On the first day of 1947, drummer Art Blakey laid the foundation for what would become one of the most iconic jazz groups of all time: The Jazz... Continue →
Lola Falana, an American singer, dancer, and actress, was born in Camden, New Jersey. Known as the "First Lady of Las Vegas," Falana broke barriers... Continue →
Oprah Winfrey, one of the most influential media moguls in history, was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi. Overcoming a challenging childhood marked by... Continue →
On this date in 1990, David Norman Dinkins officially began his tenure as the 106th mayor of New York City, making history as the city's first... Continue →
On this date in 1977, Erroll Garner passed away. He was an influential jazz pianist and composer, best known for his timeless jazz standard "Misty."... Continue →
On this date in 1977, Ellis Wilson, an influential African American painter, passed away on January 2, 1977. Born in 1899 in Mayfield, Kentucky,... Continue →
On this date in 1970, Clifton Reginald Wharton Jr. made history on January 2, 1970, when he became the president of Michigan State University (MSU).... Continue →
On this date in 1968, actor Cuba Gooding Jr. was born on January 2, 1968, in The Bronx, New York. He is an Academy Award-winning actor best known for... Continue →
On this date in 1965, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) launched a voter registration drive in... Continue →
On this date in 1915, Historian John Hope Franklin was born. He was a highly influential historian, scholar, and educator, best known for his work on... Continue →
On this date in 1898, Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander was born on, in Philadelphia, PA, and she made history as a trailblazing African American woman... Continue →
On this date in 1872, the Mississippi Legislature convened, and John R. Lynch, at the age of 24, was elected Speaker of the Mississippi House of... Continue →
Bryant Gumble resigns after 15 years as host of NBC's Today Show
On this date in 1989, The Arsenio Hall Show premiered, making history as the first regularly scheduled nightly talk show to be hosted by an African... Continue →
On this date in 1984, Rev. Jesse Jackson successfully negotiated the release of U.S. Navy Lt. Robert Goodman, a pilot who had been shot down over... Continue →
On this date in 1969, Louis Stokes made history when he was sworn in as the first African American congressman from Ohio. He represented Ohio's 21st... Continue →
On this date in 1969, Rep. Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was seated by Congress after a long political battle. Powell, a Democratic congressman from... Continue →
On this date in 1966, Floyd B. McKissick, a civil rights attorney from North Carolina, was named the national director of the Congress of Racial... Continue →
On this date in 1966, Sammy Younge Jr. was a 21-year-old civil rights activist and a student at Tuskegee Institute who was tragically shot and killed... Continue →
On this date in 1961, Adam Clayton Powell Jr. was elected Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, making him one of the most powerful... Continue →
On this date in 1947, the **NAACP's 1947 report** highlighted the extreme racial violence that African Americans, particularly returning Black... Continue →
On this date in 1947, Congressman William L. Dawson of Illinois made history as the first African American to chair a standing committee of the U.S.... Continue →
On this date in 1621, First African American, William Tucker, born. William Tucker is recognized as the first recorded African American born in the... Continue →
Patrick Kelly, an acclaimed fashion designer and a native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, passed away in Paris at the age of 35. Known for his bold,... Continue →
Renowned African American soprano Leontyne Price gave her final performance at the Metropolitan Opera, singing the title role in Aida. Her farewell... Continue →
C.L.R. James, a Trinidadian historian, journalist, and socialist, was born on this day. He is best known for his influential work The Black Jacobins... Continue →
Alvin Ailey, born on January 5, 1931, in Rogers, Texas, was a seminal American dancer, choreographer, and activist. His early experiences in the... Continue →
Mamie Till-Mobley, the mother of 14-year-old Emmett Till—whose brutal lynching in 1955 became a catalyst for the American civil rights... Continue →
Legendary jazz trumpeter, composer, and bandleader John Birks "Dizzy" Gillespie passed away at age 75. A key figure in the development of bebop and... Continue →
John Singleton, acclaimed director and screenwriter, was born in Los Angeles, California. He is best known for his groundbreaking 1991 film Boyz n... Continue →
On this day, Marian Anderson became the first African American to perform at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. She appeared as Ulrica in... Continue →
On this day, Yale University opened the James Weldon Johnson Memorial Collection of African American Arts and Letters at the Beinecke Rare Book &... Continue →
Zora Neale Hurston, an influential African American author, anthropologist, and filmmaker, was born in Notasulga, Alabama. Best known for her novel... Continue →
On this day in 1875, William P. Powell, an African American entrepreneur and civic leader, founded the city of Centerville in California. Amidst the... Continue →
Renowned poet Countee Cullen, a leading figure of the Harlem Renaissance, passed away on this day. Known for works such as Color and Copper Sun,... Continue →
Earl Gilbert Graves Sr. (January 9, 1935 – April 6, 2020) was an influential American entrepreneur, publisher, and advocate for African American... Continue →
Edward Mitchell Bannister, a celebrated African American painter known for his pastoral landscapes and seascapes, died on this day. Bannister was a... Continue →
Max Roach, one of the most influential drummers in jazz history, was born on this day in Newland, North Carolina. A key figure in the development of... Continue →
Dean Dixon was born on this day in Harlem, New York. A trailblazing African American conductor, Dixon faced racial barriers in the U.S., prompting... Continue →
Mary J. Blige, widely known as the "Queen of Hip Hop Soul," was born in the Bronx, New York. Blige revolutionized R&B by blending soulful vocals... Continue →
On this day, David Ruffin officially began performing with The Temptations, marking a turning point in the group's history. Known for his powerful... Continue →
Lorraine Hansberry, acclaimed author and playwright, passed away at the age of 34. She was best known for A Raisin in the Sun (1959), the first play... Continue →
Sterling Allen Brown, a renowned poet, folklorist, and literary critic, passed away on this day. Born in 1901, Brown was a leading figure of the... Continue →
A commemorative stamp honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is issued by the U.S. Postal Service as part of the Black Heritage USA... Continue →
On January 14, 1972, the NBC sitcom Sanford and Son premiered, quickly becoming a hit. The show portrayed the comedic relationship between an... Continue →
Carl Weathers was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He is best known for his role as Apollo Creed in the Rocky film series. A former professional... Continue →
John Oliver Killens, an influential African American novelist, was born on this day in Macon, Georgia. Killens was a co-founder of the Harlem Writers... Continue →
Martin Luther King Jr., one of the most influential leaders in the American civil rights movement, was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He is best known for... Continue →
On January 15, 1961, The Supremes officially signed with Motown Records, marking the beginning of one of the most successful careers in music... Continue →
Richard Parsons, then CEO of AOL Time Warner, was selected to become the company’s next chairman. This made him one of the most powerful African... Continue →
Debbie Allen, an acclaimed African American dancer, choreographer, actress, and television producer, was born in Houston, Texas. Known for her... Continue →
Benny Goodman led a groundbreaking jazz concert at Carnegie Hall in New York City, considered one of the first serious jazz performances in that... Continue →
Eartha Kitt, an iconic singer, actress, and activist, was born in North, South Carolina. Known for her distinctive voice and dynamic performances,... Continue →
January 17, 1992 – Jimi Hendrix Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix, known for his revolutionary... Continue →
James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla, Tate County, Mississippi. Known for his distinctive voice and powerful performances, his film credits include... Continue →
"The Jeffersons" premiered as one of the first American sitcoms centered on an African-American family. A spin-off from "All in the Family," the show... Continue →
Celebrated poet and author Maya Angelou became the second poet in U.S. history to recite at a presidential inauguration. She delivered her poem "On... Continue →
Eva Jessye was born in Coffeyville, Kansas. A pioneering African American choral director, she gained fame for her role as the choral director for... Continue →
On this day, poet Phillis Wheatley—born into slavery in 1754—was freed, and her first book, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral, was... Continue →
Singer Sam Cooke, widely regarded as one of the pioneers of soul music, was born in Chicago, Illinois. The son of a minister, Cooke began his musical... Continue →
William Warfield, acclaimed actor, pianist, and singer, was born in West Helena, Arkansas. His illustrious career in music spanned 54 years, during... Continue →
Nell Carter, celebrated actress and singer, died at age 54. She was best known for her role as the sassy housekeeper on the 1980s sitcom Gimme a... Continue →
Rev. Thomas A. Dorsey, known as the "Father of Gospel Music," passed away in Chicago, Illinois. A prolific composer, performer, and recording artist,... Continue →
ABC-TV began airing the groundbreaking mini-series Roots, based on Alex Haley's novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family. The eight-part series... Continue →
Paul Robeson, a renowned actor, singer, athlete, and civil rights activist, passed away on this day in 1976. Robeson was a multi-talented figure who... Continue →
On this day, acclaimed African American author Richard Wright was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP for his groundbreaking novel Native Son.... Continue →
On January 24, 1962, Jackie Robinson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, becoming the first African American to receive the honor.... Continue →
Aaron Neville, celebrated American R&B and soul singer, was born on January 24, 1949, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Known for his distinctive voice... Continue →
Arturo Alfonso Schomburg was born on January 24, 1874, in Santurce, Puerto Rico. A historian, writer, and activist of Afro-Puerto Rican and German... Continue →
Gloria Naylor, acclaimed African American novelist, was born on January 25, 1950, in New York City. She is best known for her debut novel The Women... Continue →
Bessie Coleman, the first Black American woman to earn a pilot’s license, was born on January 26, 1893, in Atlanta, Texas. Denied flight training... Continue →
Anita Baker, the celebrated American singer-songwriter renowned for her soulful ballads and powerful contralto voice, was born on January 26, 1958,... Continue →
On January 27, 1961, Leontyne Price made her historic debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, performing the role of Leonora in... Continue →
On January 27, 1953, Ralph Ellison's groundbreaking novel Invisible Man won the National Book Award for Fiction. The novel, which explores themes of... Continue →
Will Marion Cook, a pioneering African American composer, violinist, and conductor, was born on January 27, 1869. Trained in classical music, Cook... Continue →
Richmond Barthé, a prominent African American sculptor associated with the Harlem Renaissance, was born on January 28, 1901, in Bay St. Louis,... Continue →
On January 29, 1981, William R. "Cozy" Cole, a renowned jazz drummer, passed away. Known for his impeccable technique and influential solos, Cole... Continue →
Oprah Winfrey was born on January 29, 1954, in Kosciusko, Mississippi. She rose to prominence as an actress, media mogul, and talk show host, making... Continue →
On January 29, 1837, Alexander Pushkin—widely celebrated as the father of Russian literature—died following a duel at the age of 37. Pushkin was... Continue →
On January 31, 1963, James Baldwin’s powerful essay collection The Fire Next Time was published. Comprised of two essays, the book offered a... Continue →
On January 31, 1934, Etta Moten, a pioneering African American actress and singer, performed at a White House dinner for President and Mrs. Franklin... Continue →
On February 1, 1978, the U.S. Postal Service issued the first stamp in its Black Heritage USA series, honoring Harriet Tubman. A legendary... Continue →
On February 1, 1965, acclaimed actress and civil rights activist Ruby Dee participated in a major Shakespeare Festival production. Her appearance... Continue →
Rick James, influential funk and R&B singer, songwriter, and producer, was born on February 1, 1952, in Buffalo, New York. Known for his... Continue →
Garrett Morris, trailblazing African American actor and comedian, was born on February 1, 1937, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He became one of the... Continue →
Langston Hughes, one of the most influential figures of the Harlem Renaissance, was born on February 1, 1902. Hughes became known for his insightful,... Continue →
William Ellisworth Artis was born on February 2, 1914, in Washington, North Carolina. A talented sculptor and ceramicist, Artis studied at Syracuse... Continue →
Herbert Mills, tenor singer and member of the legendary vocal group The Mills Brothers, was born on February 2, 1912. The Mills Brothers were... Continue →
On February 3, 1997, award-winning jazz drummer Tony Williams died in Daly City, California. Known for his innovative style and technical brilliance,... Continue →
On February 3, 1965, African American sculptor Geraldine McCullough was awarded the Widener Gold Medal by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.... Continue →
On February 3, 1948, Laura Wheeler Waring, a prominent African American portrait painter and illustrator, passed away. Known for her elegant and... Continue →
Singer Natalie Cole was born on February 5, 1950, in Los Angeles, California. The daughter of legendary musician Nat King Cole, she began singing... Continue →
On February 6, 1945, Bob Marley, the legendary Jamaican reggae musician, was born in Nine Mile, Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. Marley became a global... Continue →
On February 6, 1967, comedian, actor, author, and filmmaker Chris Rock was born in Andrews, South Carolina. Known for his sharp wit and fearless... Continue →
Eubie Blake, the legendary African American composer and pianist, was born on February 7, 1883, in Baltimore, Maryland. A pioneer of ragtime and... Continue →
On February 8, 1990, CBS suspended veteran 60 Minutes commentator Andy Rooney for 90 days after The Advocate, a national gay and lesbian... Continue →
On February 8, 1986, The Oprah Winfrey Show premiered in national syndication, making Oprah Winfrey the first African American woman to host a... Continue →
On February 8, 1968, Gary Coleman was born in Zion, Illinois. He became a prominent child actor, best known for his role as Arnold Jackson in the... Continue →
On February 9, 1952, Ralph Ellison's groundbreaking novel Invisible Man won the National Book Award for Fiction. The novel explores themes of racial... Continue →
Alice Walker, renowned novelist, poet, and activist, was born on February 9, 1944, in Eatonton, Georgia. She is best known for her Pulitzer... Continue →
On February 9, 1906, acclaimed poet and author Paul Laurence Dunbar died at the age of 33 in Dayton, Ohio. One of the first African American writers... Continue →
On February 10, 1992, Alex Haley, the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family, passed away at the age of 70. Haley’s... Continue →
On February 10, 1946, Jackie Robinson, who would soon break Major League Baseball’s color barrier, married Rachel Isum in Los Angeles. Their... Continue →
Roberta Flack, the acclaimed American singer, was born on February 10, 1940, in Black Mountain, North Carolina. Known for her smooth vocals and... Continue →
On February 10, 1927, world-renowned opera singer Leontyne Price was born in Laurel, Mississippi. She began singing in church choirs as a child and... Continue →
Celebrated pianist and composer Eubie Blake died in Brooklyn, New York, just five days after his 100th birthday. A pioneer of ragtime and early jazz,... Continue →
Arsenio Hall, who would go on to become the first Black late-night talk show host in American television history, was born on this day in Cleveland,... Continue →
For a Lincoln birthday celebration, James Weldon Johnson writes the lyrics for "Lift Every Voice and Sing." With music composed by his brother, J.... Continue →
The World's Fair Colored Opera Company became the first African American performers to appear at Carnegie Hall in New York City. Their groundbreaking... Continue →
After his home in Queens, New York, was firebombed earlier that morning, Malcolm X delivered what would become his final public speech at the Ford... Continue →
Gregory Hines was born on February 14, 1946, in New York City. He began tap dancing at the age of two and started performing professionally with his... Continue →
Frederick Douglass, born into slavery as Frederick Bailey, is widely believed to have been born on this day. After escaping slavery, he purchased his... Continue →
Louis Armstrong's "Hello Dolly" recording becomes his first and only number one record.
