KRLemmons African American History

November 21 African American Historical Events

* Today in Black History – November 21 *

1654 – Richard Johnson, a free African American, is granted 550
acres in Northampton County, Virginia.

1784 – James Armistead is cited by French General Lafayette for
his valuable service to the American forces in the
Revolutionary War. Armistead, who was born into slavery
24 years earlier, had worked as a double agent for the
Americans while supposedly employed as a servant of
British General Cornwallis.

1865 – Shaw University is founded in Raleigh, North Carolina.

1878 – Marshall “Major” Taylor is born in Indianapolis, Indiana.
He will become an international cycling star who will be
the first native-born African American to win a national
sports title. During his career, Taylor will win over 100
professional races and one-on-one matches in the U.S. and
nine other countries.

1893 – Granville T. Woods, inventor, receives a patent for the
“Electric Railway Conduit.”

1904 – Coleman Hawkins is born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He will
virtually create the presence of the tenor saxophone in
jazz.

1918 – Henry B. Delany is elected saffragan bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal diocese of North Carolina.

1944 – Earl “the Pearl” Monroe, NBA Guard (New York Knicks,
Baltimore Bullets), is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1984 – TransAfrica’s Randall Robinson, DC congressional delegate
Walter Fauntroy, and U.S. Civil Rights Commissioner Mary
Frances Berry are arrested at a sit-in demonstration in
front of the South African Embassy in Washington, DC.
Their demonstration against apartheid will be repeated and
spread to New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other
cities, and involve such notables as Jesse Jackson, Arthur
Ashe, Harry Belafonte, and Stevie Wonder. Their efforts
will play a large part in the passage of the Anti-Apartheid
Act of 1986, which will impose economic sanctions against
South Africa.

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

KRLemmons African American History

October 22 African American Historical Events

* Today in Black History – October 22 *

1854 – James Bland is born in Flushing, New York. He will
write over 700 songs including “Oh, Dem Golden
Slippers” and “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny.” The
latter song will be selected in 1940 as the state
song of Virginia, the state’s legislators little
knowing the identity and race of its composer.
Virginia will decide to change their state song in
the late 1990s due to protest from civil rights
activists who say that the song glorifies slavery and
is inappropriate. He will join the ancestors on May
5, 1911 after succumbing to tuberculosis.

1906 – Three thousand African Americans demonstrated and
rioted in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to protest a
theatrical presentation of Thomas Dixon’s “The
Clansman”.

1936 – Bobby Seal is born in Dallas, Texas. He will become a
Black political activist and co-founder, with Huey
Newton, of the Black Panther Party.

1950 – Charles Cooper and Nat “Sweetwater” Clifton become two
of the first three African Americans to play in an
NBA game. Cooper had been drafted by the Boston
Celtics on April 25, 1950, becoming the first African
American ever drafted by a NBA team.

1952 – Frank E. Peterson, Jr. is commissioned as the first
African American marine aviation officer.

1963 – 225,000 students boycott Chicago public schools in a
Freedom Day protest against de facto segregation.

1986 – In an interview with the Washington Post, Spike Lee
says, “Movies are the most powerful medium in the world
and we just can’t sit back and let other people define
our existence, especially when they’re putting lies out
there on the screens.”

1990 – President Bush vetos major civil rights legislation,
arguing that the measure would force employers to adopt
hiring quotas. The veto is later upheld.

1991 – Thirty African American delegates conclude a three-day
visit to the Republic of South Africa at the invitation
of the African National Congress. While there,
TransAfrica’s Randall Robinson charges President Bush
with failing to exert his influence to end Black
township strife and Congresswoman Maxine Waters vows
to press United States’ cities and states to maintain
sanctions against the republic.

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

KRLemmons African American History

Noember 21 African American Historical Events

* Today in Black History – November 21 *

1654 – Richard Johnson, a free African American, is granted 550
acres in Northampton County, Virginia.

1784 – James Armistead is cited by French General Lafayette for
his valuable service to the American forces in the
Revolutionary War. Armistead, who was born into slavery
24 years earlier, had worked as a double agent for the
Americans while supposedly employed as a servant of
British General Cornwallis.

1865 – Shaw University is founded in Raleigh, North Carolina.

1878 – Marshall “Major” Taylor is born in Indianapolis, Indiana.
He will become an international cycling star who will be
the first native-born African American to win a national
sports title. During his career, Taylor will win over 100
professional races and one-on-one matches in the U.S. and
nine other countries.

1893 – Granville T. Woods, inventor, receives a patent for the
“Electric Railway Conduit.”

1904 – Coleman Hawkins is born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He will
virtually create the presence of the tenor saxophone in
jazz.

1918 – Henry B. Delany is elected saffragan bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal diocese of North Carolina.

1944 – Earl “the Pearl” Monroe, NBA Guard (New York Knicks,
Baltimore Bullets), is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1984 – TransAfrica’s Randall Robinson, DC congressional delegate
Walter Fauntroy, and U.S. Civil Rights Commissioner Mary
Frances Berry are arrested at a sit-in demonstration in
front of the South African Embassy in Washington, DC.
Their demonstration against apartheid will be repeated and
spread to New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other
cities, and involve such notables as Jesse Jackson, Arthur
Ashe, Harry Belafonte, and Stevie Wonder. Their efforts
will play a large part in the passage of the Anti-Apartheid
Act of 1986, which will impose economic sanctions against
South Africa.

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

KRLemmons African American History

November 21 African American Historical Events

Today in Black History – November 21 *

1654 – Richard Johnson, a free African American, is granted 550
acres in Northampton County, Virginia.

1784 – James Armistead is cited by French General Lafayette for
his valuable service to the American forces in the
Revolutionary War. Armistead, who was born into slavery
24 years earlier, had worked as a double agent for the
Americans while supposedly employed as a servant of
British General Cornwallis.

1865 – Shaw University is founded in Raleigh, North Carolina.

1878 – Marshall “Major” Taylor is born in Indianapolis, Indiana.
He will become an international cycling star who will be
the first native-born African American to win a national
sports title. During his career, Taylor will win over 100
professional races and one-on-one matches in the U.S. and
nine other countries.

1893 – Granville T. Woods, inventor, receives a patent for the
“Electric Railway Conduit.”

1904 – Coleman Hawkins is born in St. Joseph, Missouri. He will
virtually create the presence of the tenor saxophone in
jazz.

1918 – Henry B. Delany is elected saffragan bishop of the
Protestant Episcopal diocese of North Carolina.

1944 – Earl “the Pearl” Monroe, NBA Guard (New York Knicks,
Baltimore Bullets), is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1984 – TransAfrica’s Randall Robinson, DC congressional delegate
Walter Fauntroy, and U.S. Civil Rights Commissioner Mary
Frances Berry are arrested at a sit-in demonstration in
front of the South African Embassy in Washington, DC.
Their demonstration against apartheid will be repeated and
spread to New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and other
cities, and involve such notables as Jesse Jackson, Arthur
Ashe, Harry Belafonte, and Stevie Wonder. Their efforts
will play a large part in the passage of the Anti-Apartheid
Act of 1986, which will impose economic sanctions against
South Africa.

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