KRLemmons African American History

December 18 African American Historical Events

Today in Black History – December 18 *

1852 – George H. White is born in Rosindale, North Carolina.
He will become a lawyer, state legislator, and in 1896,
the only African American member of the United States
House of Representatives, where he will be the first to
introduce an anti-lynching bill. White will also found
the town of Whitesboro, New Jersey, as a haven for
African Americans escaping southern racism. He will join
the ancestors on December 28, 1918.

1860 – South Carolina declares itself an “independent
commonwealth.”

1865 – Congress proclaims the ratification of the thirteenth
Amendment to the Constitution, abolishing slavery. The
ratification process had been completed on December 6,
1865.

1917 – Raiford Chatman “Ossie” Davis is born in Cogdell, Georgia.
While he will be best known as an actor in such plays as
“Jeb” (where he will meet his wife, Ruby Dee) and “Purlie
Victorious” and films like “Let’s Do It Again,” “Do The
Right Thing,” and “Jungle Fever,” he will be a playwright,
screenwriter, and director(Cotton Comes to Harlem). In
1969, he will win an Emmy for his role in “Teacher,
Teacher” and will be a featured performer in television’s
“Evening Shade.” He will join the ancestors on February 4,
2005.

1958 – Niger gains autonomy within the French Community of Nations.

1961 – Wilt Chamberlain of the NBA Philadelphia Warriors scores 78
points vs the Los Angeles Lakers.

1964 – Funeral services are held in Chicago for Sam Cooke. Hundreds
of fans will cause damage to the A.R. Leak Funeral Home,
where Cooke’s body is on display.

1971 – Jesse Jackson announces the formation of Operation Push
(People United to Save Humanity), a new African American
political and economic development organization. Jackson,
who resigned from Operation Breadbasket, the economic arm
of the SCLC, says, “the problems of the 1970’s are economic
so the solution and goal must be economic.”

1971 – The NAACP’s Spingarn Medal is presented to Rev. Leon H.
Sullivan, founder of Opportunities Industrialization
Centers of America (OIC) for his leadership.

1989 – Ernest Dickerson wins the New York Film Critics Circle Award
for best cinematography for the movie “Do the Right Thing.”

1996 – The Oakland, California School board becomes the first in
the nation to recognize Black english, a.k.a. Ebonics, as a
separate language, NOT a dialect or slang.

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

KRLemmons African American History

December 11 African American Historical Events

Today in Black History – December 11 *

1872 – America’s first African American governor takes office as 
Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback became acting governor 
of Louisiana. 

1916 – John E. Bush, former slave and teacher, joins the 
ancestors. He had been appointed receiver of the United 
States Land Office in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1898. 

1917 – 13 African American soldiers are hanged for alleged 
participation in a Houston riot.

1917 – The Great Jazz migration begins as Joe Oliver leaves New 
Orleans and settles in Chicago, to be joined later by 
other stars.

1917 – The NAACP’s Spingarn Medal is presented to Harry T. 
Burleigh, composer and accomplished opera singer, for 
excellence in the field of music.

1926 – Willie Mae Thornton is born in Montgomery, Alabama. She 
will be better known as “Big Mama” Thornton, a blues 
singer whose recording of “Hound Dog” in 1952 will be 
mimicked by Elvis Presley, much to his success. She 
also recorded the hits “Ball & Chain,” and “Stronger 
than Dirt.” She will join the ancestors on July 25, 1984.

1928 – Lewis Latimore joins the ancestors in Flushing, New York. 
Employed as a chief draftsman, Mr. Latimore created the 
drawings for Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone in 1870.

1931 – The British Statute of Westminster gives complete 
legislative independence to South Africa.

1940 – Lev T. Mills, who will become an artist and chairman of 
the art department at Spelman College, is born in 
Tallahassee, Florida. His prints and mixed-media works 
will be collected by the Victoria & Albert and British 
Museums in London and the High Museum in Atlanta and 
include glass mosaic murals for an Atlanta subway station 
and the atrium floor of Atlanta’s City Hall.

1954 – Jermaine Jackson is born in Gary, Indiana. He will become 
a singer and musician with his brothers and perform with 
their group, The Jackson Five.

1961 – U.S. Supreme Court reverses the conviction of sixteen 
sit-in students who had been arrested in Baton Rouge, 
Louisiana.

1961 – Langston Hughes’ musical, “Black Nativity,” opens on 
Broadway.

1964 – Sam Cooke joins the ancestors after being killed. Bertha 
Franklin, Manager of the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles, 
claimed she killed the singer in self-defense after he’d 
tried to rape a 22-year-woman and then turned on Franklin. 

1980 – George Rogers, a running back for the University of South 
Carolina, is awarded the Heisman Trophy. He achieved 21
consecutive 100-yard games with the gamecocks and led the 
nation in rushing.

1981 – Muhammad Ali’s boxes in his 61st & last fight, losing to 
Trevor Berbick.