On February 15, 1968, Henry Lewis made history by becoming the first African American to be appointed as the music director and conductor of a major... Continue →
On February 15, 1965, Nat King Cole, an acclaimed singer and pianist, died at the age of 45 in Santa Monica, California. Known for his smooth... Continue →
LeVar Burton was born in Landstuhl, Germany. He rose to prominence for his portrayal of Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking television miniseries... Continue →
Blues legend Bessie Smith made her first recording, "Down Hearted Blues," for Columbia Records. The song became an instant hit, selling over 800,000... Continue →
Legendary jazz pianist and composer Thelonious Monk died at the age of 64. Known for his unique improvisational style and contributions to the... Continue →
Ronald DeVoe, a singer and one of the founding members of the R&B/hip-hop group Bell Biv DeVoe, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. The group, a... Continue →
Huey P. Newton, co-founder of the Black Panther Party, was born in Monroe, Louisiana. An illiterate high school graduate, Newton taught himself to... Continue →
Marian Anderson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A gifted contralto, she was entered in the New York Philharmonic Competition at age 17 and... Continue →
Palmer Hayden, a prominent African American painter associated with the Harlem Renaissance, passed away at the age of 82. Known for his vivid... Continue →
Toni Morrison, born Chloe Anthony Wofford in Lorain, Ohio, would become one of the most celebrated authors in American literature. She was the first... Continue →
Paul Revere Williams, the first African American member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), was born on this day in Los Angeles,... Continue →
Dorothy Maynor, a trailblazing African American soprano and music educator, passed away on this day. Known for her rich voice and groundbreaking... Continue →
John Singleton made history as the first African American—and the youngest person ever at the time—to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best... Continue →
Soul singer and songwriter William "Smokey" Robinson was born in Detroit, Michigan. While still in high school, he formed the group the Miracles in... Continue →
At the 33rd Annual Grammy Awards, African American musicians won eight major awards, showcasing the continued impact of Black artists on global... Continue →
Nancy Wilson, an acclaimed jazz, R&B, and pop vocalist, was born in Chillicothe, Ohio. Known for her smooth, expressive voice and versatility... Continue →
The play Harlem, co-written by Wallace Thurman and William Jourdan Rapp, debuted in New York City. Offering a gritty, realistic portrayal of life in... Continue →
Sidney Poitier was born in Miami, Florida. He would go on to become the first Black man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role in... Continue →
Eva Jessye, the first African American woman to gain international recognition as a professional choral director, passed away at the age of 97. Known... Continue →
Nina Simone, born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in Tryon, North Carolina, was an acclaimed singer, pianist, and civil rights activist. Known for her... Continue →
Thelonious Monk, one of the most influential figures in jazz history, was born on this day in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Known for his unique... Continue →
DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince made history by winning the first-ever Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance with their hit Parents Just Don’t... Continue →
Ishmael Reed, an influential American poet, novelist, and essayist, was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Known for his satirical style and sharp... Continue →
Frances Ellen Watkins Harper, known as the "Bronze Muse," died in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A prolific writer, lecturer, and activist, Harper... Continue →
Horace Pippin, a self-taught African American painter, was born on this day in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Despite being wounded in World War I, he... Continue →
Grafton Tyler Brown was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He became the first African American artist to depict the American West, gaining... Continue →
Melvin Franklin, the deep-voiced bass singer of the legendary Motown group The Temptations, passed away in Los Angeles at age 53 due to complications... Continue →
Rebecca Lee Crumpler became the first Black woman in the United States to earn a medical degree, graduating from the New England Female Medical... Continue →
R. Kelly's inspirational ballad "I Believe I Can Fly" won three Grammy Awards: Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song, and Best Song... Continue →
Robert E. Hayden, an acclaimed African American poet and the first Black person to be appointed as Poetry Consultant to the Library of Congress (a... Continue →
At the 27th Annual Grammy Awards, African-American musicians achieved sweeping success. Lionel Richie’s Can’t Slow Down won Album of the Year for... Continue →
Godfrey Cambridge, a prominent African American actor and comedian, was born on February 26, 1933, in New York City. Known for his sharp wit and... Continue →
The Green Pastures, a groundbreaking play by Marc Connelly, opened at the Mansfield Theatre in New York City. Featuring an all-Black cast, it was one... Continue →
Antoine "Fats" Domino, an influential American singer, pianist, and songwriter, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Known for hits like Blueberry... Continue →
Award-winning journalist Charlayne Hunter-Gault was born in Due West, South Carolina. She became one of the first two Black students to integrate the... Continue →
Marian Anderson, a groundbreaking African American contralto, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Renowned for her extraordinary voice and... Continue →
Prince Hall, a prominent Revolutionary War veteran and the founder of African American Freemasonry, is believed to have been born on this date.... Continue →
Willi Smith, a pioneering African American fashion designer, was born on this day in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He co-founded the influential label... Continue →
The acclaimed opera Porgy and Bess opened on Broadway featuring African American performers Anne Brown and Todd Duncan in the lead roles. Their... Continue →
Eddie Anderson, best known for his role as "Rochester" on The Jack Benny Program, passed away on this day. Anderson was one of the first Black actors... Continue →
Michael Jackson made history by winning eight Grammy Awards in one night, the most ever at the time, for his groundbreaking album Thriller. The album... Continue →
Cornelius Gunter, lead singer of the legendary R&B group The Coasters, was shot and killed in Las Vegas, Nevada. Gunter joined The Coasters in... Continue →
Juanita Hall, a celebrated singer and actress, passed away on this day. She was best known for her role as Bloody Mary in the Broadway musical South... Continue →
Hattie McDaniel made history by becoming the first African American to win an Academy Award. She received the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for... Continue →
Shauntay Hinton, representing the District of Columbia, was crowned Miss USA in 2002. She became the seventh Black woman to win the title, breaking... Continue →
The New York Times published an article titled "Nubian Monarchy Called Oldest", highlighting the findings of archaeologist Bruce Williams at Qustul,... Continue →
Sherman Hemsley, the iconic actor best known for his roles as George Jefferson in All in the Family and The Jeffersons, and as Deacon Ernest Frye in... Continue →
Harry Belafonte, legendary singer, actor, and civil rights activist, was born in Harlem, New York. Known as the "King of Calypso" for popularizing... Continue →
The influential magazine Survey Graphic released a special issue titled Harlem, Mecca of the New Negro, capturing the energy of the Harlem... Continue →
Ralph Waldo Ellison, one of the most influential African American writers of the 20th century, was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His landmark... Continue →
At the 12th Annual Grammy Awards, The Fifth Dimension—a racially integrated pop-soul group featuring African American vocalists—won Record of the... Continue →
Soul legend Otis Redding posthumously received a gold record for his iconic single “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay.” The award came just... Continue →
On this day, Lorraine Hansberry’s A Raisin in the Sun premiered at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City, starring Sidney Poitier and... Continue →
Comedian and television star Flip Wilson received the International Broadcasting Man of the Year Award, recognizing his groundbreaking impact on... Continue →
Bobby McFerrin, an innovative vocalist, composer, and conductor, was born on this day. Best known for his global hit “Don’t Worry, Be Happy,”... Continue →
Playwright Charles Fuller was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his powerful play A Soldier’s Play. The work explores racism within the... Continue →
Charlie "Bird" Parker, a pioneering alto saxophonist and one of the founding fathers of bebop, died on this day in New York City at the age of 34.... Continue →
Virginia Hamilton was born on this day in Yellow Springs, Ohio. She would go on to become one of the most celebrated writers of juvenile and young... Continue →
Jean Baptiste Point du Sable, a Haitian-born fur trader of African and French descent, established a permanent settlement near the mouth of the... Continue →
Quincy Jones was born on March 14, 1933, in Chicago’s South Side. He discovered his love for music in elementary school and experimented with... Continue →
Max Yergan, a pioneering missionary and YMCA secretary, received the Spingarn Medal for his outstanding work in South Africa. His efforts in... Continue →
Lester Young, the iconic tenor saxophonist known for his smooth tone and laid-back style, died in New York City at the age of 49. A key figure in the... Continue →
On this day, Maurice Ashley made history by becoming the first Black International Grandmaster in chess. Born in Jamaica and raised in Brooklyn,... Continue →
Vanessa L. Williams was born in Millwood, New York. She would go on to make history as the first Black woman crowned Miss America in 1983. Despite... Continue →
Irene Cara, acclaimed actress, singer, and songwriter, was born in New York City. She rose to international fame with her performances in Fame (1980)... Continue →
Wilson Pickett, a pioneering R&B and soul singer, was born in Prattville, Alabama. Known for hits like “In the Midnight Hour,” “Mustang... Continue →
Charley Pride, one of the most successful Black country music artists in history, was born in Sledge, Mississippi. Pride broke racial barriers in the... Continue →
Langston Hughes, the celebrated poet and playwright of the Harlem Renaissance, founded the New Negro Theater in Los Angeles, California. The theater... Continue →
Ornette Coleman, the revolutionary alto saxophonist and composer, was born in Fort Worth, Texas. A key figure in the development of free jazz,... Continue →
Nathaniel "Nat King" Cole was born in Montgomery, Alabama. A groundbreaking jazz pianist and smooth-voiced singer, Cole became one of the first Black... Continue →
Gabriel de la Concepción Valdés, also known as "Plácido," was born in Matanzas, Cuba. A poet of African descent, Plácido became renowned for his... Continue →
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin was published in Boston, quickly becoming a bestseller and a powerful tool in the... Continue →
Spike Lee, a pioneering African American filmmaker, was born in Atlanta, Georgia. Known for his provocative and socially conscious films, such as Do... Continue →
Ota Benga, a Congolese man who had been exhibited in the Bronx Zoo’s Monkey House in 1906 alongside primates, died by suicide. Benga, a Mbuti man,... Continue →
Born Rosetta Nubin in Cotton Plant, Arkansas, Sister Rosetta Tharpe would become a pioneering gospel singer and electric guitarist whose influence... Continue →
Allan Rohan Crite was born in North Plainfield, New Jersey. Raised in Boston’s South End, his artistic journey began at age six when his mother... Continue →
Martin R. Delany published The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States, the first major work... Continue →
James Baskett became the second African American to receive an Academy Award when he was honored with a Special Oscar for his performance as Uncle... Continue →
George Benson, a Grammy Award-winning guitarist and singer, was born on this day in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Known for blending jazz, soul, and pop... Continue →
Morgan Smith, an African American Shakespearean actor, died in Sheffield, England. He had emigrated from the United States to England in 1866, where... Continue →
Aretha Franklin was born in Detroit, Michigan, the daughter of renowned Black minister Rev. C.L. Franklin. Raised in a deeply spiritual and musical... Continue →
Augusta Savage, a trailblazing African American sculptor of the Harlem Renaissance, passed away on this day. Known for her work celebrating Black... Continue →
Teddy Pendergrass, one of the most distinctive voices in soul and R&B music, was born on this day in Kingstree, South Carolina. Rising to fame as the... Continue →
Diana Ross, legendary singer and founding member of The Supremes, was born in Detroit, Michigan. Under her leadership, The Supremes became Motown's... Continue →
On this day, Halle Berry made history by becoming the first Black woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress. She earned the Oscar for her... Continue →
Hill’s solo debut The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill swept multiple categories at the NAACP Image Awards, including Outstanding Album. The project... Continue →
Ed Wilson, an award-winning African American sculptor known for his powerful figurative works and commitment to social themes, was born on March 28,... Continue →
Pearl Bailey, an acclaimed singer and actress known for her sultry voice and charismatic stage presence, was born in Newport News, Virginia. Rising... Continue →
On this day, legendary bandleader Cab Calloway recorded Minnie the Moocher, a jazz classic known for its infectious "Hi-De-Ho" chorus. The song... Continue →
Renowned author Toni Morrison was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel Beloved, a haunting and powerful portrayal of slavery’s... Continue →
Marvin Gaye dies in his parents Los Angeles home. Marvin attacked his father for verbally abusing his mother. His father responded by shooting his... Continue →
The First World Festival of Black Arts (FESTAC) was held in Dakar, Senegal, from April 1 to April 24, 1966. Initiated by President Léopold Sédar... Continue →
Oscar Micheaux, the first major African-American feature filmmaker, died on this day in 1951. A prolific writer, director, and producer, Micheaux... Continue →
Scott Joplin, a pioneering composer and pianist, died in New York City. Known as the "King of Ragtime," Joplin was instrumental in shaping American... Continue →
Marvin Gaye is born in Washington, D.C. A legendary soul singer and songwriter, he would sign with Motown Records in 1962 and launch a 22-year career... Continue →
World-renowned African American cowboy Willie "Bill" Pickett died in Ponca City, Oklahoma, from injuries sustained after being kicked in the head by... Continue →
Charles White was born on April 2, 1918, in Chicago, Illinois. A masterful draftsman and painter, White began his professional career creating murals... Continue →
