KRLemmons African American History

November 17 African American Historical Events

* Today in Black History – November 17 *

1842 – Fugitive slave George Latimer, is captured in Boston.
His capture leads to the first of the fugitive slave
cases which strain relationships between the North and
South. Boston abolitionists will raise money to purchase
Latimer from his slave owner.

1911 – Omega Psi Phi Fraternity is founded on the campus of
Howard University.

1945 – Elvin Hayes, NBA star and Basketball Hall of Famer – “The
Big E” (San Diego, Houston Rockets, Baltimore Bullets;
5th on list of most games played in ABA/NBA; University
of Houston, All America in 1967 and 1968), is born.

1956 – Fullback Jim Brown of Syracuse University scores 43 pts
against Colgate, establishing a NCAA record.

1967 – Ronnie DeVoe, rhythm and blues singer (New Edition; Bell
Biv DeVoe), is born.

1978 – Two FBI agents testify before the House Select Committee
on Assassinations that the bureau’s long-term
surveillance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was based
solely on J. Edgar Hoover’s “hatred of the civil rights
leader” and not on the civil rights leader’s alleged
communist influences or linkages with radical groups.

1980 – Howard University’s WHMM-TV starts broadcasting. It is
the first African American-owned public-broadcasting
television station.

1990 – Itabari Njeri receives the American Book Award for
Outstanding Contribution in American Literature for her
book, “Every Good-bye Ain’t Gone.” Also honored is poet
Sonia Sanchez, who receives a lifetime achievement award.

1998 – Representative James Clyburn (D-SC) is elected as
chairperson of the Congressional Black Caucus. He is the
first Southerner to head the group, since it was founded
in 1971. He had been first elected to Congress in 1992,
the first African American to represent South Carolina
since Reconstruction.

1998 – Esther Rolle, the Emmy Award-winning actress, who won
acclaim on the hit CBS sitcom “Good Times” as well as on
stage and in the movies, joins the ancestors at her home
in Los Angeles, at the age of 78.

2006 – Ruth Brown, the gutsy Rhythm and Blues singer whose career
extended to acting and crusading for musicians’ rights,
joins the ancestors in Las Vegas at the age of 78
succumbing to complications of a heart attack and stroke
following surgery.

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

KRLemmons African American History

October 28 African American Historical Events

* Today in Black History – October 28 *

1862 – The First Kansas Colored Volunteers, while greatly
outnumbered, repulse and drive off a rebel force at Island
Mound, Missouri. This is the first engagement for African
American troops in the Civil War.

1873 – Patrick Healy becomes president of Georgetown University,
the oldest Catholic University in the United States and
becomes the first African American president of a
predominantly white university in the United States.

1914 – Omega Psi Phi fraternity is incorporated. Founded in 1911
by three students, Frank Coleman, Oscar J. Cooper and
Edgar A. Love and their faculty adviser, Ernest Everett
Just, the fraternity will grow to have over 90,000 members
in chapters throughout the United States and abroad.

1937 – Leonard Randolph “Lenny” Wilkens is born in Brooklyn, New
York. He will become a professional basketball player for
the St. Louis Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail
Blazers and Seattle Supersonics. He will also coach every
team for which he played. In 1995, he will surpass Red
Auerbach as the NBA winningest coach, with his 939th
victory. On March 1, 1996, he will become the first coach
to win 1,000 regular season games. He and John Wooden will
become the only two persons to be elected to the Basketball
Hall of Fame as a player and coach.

1948 – Telma Louise Hopkins is born in Louisville, Kentucky. She will
become a member of the 1970’s group, “Tony Orlando and Dawn”,
and later a television actress. She will be best known for
her roles in “Bosom Buddies,” “Gimme a Break!,” “Family
Matters,” “Getting By,” and “Half & Half.”

1965 – Earl Bostic, popular jazz alto saxophonist and winner of the
1959 Playboy Jazz poll, joins the ancestors in Rochester,
New York. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native had begun his career
in the Midwest and, after studying music and playing with
bands in the South, landed with Lionel Hampton’s big band,
among others.

1973 – Elmore Smith of the Los Angeles Lakers blocks 17 shots in a
game to establish a NBA record.

1981 – Edward M. McIntyre is elected as the first African American
mayor of Augusta, Georgia.

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

KRLemmons African American History

October 28 African American Historical Events

* Today in Black History – October 28 *

1862 – The First Kansas Colored Volunteers, while greatly
outnumbered, repulse and drive off a rebel force at Island
Mound, Missouri. This is the first engagement for African
American troops in the Civil War.

1873 – Patrick Healy becomes president of Georgetown University,
the oldest Catholic University in the United States and
becomes the first African American president of a
predominantly white university in the United States.

1914 – Omega Psi Phi fraternity is incorporated. Founded in 1911
by three students, Frank Coleman, Oscar J. Cooper and
Edgar A. Love and their faculty adviser, Ernest Everett
Just, the fraternity will grow to have over 90,000 members
in chapters throughout the United States and abroad.

1937 – Leonard Randolph “Lenny” Wilkens is born in Brooklyn, New
York. He will become a professional basketball player for
the St. Louis Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Portland Trail
Blazers and Seattle Supersonics. He will also coach every
team for which he played. In 1995, he will surpass Red
Auerbach as the NBA winningest coach, with his 939th
victory. On March 1, 1996, he will become the first coach
to win 1,000 regular season games. He and John Wooden will
become the only two persons to be elected to the Basketball
Hall of Fame as a player and coach.

1948 – Telma Louise Hopkins is born in Louisville, Kentucky. She will
become a member of the 1970’s group, “Tony Orlando and Dawn”,
and later a television actress. She will be best known for
her roles in “Bosom Buddies,” “Gimme a Break!,” “Family
Matters,” “Getting By,” and “Half & Half.”

1965 – Earl Bostic, popular jazz alto saxophonist and winner of the
1959 Playboy Jazz poll, joins the ancestors in Rochester,
New York. The Tulsa, Oklahoma native had begun his career
in the Midwest and, after studying music and playing with
bands in the South, landed with Lionel Hampton’s big band,
among others.

1973 – Elmore Smith of the Los Angeles Lakers blocks 17 shots in a
game to establish a NBA record.

1981 – Edward M. McIntyre is elected as the first African American
mayor of Augusta, Georgia.

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