ancestors after
being assassinated at the Audubon Ballroom in Harlem at the
age of 39. He was best known for his doctrine of
self-determination for African American people, including
their right to fight for their rights and protect themselves
in a hostile America by “whatever means necessary.”

1976 – Florence Ballard, one of the original Supremes, joins the
ancestors in Detroit, Michigan, at the age of 32. Ballard
had said that she never received a royalty check prior to
1967 for any of her work with the Supremes, who featured
Diana Ross and included Mary Wilson.

1998 – Julian Bond, civil rights leader from the 1960’s, former
Georgia state legislator, and college professor, becomes the
new chairperson of the NAACP.

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