Eddie Murphy was born in Brooklyn, New York. Rising to fame on Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s, Murphy became one of the most influential... Continue →
Carter G. Woodson, the pioneering historian and educator known as the “Father of Black History,” died at the age of 74 in Washington, D.C.... Continue →
Gertrude "Ma" Rainey was born in Columbus, Georgia. Widely celebrated as the "Mother of the Blues," she began performing at the Columbus Opera House... Continue →
Maya Angelou was born Marguerite Johnson in St. Louis, Missouri. Raised in both St. Louis and Stamps, Arkansas, she became one of the most... Continue →
Born McKinley Morganfield in Rolling Fork, Mississippi, Muddy Waters would go on to become one of the most influential blues musicians of the 20th... Continue →
Sarah Vaughan, one of the most celebrated jazz vocalists of the 20th century, passed away at the age of 66. Known as "The Divine One," Vaughan's... Continue →
Billy Dee Williams, iconic African American actor, was born in New York City. He rose to fame with roles in films such as Mahogany and gained global... Continue →
James Beckwourth was born in Fredericksburg, Virginia, to a white slaveowner and an enslaved Black woman. As a teenager, he moved to St. Louis and... Continue →
Frederick Dewayne "Freddie" Hubbard, one of the most influential jazz trumpeters of the 20th century, was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. Known for... Continue →
Legendary jazz and blues singer Billie Holiday was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Known for her deeply emotional voice and haunting delivery, Holiday... Continue →
Joseph Nathan Oliver, better known as King Oliver or Joe Oliver, was an American jazz cornet player and bandleader. He was particularly recognized... Continue →
On April 8, 1920, American Jazz Singer Carmen McRae was born. After winning an amateur contest at Harlem\'s legendary Appolllo Theatre in her home... Continue →
Ruth Gaines-Shelton was born on April 8, 1872, in Glasgow, Missouri. A trailblazing African American playwright, she is best known for her comedic... Continue →
Josephine Baker, the legendary African American performer, French Resistance agent, and civil rights activist, died in Paris at the age of 68.... Continue →
Juanita Hall made history as the first African American to win a Tony Award, receiving the honor for her portrayal of Bloody Mary in the Broadway... Continue →
After being denied the opportunity to perform at Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution due to her race, world-renowned... Continue →
Paule Marshall, acclaimed African American novelist and essayist, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Her work, including the celebrated novel Brown... Continue →
Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Florence Beatrice Price became the first African American woman to have a symphony performed by a major U.S.... Continue →
Jasmine Guy, acclaimed actress, dancer, and director, was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She rose to fame for her iconic role as Whitley Gilbert on... Continue →
The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History officially opened its new facility in Detroit, Michigan, becoming the largest museum of its... Continue →
Willie D. Burton made history by becoming the first African American to win an Academy Award for sound. He received the Oscar for Best Sound for his... Continue →
Legendary singer Nat “King” Cole was violently attacked by a group of white men while performing on stage at the Birmingham Municipal Auditorium... Continue →
Tony Brown, an influential television journalist, author, and commentator, was born on this day. Best known as the longtime host of Tony Brown’s... Continue →
Legendary opera soprano Leontyne Price was awarded the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, Italy's highest civilian honor. Celebrated for her... Continue →
Josephine Baker, the legendary African American entertainer, French Resistance agent, and civil rights activist, passed away in Paris at the age of... Continue →
Herbie Hancock, the groundbreaking jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader, was born in Chicago, Illinois. A child prodigy who played with the Chicago... Continue →
Lionel Hampton, legendary jazz musician and bandleader, was born on April 12, 1913. Renowned for introducing the vibraphone into jazz, Hampton... Continue →
On this day, Sidney Poitier became the first African American man to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role as Homer Smith in Lilies of... Continue →
Al Green, one of the most iconic voices in rhythm and blues, was born in Forest City, Arkansas. Rising to fame in the 1970s with hits like "Let's... Continue →
Nella Larsen, a pioneering writer of the Harlem Renaissance, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Known for her novels Quicksand (1928) and Passing (1929),... Continue →
On the evening of April 14, 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot by Confederate sympathizer John Wilkes Booth while attending a play at Ford’s... Continue →
Elizabeth Catlett, a renowned African American lithographer and sculptor, was born in Washington, D.C. She became the first woman to teach sculpture... Continue →
On April 16, 1994, acclaimed author Ralph Ellison passed away at the age of 80. Ellison is best known for his groundbreaking 1952 novel Invisible... Continue →
On April 16, 1990, just two months after his release from 27 years in prison, Nelson Mandela was honored at the Nelson Mandela: An International... Continue →
On April 16, 1929, Roy Hamilton was born in Leesburg, Georgia. Known for his powerful baritone voice and passionate delivery, Hamilton rose to fame... Continue →
On April 16, 1924, jazz innovator Don Redman made history as the first musician to record scat singing. While performing with Fletcher Henderson’s... Continue →
On April 17, 1990, legendary playwright August Wilson was awarded his second Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his acclaimed play The Piano Lesson. Part... Continue →
On April 18, 1983, Alice Walker made history as the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, awarded for her... Continue →
On April 18, 1980, reggae icon Robert Nesta Marley—better known as Bob Marley—performed at Zimbabwe’s official Independence Day celebration in... Continue →
On April 18, 1977, author Alex Haley was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his groundbreaking book Roots: The Saga of an American Family. Blending oral... Continue →
On April 19, 1977, author and historian Alex Haley received a special Pulitzer Prize for his groundbreaking work “Roots: The Saga of an American... Continue →
On April 20, 1990, Oakland, California hosted the first-ever Bay Area Black Filmworks Festival, a landmark three-day event sponsored by the Black... Continue →
On April 20, 1909, Lionel Hampton was born in Louisville, Kentucky. A virtuoso vibraphonist, drummer, pianist, and bandleader, Hampton became one of... Continue →
On April 20, 1899, Edward Kennedy “Duke” Ellington was born in Washington, D.C. Widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in... Continue →
On April 21, 2003, the legendary singer, pianist, and civil rights activist Nina Simone passed away at the age of 70 in Carry-le-Rouet, near... Continue →
Charles Mingus Jr. Bio Civil Rights Activist, Pianist, Guitarist, Songwriter (1922–1979) Quick Facts Name : Charles Mingus Occupation : Civil... Continue →
On April 22, 1978, reggae legend Bob Marley hosted the historic One Love Peace Concert at the National Stadium in Kingston, Jamaica. Taking place... Continue →
Art Tatum was a jazz pianist and virtuoso who was nearly blind. He is acknowledged by many to be one of the greatest pianists of all time,... Continue →
Some of the most complex and dissonant harmonies can be found in the repertoire of pianist and composer Thelonious Monk, one of the most important... Continue →
American jazz trumpet player, singer, composer and bandleader, Gillespie was very significant in the development of bebop and modern jazz. His... Continue →
Max Roach is considered to be one of the greatest drummers in history, and was a renowned bebop pioneer. He is, along with a select few, essentially... Continue →
“Lady Day” was perhaps the most exceptional popular music singer of the 20th century. She wrote few songs, but when she sang, she took on a deep,... Continue →
On April 25, 1990, legendary jazz saxophonist Dexter Gordon died of kidney failure in Philadelphia at the age of 67. Known for his towering stature... Continue →
On April 25, 1918, Ella Fitzgerald—later hailed as the “First Lady of Song”—was born in Newport News, Virginia. Known for her unmatched vocal... Continue →
On April 26, 1984, the world lost a jazz titan when William "Count" Basie passed away at the age of 79. Born in Red Bank, New Jersey, in 1904, Basie... Continue →
On April 26, 1886, Gertrude “Ma” Rainey, known as the “Mother of the Blues,” was born in Columbus, Georgia. With a powerful voice and... Continue →
On April 26, 1785, John James Audubon was born in Les Cayes, Saint-Domingue (now Haiti), to a French naval officer and an African Caribbean mother.... Continue →
Coretta Scott is born in Marion, Ala. She will marry Martin Luther King, Jr. In 1953 and be an integral part of his civil rights activities. After... Continue →
On April 28, 1983, two trailblazing African American women, Alice Walker and Gloria Naylor, were honored with American Book Awards for fiction—an... Continue →
On April 28, 1924, Don Redman made history as the first recorded musician to use the oboe in a jazz solo. A child prodigy and multi-instrumentalist,... Continue →
On April 29, 1948, Willi Smith—one of the most influential Black designers in American fashion history—was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.... Continue →
On April 29, 1899, Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was born in Washington, D.C. Over the next five decades, Ellington would become one of the most... Continue →
On April 29, 1945, acclaimed author Richard Wright made literary history when his memoir Black Boy reached No. 1 on the National Best Seller Book... Continue →
On April 30, 1992, The Cosby Show aired its final original episode, concluding an eight-season run that changed American television. The sitcom,... Continue →
On April 30, 1900, African American railroad worker and engine wiper Wallace Saunders composed the original verses of “Casey Jones,” a ballad... Continue →
On May 1, 1950, poet Gwendolyn Brooks made history as the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize. She received the prestigious award in... Continue →
Born May 1, 1930, in St. Louis, Missouri, Grace Bumbry broke numerous racial barriers in the world of opera. Trained in both Europe and the U.S., she... Continue →
On May 1, 1950, Gwendolyn Brooks made history as the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize. She received the award for her book of poetry... Continue →
On May 1, 1946, Emma Clarissa Williams, a Black educator, church leader, and activist, was named the American Mother of the Year by the American... Continue →
On May 1, 1930, Marion Walter Jacobs—known to the world as Little Walter—was born in Marksville, Louisiana. A revolutionary harmonica player and... Continue →
Russell Atkins, born May 1, 1923, in Cleveland, Ohio, became a pioneering voice in Black experimental poetry. A composer, dramatist, and founder of... Continue →
On May 1, 2003, Annette Gordon-Reed received the Pulitzer Prize for her book Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemings: An American Controversy, a work that... Continue →
In the wake of the Civil War’s end, on May 1, 1865, over 10,000 people, many of them formerly enslaved, gathered at a former Confederate prison... Continue →
On May 2, 1984, Michael Jackson embarked on a major tour in Japan, marking one of the earliest large-scale performances by a Black American... Continue →
On May 2, 1983, Alice Walker was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel The Color Purple, making her the first African American woman... Continue →
James Brown, one of the most influential figures in American music, was born on May 3, 1933, in Barnwell, South Carolina. Brown helped pioneer soul,... Continue →
On May 3, 1980, musician and cultural advocate Kenny Gamble met with political leaders to push for the official recognition of June as Black Music... Continue →
Although the official opening was May 23, the previews for Shuffle Along—the groundbreaking all-Black Broadway musical—began on May 3, 1921.... Continue →
On May 3, 1896, African American cowboy Bill Pickett became widely recognized as the inventor of bulldogging—a daring rodeo technique where a rider... Continue →
The Free South Theatre was founded on May 4, 1946, in Atlanta, Georgia, as one of the first Black-owned and operated theater companies focused on... Continue →
On May 5, 1969, Moneta Sleet Jr. made history as the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for journalism. He earned the award for his... Continue →
On May 5, 1905, Bill "Bojangles" Robinson performed solo on the major vaudeville circuit for the first time, breaking racial barriers. His innovative... Continue →
On May 5, 1985, Alice Walker became the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for her novel The Color Purple. The book,... Continue →
On May 5, 1949, Martiniquan poet and politician Aimé Césaire released his seminal work, Discourse on Colonialism. In this fiery essay, Césaire... Continue →
On May 5, 1806, Joseph Bologne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges, a pioneering Black composer, violinist, and military leader in France, passed away at age... Continue →
On May 7, 1800, Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable—recognized as the "Father of Chicago"—sold all his property along the Chicago River for $1,200 and... Continue →
Glenda Hatchett, born May 7, 1952, in Atlanta, Georgia, would become a trailblazing African American jurist and television personality. After... Continue →
Max Robinson, one of the first African American news anchors of a major television network (ABC World News Tonight), was posthumously honored on May... Continue →
On May 8, 1910, Mary Lou Williams was born as Mary Elfrieda Scruggs in Atlanta, Georgia. A child prodigy on the piano, she would grow into one of the... Continue →
On May 8, 1858, two major milestones in Black history and the fight against slavery occurred. In Chatham, Ontario, radical abolitionist John Brown... Continue →
On May 8, 1990, Howard University alumna Toni Morrison was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for her novel Beloved. Morrison’s work illuminated the... Continue →
On May 9, 1952, pioneering African American actor Canada Lee died in New York City at the age of 45. A former boxer turned acclaimed actor, Lee broke... Continue →
On May 9, 1919, celebrated African American composer and military bandleader James Reese Europe was tragically killed in Boston by a fellow band... Continue →
Claude McKay, one of the major figures of the Harlem Renaissance, saw his seminal poetry collection Harlem Shadows published on May 9, 1921. The work... Continue →
James Baldwin, one of America\'s most influential writers and social critics, published his short story collection Going to Meet the Man on May 9,... Continue →
On May 9, 2002, Halle Berry made history by winning the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival for her role in Monster’s Ball. Although... Continue →
Although Groundings with My Brothers was officially published later, on May 9, 1967, historian Walter Rodney delivered key lectures in Jamaica that... Continue →
Although James Baldwin’s birthday is not on May 10, this date is significant in his life because he graduated from Frederick Douglass Junior High... Continue →