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

KRLemmons African American Music

June 13 Artist of the Day: Sam Cooke

Sam Cooke is June 13 Artist of the day.  Considered a trailblazer, Sam Cooke’s songs attracted a diverse audience.  Read about this interesting vocalist here:

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: http://rockhall.com/inductees/sam-cooke/bio/

NPR: http://www.npr.org/artists/15402012/sam-cooke

PBS: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/sam-cooke/crossing-over/1506/

Youtube videos: “You Send Me” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pX6QlnlMqjE  Frankie & Johnny” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqscpuCogRE  “A Change is Gonna Come” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbO2_077ixs

KRLemmons African American History

December 11 African American Historical Events

Today in Black History – December 11 *

1872 – America’s first African American governor takes office as
Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback became acting governor
of Louisiana.

1916 – John E. Bush, former slave and teacher, joins the
ancestors. He had been appointed receiver of the United
States Land Office in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1898.

1917 – 13 African American soldiers are hanged for alleged
participation in a Houston riot.

1917 – The Great Jazz migration begins as Joe Oliver leaves New
Orleans and settles in Chicago, to be joined later by
other stars.

1917 – The NAACP’s Spingarn Medal is presented to Harry T.
Burleigh, composer and accomplished opera singer, for
excellence in the field of music.

1926 – Willie Mae Thornton is born in Montgomery, Alabama. She
will be better known as “Big Mama” Thornton, a blues
singer whose recording of “Hound Dog” in 1952 will be
mimicked by Elvis Presley, much to his success. She
also recorded the hits “Ball & Chain,” and “Stronger
than Dirt.” She will join the ancestors on July 25, 1984.

1928 – Lewis Latimore joins the ancestors in Flushing, New York.
Employed as a chief draftsman, Mr. Latimore created the
drawings for Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone in 1870.

1931 – The British Statute of Westminster gives complete
legislative independence to South Africa.

1940 – Lev T. Mills, who will become an artist and chairman of
the art department at Spelman College, is born in
Tallahassee, Florida. His prints and mixed-media works
will be collected by the Victoria & Albert and British
Museums in London and the High Museum in Atlanta and
include glass mosaic murals for an Atlanta subway station
and the atrium floor of Atlanta’s City Hall.

1954 – Jermaine Jackson is born in Gary, Indiana. He will become
a singer and musician with his brothers and perform with
their group, The Jackson Five.

1961 – U.S. Supreme Court reverses the conviction of sixteen
sit-in students who had been arrested in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.

1961 – Langston Hughes’ musical, “Black Nativity,” opens on
Broadway.

1964 – Sam Cooke joins the ancestors after being killed. Bertha
Franklin, Manager of the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles,
claimed she killed the singer in self-defense after he’d
tried to rape a 22-year-woman and then turned on Franklin.

1980 – George Rogers, a running back for the University of South
Carolina, is awarded the Heisman Trophy. He achieved 21
consecutive 100-yard games with the gamecocks and led the
nation in rushing.

1981 – Muhammad Ali’s boxes in his 61st & last fight, losing to
Trevor Berbick.

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

KRLemmons African American History

December 11 African American Historical Events

Today in Black History – December 11 *

1872 – America’s first African American governor takes office as
Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback became acting governor
of Louisiana.

1916 – John E. Bush, former slave and teacher, joins the
ancestors. He had been appointed receiver of the United
States Land Office in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1898.

1917 – 13 African American soldiers are hanged for alleged
participation in a Houston riot.

1917 – The Great Jazz migration begins as Joe Oliver leaves New
Orleans and settles in Chicago, to be joined later by
other stars.

1917 – The NAACP’s Spingarn Medal is presented to Harry T.
Burleigh, composer and accomplished opera singer, for
excellence in the field of music.

1926 – Willie Mae Thornton is born in Montgomery, Alabama. She
will be better known as “Big Mama” Thornton, a blues
singer whose recording of “Hound Dog” in 1952 will be
mimicked by Elvis Presley, much to his success. She
also recorded the hits “Ball & Chain,” and “Stronger
than Dirt.” She will join the ancestors on July 25, 1984.

1928 – Lewis Latimore joins the ancestors in Flushing, New York.
Employed as a chief draftsman, Mr. Latimore created the
drawings for Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone in 1870.

1931 – The British Statute of Westminster gives complete
legislative independence to South Africa.

1940 – Lev T. Mills, who will become an artist and chairman of
the art department at Spelman College, is born in
Tallahassee, Florida. His prints and mixed-media works
will be collected by the Victoria & Albert and British
Museums in London and the High Museum in Atlanta and
include glass mosaic murals for an Atlanta subway station
and the atrium floor of Atlanta’s City Hall.

1954 – Jermaine Jackson is born in Gary, Indiana. He will become
a singer and musician with his brothers and perform with
their group, The Jackson Five.

1961 – U.S. Supreme Court reverses the conviction of sixteen
sit-in students who had been arrested in Baton Rouge,
Louisiana.

1961 – Langston Hughes’ musical, “Black Nativity,” opens on
Broadway.

1964 – Sam Cooke joins the ancestors after being killed. Bertha
Franklin, Manager of the Hacienda Motel in Los Angeles,
claimed she killed the singer in self-defense after he’d
tried to rape a 22-year-woman and then turned on Franklin.

1980 – George Rogers, a running back for the University of South
Carolina, is awarded the Heisman Trophy. He achieved 21
consecutive 100-yard games with the gamecocks and led the
nation in rushing.

1981 – Muhammad Ali’s boxes in his 61st & last fight, losing to
Trevor Berbick.

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