On May 10, 1963, James Baldwin appeared in a televised discussion in London to speak about racism in America, coinciding with his growing popularity... Continue →
On May 10, 1981, the Ghanaian government under President Hilla Limann approved plans to construct a national mausoleum in honor of Kwame Nkrumah,... Continue →
On May 11, 1934, Sierra Leonean artist Asadata Dafora premiered his groundbreaking opera-dance drama Kykunkor (The Witch Woman) at the Little Theater... Continue →
Langston Hughes, one of the foremost figures of the Harlem Renaissance, passed away on May 11, 1967, in New York City. His poetry, plays, and essays... Continue →
On May 11, 1981, Bob Marley, the Jamaican singer and global icon, passed away at just 36. More than a musician, Marley was a spiritual and political... Continue →
On May 11, 1996, the U.S. Congress officially reauthorized and enhanced protections for the George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond,... Continue →
On May 12, 1940, Al Jarreau—one of the most versatile and beloved jazz vocalists of all time—was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Known for his... Continue →
On May 12, 1921, Shuffle Along, a musical comedy written by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, premiered at the 63rd Street Music Hall in New York City.... Continue →
James Reese Europe, a trailblazing African American composer, conductor, and military bandleader, passed away on May 12, 1975 (note: actual death was... Continue →
On May 12, 1981, Bob Marley, the Jamaican reggae icon and global ambassador for peace and resistance, died in Miami at the age of 36. Marley’s... Continue →
On May 13, 1950, Stevland Hardaway Judkins—better known as Stevie Wonder—was born in Saginaw, Michigan. Blind since shortly after birth, Wonder... Continue →
On May 13, 1960, Senegalese poet and statesman Léopold Sédar Senghor delivered a speech outlining his vision for “African Socialism” during a... Continue →
On May 13, 1909, Madame Sul-Te-Wan, born Nellie Crawford in Louisville, Kentucky, made history as the first African American woman to sign a film... Continue →
On May 14, 1959, Sidney Bechet, the groundbreaking soprano saxophonist and clarinetist, passed away in Paris at the age of 62. A New Orleans native... Continue →
On May 14, 1885, Joseph “King” Oliver was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. A legendary cornet player, bandleader, and composer, Oliver played a... Continue →
On May 14, 1970, 20-year-old Stevie Wonder released the hit single “Signed, Sealed, Delivered (I\'m Yours).” It marked a turning point in his... Continue →
On May 14, 1904, during the Jamestown Tercentennial Exposition in Norfolk, Virginia, African Americans were assigned a separate exhibit space—known... Continue →
On May 15, 1946, Camilla Ella Williams made her historic debut as Cio-Cio San in Madam Butterfly with the New York City Opera, becoming the first... Continue →
On May 15, 1923, The Chip Woman’s Fortune by Willis Richardson made history as the first dramatic work by an African American playwright to be... Continue →
On May 15, 2002, Halle Berry received special recognition at the Cannes Film Festival following her historic Academy Award win for Monster’s Ball.... Continue →
On this day, legendary performer Sammy Davis Jr. passed away in Beverly Hills, California, at the age of 64. Born in Harlem, Davis rose to fame as a... Continue →
On this day, Janet Jackson was born in Gary, Indiana, as the youngest member of the iconic Jackson family. Beginning her career in television, she... Continue →
On May 16, 1930, Betty Carter, the legendary American jazz singer known for her improvisational genius and fearless vocal style, was born in Flint,... Continue →
On May 16, 1953, Nnenna Freelon, the six-time Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist, was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Renowned for her commanding voice... Continue →
On May 16, 1927, Nigeria lost one of its cultural pioneers, Josiah Jesse Ransome-Kuti. A clergyman, music educator, and composer, Ransome-Kuti was... Continue →
On May 16, 1977, the groundbreaking television miniseries Roots, based on Alex Haley’s novel, won a prestigious Peabody Award for excellence in... Continue →
On May 17, 1864, Rachel Boone, once enslaved by descendants of frontiersman Daniel Boone, escaped to a Union Army camp near Miami, Missouri. There,... Continue →
Born on May 17, 1931, in Pontiac, Michigan, Elvin Jones became one of the most influential jazz drummers of the 20th century. Best known for his work... Continue →
Dorothy West, born on May 17, 1912, in Boston, Massachusetts, was a pioneering African American writer and a key figure of the Harlem Renaissance.... Continue →
On May 17, 1929, members of Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA), the first African American sorority, performed a groundbreaking musical revue titled The Kappa... Continue →
On May 19, 1968—Malcolm X's birthday and just weeks after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—The Last Poets were formed in Marcus... Continue →
Born May 19, 1948, in Spanish Town, Jamaica, Grace Jones rose to international fame as a singer, actress, and fashion icon who shattered norms around... Continue →
Lorraine Hansberry was born in Chicago on this day in 1930. She would go on to become a trailblazing playwright, best known for A Raisin in the Sun,... Continue →
On May 19, 1959, Lorraine Hansberry became the first African American playwright to win the New York Drama Critics\' Circle Award for her... Continue →
On May 19, 2021, the world lost Paul Mooney, a legendary comedian, writer, and unapologetic voice on race in America. Known for his sharp wit and... Continue →
On May 19, 1973, Bob Marley and the Wailers performed at a benefit concert in Kingston, Jamaica for African Liberation Day, connecting reggae music... Continue →
On May 19, 1978, Guyanese archaeologist, painter, and novelist Denis Williams opened a groundbreaking African art exhibit in Lagos, Nigeria,... Continue →
Actor and entertainer Lawrence Tero, famously known as Mr. T, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Best known for his tough-guy persona, gold chains, and... Continue →
On May 20, 1910, Benjamin “Scatman” Crothers was born in Terre Haute, Indiana. With a career spanning over five decades, Crothers became an... Continue →
On May 21, 1921, Shuffle Along, one of the first major Broadway musicals written, produced, and performed by African Americans, opened at the 63rd... Continue →
On May 21, 1983, the world watched as Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever aired on NBC, marking the 25th anniversary of the iconic Black-owned music... Continue →
On May 21, 1971, Marvin Gaye released his revolutionary album What’s Going On, a soulful, socially conscious masterpiece that tackled police... Continue →
In a 2002 interview, legendary singer Chaka Khan revealed how deeply she was influenced by Aretha Franklin early in her career. Back in 1969, while... Continue →
On May 22, 1967, Langston Hughes—renowned poet, playwright, and central figure of the Harlem Renaissance—passed away in New York City at the age... Continue →
On this day, Bill Cosby made history as the first African American to win the Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series. He earned the honor for... Continue →
Claude McKay, a pioneering poet and novelist of the Harlem Renaissance, dies at age 58. Known for works like Home to Harlem—the first best-selling... Continue →
On May 22, 1940, Bernard Shaw was born in Chicago, Illinois. A pioneering African American journalist, Shaw became CNN’s chief anchor and was a key... Continue →
\"Shuffle Along,\" the first major African American musical, premiered on Broadway on May 22, 1921. Created by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, this... Continue →
On May 23, 1953, Dr. Rufus E. Clement, then president of Atlanta University, was elected to the Atlanta Board of Education, becoming the first... Continue →
Reggae icon and cultural revolutionary Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley was honored with a state funeral in Jamaica following his death at age 36. The... Continue →
Shuffle Along, the groundbreaking musical featuring an all-Black cast and creative team, premiered at the 63rd Street Music Hall in New York City.... Continue →
On May 24, 1966, legendary soprano Leontyne Price made history by opening the Metropolitan Opera's season in New York City. She performed the title... Continue →
Patricia Louise Holte is born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She will rise to international fame under the name Patti LaBelle, becoming one of the... Continue →
On May 24, 1943, Bobby Watson, the influential jazz alto saxophonist and composer, was born in Lawrence, Kansas. Renowned for his soulful tone and... Continue →
On May 24, 1976, Alex Haley’s groundbreaking novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for General Non-Fiction.... Continue →
On May 24, 1983, Vanessa Williams was officially named a finalist in the Miss America pageant, setting the stage for her historic win later that year... Continue →
On May 24, 1986, Run-D.M.C. released their third studio album, Raising Hell, a defining moment in hip-hop history. Featuring the groundbreaking... Continue →
On May 24, 1933, Louis Gossett Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York. A legendary actor of stage and screen, Gossett became the first African American... Continue →
While Bob Marley passed away on May 11, 1981, his global state funeral was held on May 24, 1981 in Kingston, Jamaica, cementing his legacy as a... Continue →
On May 25, 1986, approximately 30 million people across 76 countries participated in pop singer Bob Geldof's "Race Against Time." This global relay... Continue →
On this day, Jamaica Kincaid was born in St. John's, Antigua. A celebrated novelist and essayist, Kincaid would go on to write powerful works such as... Continue →
Leslie Uggams, the award-winning singer and actress known for breaking racial barriers in entertainment, was born in New York City. She made her... Continue →
Tap dancer Luther Robinson—better known as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson—was born in Richmond, Virginia. Renowned for his innovative footwork and... Continue →
On May 26, 1926, Miles Dewey Davis III was born in Alton, Illinois. Davis would become one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century,... Continue →
Pam Grier, born on May 26, 1949, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, rose to fame as a pioneering African American actress in the 1970s. Known for her... Continue →
Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin was born in Moscow on May 26, 1799. Of African descent through his great-grandfather Abram Petrovich Gannibal—an... Continue →
On May 26, 1967, poet and educator Haki R. Madhubuti (formerly Don L. Lee), along with Johari Amini and Carolyn Rodgers, founded Third World Press in... Continue →
On May 26, 1983, the Jamaican government officially declared February 6, Bob Marley\'s birthday, a national holiday to honor the legendary... Continue →
Louis Gossett Jr. was born in Brooklyn, New York. A trailblazer in American cinema, Gossett made history by becoming the first African American male... Continue →
On May 27, 1977, Louis Gossett Jr. received the Best Supporting Actor award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in the acclaimed film Sadat.... Continue →
On May 27, 2007, Columbia/Legacy Records released The Complete On the Corner Sessions, showcasing Miles Davis’s experimental jazz-funk recordings... Continue →
On May 27, 1927, Austin Hansen was born in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. Hansen became one of the most prolific Black photographers of the 20th... Continue →
On May 27, 1935, Ramsey Lewis was born in Chicago, Illinois. A jazz pianist and composer, Lewis gained prominence with his trio in the 1960s,... Continue →
On this day, Gladys Knight—known as the "Empress of Soul"—was born in Atlanta, Georgia. A seven-time Grammy Award winner, she rose to fame as the... Continue →
Mary Lou Williams, born Mary Elfrieda Scruggs on May 8, 1910, in Atlanta, Georgia, passed away on May 28, 1981, at the age of 71 in Durham, North... Continue →
On May 28, 1971, Audre Lorde published her first volume of poetry, The First Cities, establishing her as a vital voice in American literature and... Continue →
Tommy Ladnier, a legendary jazz trumpeter, was born on May 28, 1900, in Mandeville, Louisiana. A key figure in the early development of jazz, Ladnier... Continue →
On May 28, 2010, filmmaker Ava DuVernay launched the African-American Film Festival Releasing Movement (AFFRM), a groundbreaking distribution... Continue →
On May 28, 1983, the Caribbean Artists Movement (CAM) held a special reunion event in London, bringing together figures like Kamau Brathwaite, Andrew... Continue →
On May 28, 1830, Alexandre Dumas fils, the son of celebrated novelist Alexandre Dumas père and a Black Haitian-descended mother, was born in Paris,... Continue →
On May 29, 1974, music legend Dionne Warwick was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, honoring her decades of excellence in the music... Continue →
On May 29, 1953, Danny Elfman was born—not African American himself, but he played a critical behind-the-scenes role in Black horror cinema by... Continue →
On May 29, 1970, Black World (formerly Negro Digest) released its special “Pan-African Issue,” featuring essays and poetry from across the... Continue →
Jamaican poet, musician, and cultural critic Mutabaruka was born on May 29, 1948. Renowned for his fiery spoken word and Rastafarian philosophy,... Continue →
On May 30, 1903, Countee Cullen was born in Louisville, Kentucky. Cullen emerged as one of the leading voices of the Harlem Renaissance, a cultural... Continue →
On May 30, 1958, Mutabaruka—Jamaican dub poet, activist, and Rastafarian philosopher—was born in Kingston, Jamaica. Renowned for his fusion of... Continue →
While Benny Goodman, born May 31, 1909, is known as the “King of Swing,” his contributions to racial integration in American music were... Continue →
On May 31, 1987, Michael Jackson began filming the music video for “Bad,” directed by Martin Scorsese and shot in Harlem and Brooklyn. The video... Continue →
Born on June 1, 1937, in Memphis, Tennessee, Morgan Freeman would become one of the most iconic and respected actors in American cinema. Known for... Continue →
On this day 1868 - John Hope was born on this day in Augusta, Georgia. John Hope was an African American educator and political activist, the first... Continue →
On June 2, 1987, Aretha Franklin was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree by Harvard University, one of the first Black women to receive such a... Continue →
On June 2, 1979, Saint Lucian poet and playwright Derek Walcott was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship, becoming one of the first Caribbean recipients of... Continue →
On June 2, 1978, Cy Grant, a Guyanese-born British actor and RAF veteran, launched the Concord Multicultural Theatre in London. Grant envisioned the... Continue →
On June 2, 1976, South African activist Steve Biko published one of his final essays under the pseudonym “Frank Talk” in the journal Black... Continue →
June 2, 1904, marked the death of British-African composer Samuel Coleridge-Taylor at just 37. Born to a Sierra Leonean father and British mother,... Continue →
On this day in 1942, Curtis Mayfield was born in Chicago, Illinois, where he quickly absorbed the music of that area, which consisted of the local... Continue →
Born on June 3, 1906, in St. Louis, Missouri, Josephine Baker would rise from poverty to become one of the most dazzling performers of the 20th... Continue →
On this day in 1877, Roland Hayes, the first African American to give a recital in Boston's Symphony Hall, was born.
ON this date in 1871, Miles Vandehurst Lynk, founder of the first African American medical journal and organizer of the National Medical Association,... Continue →
On June 3, 1980, the French government formally banned the Senegalese film Ceddo, directed by Ousmane Sembène, one of Africa’s greatest... Continue →
On this day in 1989, Four African Americans win Tony Awards for Black and Blue
On June 4, 1973, Arna Bontemps, a key literary figure of the Harlem Renaissance, passed away at age 71. A poet, novelist, historian, and children’s... Continue →
On June 4, 1972, Black activist, scholar, and former UCLA professor Angela Davis was acquitted of all charges related to a 1970 courtroom shootout in... Continue →
On June 4, 1984, Stephanie Adams became the first Black contestant to represent Arkansas in the Miss America pageant system. Her inclusion symbolized... Continue →
Grandmaster Caz (Curtis Brown) was born on June 4, 1973, in the Bronx, New York. Though primarily recognized within U.S. cultural history, his... Continue →
On June 4, 1979, Ghanaian filmmaker Kwaw Ansah won top honors at the Pan-African Film and Television Festival of Ouagadougou (FESPACO) for his film... Continue →
Zozibini Tunzi was born on June 4, 1993, in Tsolo, South Africa. Though she would rise to global fame in 2019 as Miss Universe, her birth symbolizes... Continue →
On this day 1945, Olympic track and field star John Carlos born in New York City. John Carlos would become famous at the 1968 Olympic Summer Games... Continue →
On this day in 1940, the American Negro Theater was organized by Frederick O'Neal and Abram Hill.
On June 5, 1928, poet and civil rights leader James Weldon Johnson released God’s Trombones: Seven Negro Sermons in Verse. The collection... Continue →
On June 5, 1989, the Musée d’Art Moderne in Paris hosted a retrospective celebrating Jean-Michel Basquiat, a Haitian-Puerto Rican American artist... Continue →
On this day in 1939, Children's Advocate Marian Wright Edelman was born.
On June 6, 1989, the film Lean on Me starring Morgan Freeman as principal Joe Clark continued its strong box office run. The film, based on true... Continue →
June 6, 1978, marked the passing of Hubert Ogunde, often hailed as the “father of Nigerian theatre.” Ogunde revolutionized West African... Continue →
On this day in 1987, Lloyd Richards wins a Tony as best director for the August Wilson play Fences. The play also wins Tony's for best play, best... Continue →
On this date in 1958, Composer, musician and singer Prince Rogers Nelson born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
On this day in 1943, Born Yolande Cornelia Giovanni, Jr. on June 7, 1943 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Nikki Giovanni became a leading poet of the Black... Continue →
Gwendolyn Brooks, the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize, was born on June 7, 1917, in Topeka, Kansas. Her poetry captured the lived... Continue →
On this day in 1868, Marie Laveau, the "Queen of the Voodoo," was dethroned because of old age. Believed to be born in New Orleans in 1794 and died... Continue →
On this day in 1863, Three regiments and small detachment of white troops repulsed division of Texans in hand-to-hand battle at Milliken's Bend,... Continue →
Mattie Della Shaw, mother of music icon Prince, was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis. A jazz singer and cultural influence on her son, she helped... Continue →
While not released on this date, Prince’s self-titled 1979 album was certified platinum by the RIAA on June 7, 1982, coinciding with his 24th... Continue →
On June 7, 1979, CBS Records and Sony Music finalized a distribution deal that would lead to Off the Wall and later Thriller, changing pop music... Continue →
On June 8, 1982, Michael Jackson began production on the music video for Thriller, a groundbreaking visual and musical project that would transform... Continue →
Trumpeter Buck Clayton, a key figure in the swing era, died on June 8, 1991. Known for his work with Count Basie’s orchestra in the 1930s and... Continue →
On June 8, 1904, African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar was honored during a literary reception in London, recognizing his influence across the... Continue →
On this day in 1939, R&B singer Johnny Ace was born John Marshall Alexander, Jr. in Memphis, Tennessee. His major hits include "My Song" and... Continue →
On June 9, 1980, civil rights advocates began a campaign to honor Paul Robeson—actor, singer, and activist—with a U.S. postage stamp. Robeson, a... Continue →
Born on June 9, 1904, Dr. James Emman Kwegyir Aggrey was a Ghanaian educator, scholar, and Pan-Africanist who profoundly influenced the next... Continue →
On this day in 1941, Marcus Garvey (52) died in London, England.
On this day in 1910, Rhythm & blues singer Howlin' Wolf is born Chester Arthur Burnett in West Point, Mississippi. His most popular and influential... Continue →
On June 10, 1944, Eulalie Spence, a playwright of Caribbean descent and a prominent figure of the Harlem Renaissance, passed away. Born in the... Continue →
On this day in 1991, Natalie Cole's album, Unforgettable is released.
On June 11, 1988, the documentary James Baldwin: The Price of the Ticket premiered in London. The film is a poetic tribute to the celebrated African... Continue →
On June 11, 1981, a massive tribute concert for Bob Marley was held in Kingston, Jamaica, just one month after his death. The event, attended by... Continue →
On June 11, 1982, the acclaimed television miniseries Roots: The Next Generations received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series. A... Continue →
IN this day in 1886, the Georgia State Supreme Court sustained the will of the late David Dickson, thus making Amanda Eubanks, the daughter of a... Continue →
The first known monument erected by African Americans to honor one of our heroes is dedicated to Richard Allen in Philadelphia's Fairmont park.
On June 12, 2009, South African cartoonist Jonathan Shapiro, known as Zapiro, published a controversial cartoon depicting Nelson Mandela holding a... Continue →
On June 12, 2013, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie won the Women’s Prize for Fiction (formerly the Orange Prize) for her novel Americanah. The book... Continue →
On this day in 1937, Eleanor Holmes (later Eleanor Norton) is born in Washington, DC. A graduate of the Yale University School of Law, Norton will... Continue →
On June 13, 1971, acclaimed sculptor Geraldine McCullough was awarded the Widener Gold Medal by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. The honor... Continue →
On June 13, 1912, Ralph Ellison was born in Oklahoma City. His most celebrated work, Invisible Man, won the National Book Award in 1953 and remains a... Continue →
On June 13, 1970, Don Cornelius entered serious negotiations to syndicate Soul Train nationally. Originally a local Chicago program, the show had... Continue →
On June 13, 1940, French Guianese poet Léon-Gontran Damas released Pigments, a fierce literary denunciation of colonial racism. A founder of the... Continue →
On this day in 1946, Marla Gibbs, television personality, born
On this day in 1941, John Edgar Wideman, Rhodes scholar, writer, born
On this day in 1939, The Ethel Waters Show, a variety special appears on NBC. It is the first time an African American appears on television
Born on June 14, 1875, in London, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor was a prodigious composer of African and English descent who achieved international fame in... Continue →
On this day in 1968, Ellen Holly becomes the first African American on daytime television as Carla on One Life to Live.
On this day in 1921, Erroll Garner born in Pittsburgh,PA
On June 15, 1921, Bessie Coleman was admitted into the Caudron Brothers’ School of Aviation in France after being denied entry into American flight... Continue →
The National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C., hosted a Juneteenth Community Day, featuring educational programs,... Continue →
On this day in 1975, Adam Wade hosts the Nationally televised game show Musical Chairs. He is the first African American game show host.
Though she died in 1926, Bessie Coleman—the first African American woman pilot—was posthumously honored by Black aviators on June 16, 1930, in a... Continue →
On June 16, 1904, W.E.B. Du Bois delivered an early version of what would later become his essay The Souls of White Folk, exploring whiteness,... Continue →
Joseph Philippe Lemercier Laroche, the only known Black passenger on the RMS Titanic, was born on June 16, 1886, in Cap-Haïtien, Haiti. A brilliant... Continue →
On this date in 1948, Actress Phylicia Rashad was born in Houston, Texas.
ON this date in 1937, Journalist Robert Clyve Maynard, owner, editor and publisher of "The Oakland Tribune," was born in the borough of Brooklyn, NY.
On this date in 1928, Blues singer, "the Godfather of Soul," James Brown was born in Pulaski, Tennessee.
ON this date in 1871, Author, lyricist, poet and educator James Weldon Johnson, also the first Black executive of the NAACP, is born in Jacksonville,... Continue →
On this date in 1941, Tuskegee scientist George Washington Carver was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by the University of Rochester.
On June 18, 1971, Blue Magic, one of Philadelphia’s premier soul groups, was officially formed. Known for their smooth harmonies and romantic... Continue →
On June 18, 1965, Sallye Bell Davis, an influential music teacher, civil rights advocate, and mother of jazz legend Miles Davis, passed away. A... Continue →
Renowned classical pianist André Watts was born on June 20, 1946, in Nuremberg, Germany, to an African American father and Hungarian mother. He... Continue →
On June 20, 1960, Harry Belafonte became the first African American to win an Emmy Award for his television special \"Tonight with Belafonte.\" The... Continue →
On June 21, 2001, legendary blues musician John Lee Hooker passed away at the age of 83. Hooker was one of the most influential blues artists of all... Continue →
Henry Ossawa Tanner was born on June 21, 1859, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He became the first African American painter to gain international... Continue →
On June 22, 1943, W.E.B. Du Bois was inducted into the National Institute of Arts and Letters, becoming its first African American member. A renowned... Continue →
Katherine Dunham, an influential African American dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist, was born on June 22, 1909. She revolutionized American... Continue →
Octavia Butler, a groundbreaking African American science fiction writer, was born on June 22, 1947. Known for works like \"Kindred\" and \"Parable... Continue →
On June 23, 1921, Shuffle Along debuted at the 63rd Street Theatre in New York City, marking a significant milestone in African American theatrical... Continue →
Betty Shabazz, the widow of Malcolm X and a prominent civil rights advocate, died on June 23, 1997, from burns sustained in a fire set by her... Continue →
June 24 marks the Day of the Caboclo in Brazil, a public holiday in the state of Amazonas celebrating the contributions of the Caboclo... Continue →
On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson, known as the \"King of Pop,\" passed away at the age of 50. Jackson\'s influence on music, dance, and popular... Continue →
Clifford Brown, a highly influential jazz trumpeter, died in a car accident on June 26, 1956, at the age of 25. Despite his short career, Brown\'s... Continue →
Paul Laurence Dunbar was born on June 27, 1872, in Dayton, Ohio. He gained national recognition for his dialectic poetry and was one of the first... Continue →
On June 27, 1987, Whitney Houston made music history when her album \"Whitney\" debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart. She became the... Continue →
On June 27, 2023, the International African American Museum (IAAM) officially opened in Charleston, South Carolina. Located at Gadsden\'s Wharf, a... Continue →
The Harlem Cultural Festival commenced on June 29, 1969, in Mount Morris Park (now Marcus Garvey Park), Harlem, New York. Often dubbed the \"Black... Continue →
Eva Narcissus Boyd, known professionally as Little Eva, was born on June 29, 1943, in Belhaven, North Carolina. She gained fame with her 1962 hit... Continue →
James Van Der Zee, a prominent African American photographer, was born on June 29, 1886. He is best known for his portraits of Black New Yorkers... Continue →
On June 29, 1913, production began on \"Lime Kiln Field Day,\" one of the earliest films to feature an all-Black cast. Starring Bert Williams, the... Continue →
On June 29, 2018, Melody Barnes was appointed as the first African American chair of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, which oversees Monticello. Her... Continue →
While the Harlem Cultural Festival began on June 29, 1969, its continuation on June 30 featured performances by prominent African American artists.... Continue →
On this date in 1924, Roland Hayes, a pioneering African American tenor, was named a soloist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Born in 1887 in a... Continue →
On this date in 1899, Thomas A. Dorsey, known as the Father of Gospel Music, was born, in Villa Rica, Georgia. Originally a blues musician, Dorsey... Continue →
Melissa Arnette \"Missy\" Elliott was born on July 1, 1971. She rose to prominence as a groundbreaking rapper, singer, and producer, known for her... Continue →
On this date in 1935, Ed Bullins was born. He was a groundbreaking playwright and a major figure in the Black Arts Movement, known for his works that... Continue →
On July 2, 2021, the documentary \"Summer of Soul (...Or, When the Revolution Could Not Be Televised)\" was released. Directed by Ahmir \"Questlove\"... Continue →
On this date in 1941, Cab Calloway and his orchestra recorded the famous jazz standard "St. James Infirmary Blues". This song, originally a... Continue →
On this date in 1983, Calvin Smith of the United States became the fastest man alive, setting a new 100m world record with a time of 9.93 seconds... Continue →
On this date in 1962, Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential figures in... Continue →
On this date in 1956, Montel Williams was born. He is an American television personality, actor, and former Navy officer, best known for hosting the... Continue →
On this date in 1953, Harry Belafonte made history by appearing on the cover of Ebony magazine alongside actress Janet Leigh and film star Tony... Continue →
On this date in 1940, Fontella Bass was born in St. Louis, Missouri. She was an iconic American singer known for her powerful voice and contributions... Continue →
On this date in 1936, John Hope, who was the president of Atlanta University, was honored in New York City by the NAACP (National Association for the... Continue →
On this date in 1929, David Lynch, a legendary member of the iconic Platters, was born. He became a key figure in the group, which is known for its... Continue →
On July?3,?1950, Trinidadian-born jazz pianist and actress Hazel Scott became the first Black woman to host her own U.S. network television show with... Continue →
On July?3,?2021, the first National Crown Day was held to commemorate the federal signing of the CROWN Act, combatting hair discrimination toward... Continue →
On this date in 1900, Louis Armstrong, known as "Satchmo," was born, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He would go on to become one of the most influential... Continue →
On this date in 1963, Marian Anderson, the renowned African American contralto, and Ralph Bunche, the distinguished diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize... Continue →
On this date in 1876, Edward Mitchell Bannister, an acclaimed African American painter, was awarded the gold medal for his painting "Under the Oaks"... Continue →
On this date in 1845, Mary Edmonia Lewis, also known as Wildfire Lewis, was born. She was a groundbreaking sculptor of African-American and Native... Continue →
The American Negro Exposition (Black World’s Fair) opened in Chicago on July 4, 1940, marking the 75th anniversary of Emancipation. President... Continue →
Legendary hip-hop group Public Enemy released “Fight the Power” on July 4, 1989, via Motown Records. Commissioned for Spike Lee’s film Do the... Continue →
On this date in 1971, the legendary jazz musician Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong passed away at the age of 69. Armstrong, one of the most influential... Continue →
On this date in 1931, Della Reese was born Delorese Patricia in Detroit, Michigan. She became an iconic jazz vocalist, actress, and television... Continue →
ON this date in 1915, Margaret Walker, the famous American writer, was born in Birmingham, Alabama. She is best known for her novel "Jubilee", which... Continue →
On this date in 1914, Billy Eckstine was born, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He was a groundbreaking jazz and pop singer, bandleader, and musician... Continue →
On this date in 1901, Jester Hairston was born. He was an American composer, songwriter, choral conductor, and actor. He is best known for his work... Continue →
On this date in 1941, Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton, one of the most influential early jazz pianists and composers, passed away, at the age of 56 in... Continue →
On this date in 1925, Mattiwilda Dobbs was born. She was an influential African American soprano opera singer, known for breaking barriers in the... Continue →
On this date in 1937, Bill Cosby was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He became widely known as a comedian, actor, and producer, particularly for... Continue →
On this date in 1936, Rose McClendon, an influential African-American actress and founder of the Negro People's Theatre, passed away. McClendon was a... Continue →
On this date in 1926, Beah Richards, born Beulah Elizabeth Richardson in Vicksburg, Mississippi, was an acclaimed American actress, poet, playwright,... Continue →
On this date in 1940, Peggy Jones, also known as Lady Bo, was indeed a trailblazer as Bo Diddley's original girl guitar player. She made a... Continue →
On this date in 1929, Francis Bebey was born, was a Cameroonian musician, guitarist, and author. He is well-known for his contributions to African... Continue →
On this date in 1991, Miles Davis, one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, was named a Knight in the French Legion of Honor. This... Continue →
On this date in 1977, Janelle Penny Commissiong of Trinidad and Tobago made history by becoming the first Black woman to win the Miss Universe title.... Continue →
On this date in 1936, the movie The Green Pastures premiered in New York City. The film, directed by Marc Connelly, is based on the 1929 play of the... Continue →
On this date in 1959, Billie Holiday, the iconic American jazz and blues singer, passed away. She died from heart failure due to cirrhosis of the... Continue →
On this date in 1967, John Coltrane, one of the most influential and innovative jazz musicians in history, passed away at the age of 40. His... Continue →
On this date in 1935, Diahnn Carroll a celebrated American actress, singer, and model was born. She gained widespread fame for her groundbreaking... Continue →
On this date in 1942, Muhammad Ali, originally named Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., was born, in Louisville, Kentucky. He became one of the most famous... Continue →
On this date in 1918, Nelson Mandela was born, in the village of Mvezo, in the Eastern Cape province of South Africa. He would go on to become one of... Continue →
On July 19, 1925, the legendary entertainer Josephine Baker made her Paris debut at the Théâtre des Champs-Élysées in the revue La Revue Nègre.... Continue →
On this date in 2001, Whitman Mayo, an American actor best known for his role as Grady Wilson on the TV sitcom Sanford and Son, passed away on July... Continue →
On July 23, 1984, Vanessa Williams, who was the first African American to win the title of Miss America in 1983, resigned from her crown. The... Continue →
Billy Taylor, the renowned jazz musician, was born on July 24, 1921, in Greenville, North Carolina. He became a significant figure in jazz, known for... Continue →
Ira Aldridge, born on July 24, 1904, was a pioneering African American actor. He became one of the first black actors to gain prominence in Europe,... Continue →
Ira Frederick Aldridge, an African American Shakespearean actor, was born on July 24, 1807. He became one of the most celebrated actors of... Continue →
Alexandre Dumas was born on July 24, 1802, in Villers-Cotterêts, France to a Haitian mulatto, Thomas Alexandre Dumas, and Marie Labouret Dumas, a... Continue →
Alexandre Dumas fils (1824–1895) was a French writer and playwright, best known for his novel La Dame aux Camélias (The Lady of the Camellias),... Continue →
The National Association of Negro Musicians (NAMM) played a crucial role in promoting African American musicians and artists. The first convention in... Continue →
Chester Himes, born on July 29, 1909, was an influential African American crime novelist known for his hard-boiled detective novels. His works often... Continue →
Louis Lomax, the influential African American journalist and author, passed away on July 30, 1970. He was known for his groundbreaking work in the... Continue →
Buddy Guy was born on July 30, 1936, in Lettsworth, Louisiana. He is often considered one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time and is a key... Continue →
Laurence Fishburne was born on July 31, 1961, in Augusta, Georgia. He began his acting career at a young age and quickly gained recognition. By 11,... Continue →
Geoffrey Holder, a renowned actor, dancer, choreographer, and artist, was born on August 1, 1930, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, in the British West... Continue →
On August 2, 1982, Jackie Robinson was honored by the U.S. Postal Service with a commemorative stamp. The stamp featured an image of Robinson, who... Continue →
James Baldwin, one of the most important American writers and social critics, was born on August 2, 1924, in Harlem, New York. His works tackled... Continue →
On August 4, 1901, Louis Armstrong was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He became one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, known for... Continue →
On August 5, 1892, Harriet Tubman was granted a pension by the U.S. Congress for her services during the Civil War. Tubman, famous for her... Continue →
Rahsaan Roland Kirk was born on August 7, 1936. He was an innovative and multi-talented jazz musician known for his ability to play multiple wind... Continue →
Ralph J. Bunche was an influential diplomat, political scientist, and civil rights advocate. Born on August 7, 1904, in Detroit, Michigan, he played... Continue →
Ira Aldridge, the renowned African American actor, passed away on August 7, 1867. He was celebrated for his groundbreaking work in theater,... Continue →
Benny Carter, born on August 8, 1907, was an influential American jazz saxophonist, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was one of the... Continue →
Julian "Cannonball" Adderley, a celebrated American jazz alto saxophonist, passed away on August 8, 1975, not August 9. His death was a great loss to... Continue →
Whitney Houston was born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey, as you mentioned. She rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s, earning critical... Continue →
Patti Austin, the American singer known for her work in R&B, jazz, and pop, was born on August 10, 1948. She has had a successful career,... Continue →
Clarence C. White, an American composer and violinist, indeed passed away on August 10, 1880. He was known for his work in the late 19th century and... Continue →
Carl Thomas Rowan was born on August 11, 1925, in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a prominent American journalist, author, and civil rights advocate.... Continue →
Alex Haley, the author of the groundbreaking book Roots: The Saga of an American Family, was born on August 11, 1921, in Ithaca, New York. His work,... Continue →
J. Rosamond Johnson was an influential American composer, singer, and actor, born on August 11, 1873. He is best known for co-composing the music for... Continue →
Ophelia DeVore-Mitchell was born on August 12, 1923. She was a pioneering model, businesswoman, and advocate for diversity in the fashion and beauty... Continue →
August Wilson's play The Piano Lesson wins the Pulitzer Prize for drama. It was his second Pulitzer, following Fences, which won in 1987. Wilson was... Continue →
On August 12, 1922, the home of Frederick Douglass, known as Cedar Hill, was officially designated a national shrine in Washington, D.C. This... Continue →
Lillian Evans, the world-famous opera star and founder of the National Negro Opera Company, was indeed a remarkable figure in American music history.... Continue →
Kathleen Battle, the celebrated operatic soprano, was born on August 13, 1948, in Portsmouth, Ohio. She is known for her stunning voice and has won... Continue →
Halle Berry was born on August 14, 1966, in Cleveland, Ohio. She's a renowned actress, known for her roles in films such as Monster's Ball, Die... Continue →
On August 15, 1931, Richard B. Harrison was awarded the Spingarn Medal for his outstanding portrayal of the character "The Lawd" in the play The... Continue →
Oscar Peterson, one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, was born on August 15, 1925, in Montreal, Canada. He was renowned for his virtuosic... Continue →
George was born on August 15, 1817, in historic Frederick County, Virginia. His father was a slave and his mother a woman of English descent. When... Continue →
Angela Bassett, the acclaimed American actress, was born on August 16, 1958. She is known for her powerful performances in both film and television,... Continue →
On August 16, 1970, Angela Davis, the political activist and scholar, was named in a federal arrest warrant in connection with her involvement in a... Continue →
On August 16, 1963, artist and graphic designer Charles White became the first Black artist to design a U.S. postage stamp. He created the stamp to... Continue →
On August 16, 1938, Robert Johnson, the legendary blues singer and guitarist, died under mysterious circumstances. His death has been the subject of... Continue →
Louis Lomax, an influential African American author, journalist, and television personality, was born on August 16, 1922. He is best known for his... Continue →
Pearl Bailey, the renowned jazz singer and actress, passed away on August 17, 1990. She was known for her powerful voice, charismatic stage presence,... Continue →
Marcus Garvey was born on August 17, 1887, in St. Ann's Bay, Jamaica. He became one of the most influential leaders in the history of the Black... Continue →
On August 19, 1954, Ralph J. Bunche was named Undersecretary-General of the United Nations. Bunche was an influential African American diplomat and a... Continue →
Isaac Hayes was born on August 20, 1942, in Covington, Tennessee. He was a legendary soul singer, songwriter, composer, and producer, best known for... Continue →
The first National Black Theatre Festival (NBTF) concluded on August 20, 1989, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Founded by the late Larry Leon... Continue →
Anna Lucasta opened on Broadway on August 20, 1944, at the Mansfield Theatre (now the Brooks Atkinson Theatre). The play, written by Philip Yordan,... Continue →
Melvin Van Peebles, born on August 21, 1932, was a highly influential American filmmaker, playwright, and novelist. He is often celebrated for his... Continue →
William "Count" Basie, a legendary jazz pianist, composer, and bandleader, was born on August 21, 1904, in Red Bank, New Jersey. He became one of the... Continue →
Huey P. Newton, the co-founder of the Black Panther Party, was tragically shot and killed on August 22, 1989, in Oakland, California. He was 47 years... Continue →
John Lee Hooker was indeed a legendary figure in the blues genre. Born on August 22, 1917, in Clarkdale, Mississippi, his distinctive style became a... Continue →
Althea Gibson, the groundbreaking tennis player who became the first African American to win a Wimbledon singles title, was born on August 25, 1927.... Continue →
Lucy Terry, an African-American woman, wrote "Bars Fight" in 1746, making it the earliest known poem written by an African-American. The poem was... Continue →
Branford Marsalis, born on August 26, 1960, is a legendary jazz saxophonist. He comes from a musical family, with his father, Ellis Marsalis Jr.,... Continue →
Valerie Simpson, born on August 26, 1946, is a celebrated American singer, songwriter, and producer, best known as half of the musical duo Ashford... Continue →
George Washington, founder of the town of Centerville (later Centralia), Washington in 1875, dies
Hale Woodruff, born on August 26, 1900, was an influential African American artist and educator. He is best known for his role in founding the... Continue →
W.E.B. Du Bois was a trailblazer in the fight for civil rights, education, and social justice. His contributions to both the academic world and the... Continue →
On August 27, 1989, Chuck Berry performed "Johnny B. Goode" for NASA engineers and scientists in celebration of Voyager 2's encounter with Neptune.... Continue →
Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia passed away on August 27, 1975, under mysterious circumstances, though many regard his reign as one of significant... Continue →
On August 27, 1949, Paul Robeson, the renowned African American singer, actor, and civil rights activist, was scheduled to perform at the Lakeland... Continue →
On August 28, 1988, Beah Richards won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for her role as Mama Joe in Frank's... Continue →
Lola Falana, a talented dancer, singer, and actress, was born on August 28, 1942. She gained fame in the 1960s and 1970s, becoming one of the most... Continue →
On August 28, 1949, Paul Robeson, the renowned African American singer, actor, and civil rights activist, was scheduled to perform at a picnic in... Continue →
Michael Jackson, the King of Pop, was born on August 29, 1958, in Gary, Indiana. His groundbreaking contributions to music, dance, and pop culture... Continue →
On August 29, 1962, Mal Goode made history by becoming the first African American television news commentator. He began working with ABC, where he... Continue →
Dinah Washington, the legendary American singer, was born on August 29, 1924, in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She became one of the most influential and... Continue →
Charlie Parker, the legendary jazz saxophonist, was born on August 29, 1920. He's often considered one of the most influential figures in the... Continue →
Lionel Hampton, the legendary jazz vibraphonist, passed away on August 31, 2002, at the age of 94. He was one of the pioneering figures in the... Continue →
Eldridge Cleaver was born on August 31, 1935. He was a prominent civil rights activist, writer, and political thinker, best known for his role in the... Continue →
thel Waters, the legendary American singer and actress, passed away on September 1, 1977. She was known for her contributions to jazz, blues, and... Continue →
On October 1, 1945, noted R&B singer and songwriter, Donny Hathaway was born in Chicago, Illinois. Before his death, he often teamed up with... Continue →
James Forten was born on September 2, 1766, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a prominent African American abolitionist, inventor, and... Continue →
Billy Preston, often referred to as the "Fifth Beatle" due to his work with The Beatles, was born on September 2, 1946, in Houston, Texas. He was an... Continue →
Jonathan A. Rodgers became president of CBS's television stations division on September 3, 1990. He was tasked with overseeing CBS's... Continue →
On September 3, 1919, the Lincoln Motion Picture Company released its first feature-length film, The Realization of a Negro's Ambition. The film was... Continue →
On September 3, 1783, Richard Allen, who would later become the founder of the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, purchased his freedom. Born... Continue →
eyoncé Knowles was born on September 4, 1981. She's an incredibly talented singer, songwriter, and actress, known for being a part of Destiny's... Continue →
On this date in 1963, Katherine Dunham (1909-2006). With the "Aida" production in 1963, Katherine Dunham becomes the first Black choreographer for... Continue →
Damon Wayans, the comedian and television actor, was born on September 4, 1960. He is best known for his work on shows like In Living Color and My... Continue →
On September 4, 1949, a concert by Paul Robeson in Peekskill, New York, was disrupted by a violent mob, preventing the performance from taking place.... Continue →
On September 4, 1923, George Washington Carver, the renowned agricultural scientist and educator, received the Spingarn Medal. The medal, awarded by... Continue →
Louis Latimer was born on September 4, 1848, in Chelsea, Massachusetts. He was an African American inventor and engineer, best known for his work on... Continue →
On this date in 1916, Novelist Frank Garvin Yerby, winner of the O. Henry short story award winner, born on this date. He was the first African... Continue →
Our Nig: Or, Sketches from the Life of a Free Black was published on September 5, 1859. Written by Harriet E. Wilson, it is considered the first... Continue →
on September 5, 1804, Absalom Jones was ordained as the first African American priest in the Episcopal Church. This was a significant moment in... Continue →
Foxy Brown, born Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand on September 6, 1978, is a Trinidadian-American rapper. She became well-known in the late 1990s for her... Continue →
Macy Gray, the American singer, songwriter, and actress, was born on September 6, 1969, in Canton, Ohio. She became widely known for her unique raspy... Continue →
O this date in 1930,tenor saxophonist Theodore Walter "Sonny" Rollins, a powerful force in American jazz, was born.
On this date in 1965, Actress Dorothy Danridge (41) dies in Hollywood.
On this date in 1979, Robert Guillaume wins an Emmy for best actor in a comedy series for Soap
On this date in 1934, Poet Sonia Sanchez was born Wilsonia Benita Driver in Birmingham, Alabama.
On this date in 1908, Writer Richard Wright, author of "Native Son" and "Black Boy" was born.
On this date in 1823, Alexander Lucius Twilight, born free in Vermont, was the first African-American person known to have earned a bachelor's degree... Continue →
On this date in 1816, Kentucky abolitionist and founder of Berea College, John Gregg Fee was born.
Death of Mordecai Johnson (86), first Black president of Howard University, in Washington.
on this day in 1965, Father Divine, born George Baker, dies in Philadelphia.
On this date in 1977, Quincy Jones wins an Emmy for musical composition for the miniseries Roots. It is one of nine Emmy's for the series.
On September 11, 1959, Duke Ellington, the legendary jazz composer, pianist, and bandleader, was awarded the prestigious Spingarn Medal by the NAACP... Continue →
On September 11, 1977, Quincy Jones won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Musical Composition for a Limited Series, Movie or Special for his work on the... Continue →
On this date in 1935, Sculptor Richard H. Hunt who soon became known as one of the "most gifted and assured artist working in the direct open form... Continue →
On this date in 1998, Andre Braugher wins Emmy for Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his role on Homicide: Life on the Street.
ON this date in 1996, the talented and controversial rapper and actor Tupac Shakur dies in Las Vegas at the age of 25 a few days after sustaining 4... Continue →
On this date in 1981, Isabel Sanford wins an Emmy award as best comedic actress for The Jeffersons
On this date in 1948, Tony Award winning Broadway singer Nell Carter was born.
On this date in 1886, Philosopher and first Black Rhodes Scholar, Alain L. Locke was born.
On this date in 1967, Track star Michael Johnson was born today
ON this date in 1945, Jessye Norman, one the worlds most respected opera singers was born. Jessye was known for her stage presence, vocal range, and... Continue →
ON this date in 1943, Actor and activist, Paul Robeson, portrays Othello for the 296th time at New York City's Shubert Theater.
On this date in 1895, D.D.Palmer the founder of Chiropractic adjusted Harvey Lillard an African America in Davenport Iowa. Mr. Lilllard was deaf and... Continue →
Keenan Ivory Wayans's In Living Color wins an Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series.
On this dated in 1989, Debbye Turner is crowned Miss America. She is the third African American to win the crown since the inception of the pageant... Continue →
On this dated in 1933, Emperor Jones, starring Paul Robeson as Brutus Jones is released by United Artists. It is Robeson's first starring movie role... Continue →
On this date in 1925, blues singer Ripley "B.B." King was born in Itta Benna, Mississipi.
On this dated in 1889, in Sanford, Florida of Claude A. Barnett founder of the Associated Negro Press, the first and only Black news wire services in... Continue →
On this date in 1991, ground is broken for the Harold Washington wing of the DuSable Museum in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by artist and poet Margaret... Continue →
On this date in 1983, Vanessa Williams crowned Miss America. Vanessa Williams was the 1st African American Miss America to be crowned.
On this date in 1970, The Flip Wilson Show premieres on NBC. It is the first prime time variety show starring an African American male since the Nat... Continue →
ON this date in 1968, Julia premieres on NBC with Diahann Carroll in the title role. It is the first modern television show to star an African... Continue →
On this date in 1861, it was the First day of school for freedmen founded at Fortress Monroe, Va., with a Black teacher, Mary Peake.
Jada Pinkett Smith, actress, born on this date
First issue of Emerge magazine goes on sale.
On this date in 1989, Gordon Parks' film The Learning Tree is registered in the National Film Registry of the Library of Congress. It joins other... Continue →
On this date in 1956, theFirst international conference of Black writes and artists met at the Sorbonne in Paris.
On this date in 1941, Singer Otis Redding born in Dawson, GA
On this date in 1931, Brook Benton, holder of 16 gold records including "A Rainy Night in Georgia", was born
Alfre Woodard wins an Emmy for outstanding guest performance in the dramatic series L.A. Law. It is her second Emmy award, her first having been for... Continue →
On this date in 1984, The Cosby Show premieres on NBC.
On this date in 1885, Pianist Ferdinand "Jelly Roll" Morton was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Sprinter Florence Griffith-Joyner, winner of 3 gold and a silver medal at the 1988 Olympics, dies. She was 38.
On this date in 1954, actress Shari Belafonte, daughter of singer Harry Belafonte, born in New York City.
On this date in 1954, Playwright George C. Wolfe was born
On this date in 1930, Blind composer, singer and musician Ray Charles Robinson born in Albany, Georgia.
ON this date in 1926, Innovative and famed jazz musician, John Coltrane was born.
On this date in 1954, Patrick Kelly, first and only American fashion designer admitted to an exclusive organization of French fashion designers, was... Continue →
On this dated in 1953, Take a Giant Step, drama by playwright Louis Peterson, opened on Broadway.
On this date in 1894, Sociologist and author Edward Franklin Frazier was born on this day. During his lofe time Frazier published 8 books, 89... Continue →
On this date in 1825, Author Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was born. In 1859, she became the first black woman to publish a short story. Her only... Continue →
On this date in 1991, Spencer Williams's 1942 movie Blood of Jesus is among the third group of 25 films added to the Library of Congress's National... Continue →
On this date in 1968, The Studio Museum of Harlem opens in NYC
On this date in 1937, Singer Bessie Smith dies of injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Clarksdale, Mississippi.
On this dated in 1929, Biochemist Ida Stephens Owens was born. Owens received a PhD. in Biology-Physiology from Duke University in 1967. At the... Continue →
On this date in 1899, William Levi Dawson, composer and arranger of music, was born in Anniston, Alabama. Among his songs are, "I Couldn't Hear... Continue →
On this dated in 1867, Business and civic leader, Maggie L Walker was born.
On this date in 1967, Washington D.C.'s Anacostia Museum dedicated to informing the community of contributions by African Americans to U.S.... Continue →
On this date in 1950, Charles H. Houston awarded the Spingarn Medal posthumously for his pioneering work in developing the NAACP legal campaign.
On this date in 1912, The first blues song, William Christopher Handy publishes Memphis Blues, 1912
ON this date in 1876, Edward Mitchell Bannister wins a bronze medal for his painting Under the Oaks at the American Centennial Exposition, in... Continue →
Jazz trumpeter and composer Miles Davis died in Santa Monica, California from complications following a stroke. He was 65.
On this date in 1986, Shirley Ajayi was the first African American given a part on a television show as a psychic! The show lasted for about one... Continue →
On this date in 1961, Purlie Victorious, a farce by playwright Ossie Davis, opened on Broadway. This stage play was written by and stars Ossie Davis... Continue →
On this date in 1991, Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, art historian, becomes dean of New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.
On this date in 1952, Juanita James was born. She is a writer, who has been coined, "The gatekeeper of prose."
Donny Hathaway, the legendary R&B singer and songwriter, was born on September 1, 1945. Known for his soulful voice and heartfelt performances,... Continue →
ON this date in 1989, Jump Start premieres in 40 newspapers in the U.S. It is created by 26 year old Robb Armstrong, the youngest African American to... Continue →
Ex-football star O.J. Simpson is cleared today of murdering his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman.
ON this date in 1979, artist Charles White (61) dies in Los Angeles.
On this date in 1974, Frank Robinson named manager of the Cleveland Indians and became the first Black manager in the major leagues.
On this day in 1956, Nat King Cole was the first black performer to host his own tv show.
ON this day in 1941, Singer Chubby Checker was born. Born Ernest Evans, in Philadelphia. Checker was best known for "The Twist" a hit song that soon... Continue →
ON this date in 1904, Mary McLeod Bethune opened Daytona Normal and Industrial School in Daytona Beach, Florida. In 1923 the school merged with... Continue →
On this date in 1856, Timothy ("T.") Thomas Fortune was born on this day.
On this date in 1974, Professional baseball player, Frank Robinson,becomes the manager of the Cleveland Indians and the first Black manager of a... Continue →
On this date in 1988, the Martin L. King, Jr. Federal Building is dedicated in Atlanta, Ga. It is the first federal building in the nation to bear... Continue →
ON this date in 1982, Rayford Logan, educator, historian, author, dies
On this date in 1872, Educator, Booker T Washington, leaves Malden, West VA to enter Hampton Institute.
On this date in 1871, Fisk Jubilee Singers began first national tour.
Writer, Toni Morrison, awarded the Nobel Prize in literature, 1993
On this date in 1988,Jazz and ballad singer Billy Daniels dies in Los Angeles.
On this date in 1934, Playwright Imamu Amiri Baraka born Everett LeRoi Jones in Newark, New Jersey.
ON this date in 1931, Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu born.
On this date in 1891, Archibald John Motley, painter, born
On this date in 1890, Humphrey H. Reynolds, patents Safety Gate for Bridges, Patent No. 437,937
On this date in 1888, Sargent C. Johnson, pioneering artist of the Harlem Renaissance , known for his wood, cast stone, and ceramic sculptures, born
On this date in 1873, Henry E. Hayne, secretary of state, accepted as the first student of color at the University of South Carolina medical school.... Continue →
ON this date in 1821, William Still, Chronicler of The Underground Railroad Records, was born.
On this date in 1941, Activist and 1988 candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination, Rev Jesse Jackson, born in Greenville, Sounth Carolina.
On this date in 1984, W Wilson Goode becomes the 1st African American mayor of Philadelphia
ON this date in 1888, Obadiah. B. Clare, patents Trestle, Patent# 390,753
ON this date in 1823, Mary Ann Shadd, publisher of Canada's first antislavery newspaper, The Provincial Freeman and the first woman in North American... Continue →
On this date in 1806, Mathematician Benjamin Banneker (74) dies, in Ellicott's Mills, Maryland.
Jazz pianist Theolonius Monk is born in Rocky Mount, NC. He was only one of 3 jazz musicians ever featured on the cover of Time magazine.
ON this date in 1978, Congressman Ralph H. Metcalfe (68) dies in Chicago.
On this date in 1961, Otis M. Smith appointed to Michigan Supreme Court. Otis M. Smith Scholarship
On this date in 1935, Porgy and Bess premieres in New York City
On this date in 1901, Frederick Douglass Patterson, veterinarian and founder of the United Negro College Fund, born
On this date in 1865, Jamaican national hero, Paul Bogle, leads a successful protest march to the Morant Bay Courthouse.
Richard ("Dick") Gregory was born on this day.
Nightclub comedian and actor Nipsey Russell born in Buffalo, New York.
ON this date in 1970, Angela Davis arrested in New York City and charged with unlawful flight to avoid persecution for her alleged role in California... Continue →
On this date in 1926, First Black naval aviator, Jesse Leroy Brown was born.
On this date in 1902, Noted poet, Arna W Bontemps was born.
On thus date in 1901, First Black delegate to United Nations, Edith Sampson was born.
On this date in 1999, the governor of Pennsylvania, Thomas Ride, signs the death warrant for Mumia Abu-Jamal. Mumia is charged with the early... Continue →
ON this date in 1999, Former Tanzanian President Julius Nyerere dies at the age of 77 from leukemia. Nyerere was lauded as one of the greatest... Continue →
On this date in 1916, Sophomore tackle Paul Robeson is excluded from the Rutgers football team when Washington and Lee University refused to play... Continue →
On this date in 1902, William Boyd Allison Davis, a leading social anthropologist and educator, challenged the cultural bias of standardized... Continue →
On this date in 1834, Harry Blair patents his corn-planting machine. The planter resembled a wheelbarrow, with a compartment to hold the seed and... Continue →
On this date in 1969, Wyomia Tyus becomes the first person to win a gold medal in the 100 meter race in two consecutive Olympic games.
ON this date in 1949, William Hastie nominated for the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He was the first Black to sit on the court.
On this date in 1984, Bishop Desmond Tutu, Awarded Nobel Peace Prize, African activist.
On this date in 1973, Maynard Jackson elected mayor of Atlanta.
ON this date in 1968, John Carlos and Tommie Smith staged Black Power demonstration on victory stand after winning 200-meter event at Olympics in... Continue →
ON this date in 1940, Benjamin Oliver Davis Sr. named the first Black general in the regular army.
On this date in 1922, Leon Howard Sullivan was born on this day.
On this date in 1917, Fannie Lou Hamer was born.
On this date in 1901, Booker T. Washington dined at the White House with President Roosevelt and was criticized in the South.
ON this date in 1859, John Brown attacked Harpers Ferry, Virginia, with thirteen white men and five Blacks. Two of the five Blacks were killed, two... Continue →
On this date in 1849, George Washington Williams, the first major Black historian, born in Bedford Springs, Pennsylvania.
ON this date in 1849, Charles L. Reason named professor of belles-lettres and French at Central College, McGrawville, New York. William G. Allen and... Continue →
Author Lerone Bennett, Jr. was born on this day.
On this date in 1956, Mae C. Jemison was born the youngest of three children of Charlie and Dorothy Jemison, a maintenance worker and schoolteacher.... Continue →
On this date in 1817, Samuel Ringgold Ward, minister, abolitionist, author, born on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.
On this date in 1720, Jupiter Hammon, a writer and self-educated Calvinist, who was born a slave. Hammon is believed to be the first black poet... Continue →
On this date in 1926, Rock and roll innovator Charles "Chuck" Edward Berry born in San Jose, California, and later taken to St. Louis Missouri, where... Continue →
On this date in 1951, Novelist, editor, and educator Terry McMillan was born on this day. Ms. McMillan will reach acclaim for her books "Mama",... Continue →
On this date in 1948, Born Paulette Williams, she graduated from Barnard College in 1970, and later earned an MA from the University of Southern... Continue →
ON this date in 1945, Actor, singer, athlete and activist, Paul Robeson, receives Spingarn Medal, 1945
On this date in 1943, Theater Guild presentation of Othello opened at Shubert Theater with Paul Robeson in title role. Production ran for 296... Continue →
On this date in 1936, Johnetta Betsch Cole was born on this day.
On this date in 1859, Co-founder of Virginia State College, Byrd Prillerman, born.
Born October 20, 1904 in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, Enolia Pettigen McMillan became the first female president of the National Association for the... Continue →
ON this date in 1994, Dexter Scott King, youngest son of Martin Luther King Jr and Coretta Scott King, is named head of Southern Christian Leadership... Continue →
On this date in 1994, Charles Edward Anderson the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in Meteorology; dies. In 1960, Charles Edward Anderson... Continue →
On this date in 1980, Valerie Thomas invented the illusion transmitter. Patent #US4229761.
On this date in 1979, The Black Fashion Museum is opened in Harlem by Lois Alexander to highlight the achievements and contributions of African... Continue →
On this date in 1917, Dizzy Gillespie, trumpeter & pioneer of 'behop' jazz was born.
On this date in 1872, John H Conyers becomes the first African American to enter the US Naval Academy.
ON this date in 1953, Clarence S. Green becomes the first African-American certified in neurological surgery.
On this date in 1906, 3000 blacks demonstrated and rioted in Philadelphia to protest a theatrical presentation of Thomas Dixon's The Clansman. 62... Continue →
ON this date in 1940, in Tres Coracoes, in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, generally known as Pelé, is born.
On this date in 1994, William Jefferson Clinton presented her with the Charles Frankel Award from the National Endowment for the Humanities
On this date in 1948, Rep. Kweisi Mfume who was born Frizzell Gray in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1996 Mfume became president of the NAACP.
Ot this date in 1935, the first Black-authored play to become a long-run Broadway hit, Langston Hughes' "Mulatto" opens, 1935
On this date in 1940, Benjamin O Davis becomes the first Black general in US Army.
ON this date in 1925, Emmett W. Chappelle was born in Phoenix, Arizona. He received a Bachelor of Science in 1950 from the University of California,... Continue →
Gospel singer, Mahalia Jackson, born, 1911
On this date in 1977, Dr. Clifford R. Wharton Jr. named chancellor of the State University of New York.
ON this date in 1934, at a New York City conference, representatives of the NAACP and the American Fund for Public Service planned a coordinated... Continue →
On this date in 1921, Solomon Porter Hood named minister to Liberia.
On this dated in 1868, B.F. Randolph, state senator and chairman of the state Republic party, assassinated in daylight at Hodges Depot in Abbevile,... Continue →
On this dated in 1806, Benjamin Banneker, inventor and scientist, dies at the age of 74. In 1753, he borrowed a pocket watch from a well-to-do... Continue →
Ruby Dee (Born Ruby Ann Wallace) was born on this day.
On this dated in 1981, Andrew Young, Former UN Ambassador, elected mayor of Atlanta.
On this date in 1960, Martin Luther King Jr. released on bond from the Georgia State Prison in Reidsville. Political observers said the Kennedy call... Continue →
On this date in 1954, B.O. Davis Jr. became the first Black general in the U.S. Air Force.
On this date in 1981, Edward M. McIntrye elected first Black mayor of Augusta, Georgia.
On this date in 1994, Pearl Primus dies. Primus, who founded her own dance company in 1946, was best known for her "primitive" dances. She was famed... Continue →
On this date in 1981, William O. Walker (85), publisher of the Cleveland Call and Post newspaper, dies. In 1932, Walker became the publisher and... Continue →
On this date in 1945, Actress Melba Moore was born in New York city.
On this date in 1924, Dixie to Broadway, "the first real revue by Negroes," opened at Broadhurst Theater, New York City, with Florence Mills in... Continue →
On this date in 1923, Runnin' Wild opened at Colonial Theater, Broadway. Miller and Lyles Productions introduced Charleston to New York and the... Continue →
On this date in 1989, Frank Mingo, one of the pioneering advertising executives who specialized in targeting African American consumers, dies. He... Continue →
On this date in 1945, Educator, Booker T Washington, inducted into the Hall of Fame for Great Americans.
On this dated in 1900, Actor and singer, Ethel Waters was born.
On this date in 1893, Football player, William Henry Lewis, named All-American.
On this date in 1927, Dancer and singer Florence Mills (32) dies in New York City.
ON this dated in 1910, Activist, WEB Dubois, begins publication of the NAACP monthly magazine, Crisis.
ON this date in 1898, C. W. Allen Self-leveling table. Patent No.613,436
On this date in 1989, Renowned attorney Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander dies in Philadelphia.
On this date in 1954, Spingarn Medal presented to Dr. Theodore K. Lawles for his research on skin-related diseases.
On this date in 1893, Daniel A. Payne died. The sixth bishop of the American Methodist Episcopal Church, Payne was the first African American... Continue →
On this dated in 1983, Jesse Jackson announces his candidacy for the office of President of the US.
On this date in 1981, Thurman L Milnet was elected mayor of Hartford CT, 1981
On this date in 1981, Coleman Young reelected mayor of Detroit. Thurman L. Milner elected mayor of Hartford, Connecticut. James Chase elected mayor... Continue →
On this date in 1974, Harold Ford elected congressman from TN.
On this date in 1970, Twelve Blacks elected to the Ninety-second Congress, including five new congressmen: Ralph H. Metcalfe (Ill.), George Collins... Continue →
On this dated in 1970, Wilson Riles elected superintendent of Public instruction in California. Richard Austin elected secretary of state in Michigan.
On this date in 1964, A.W. Willis, Jr., was elected to the General Assembly making him the first black to hold this position.
On this date in 1964, John Conyers Jr. elected to House of Representatives from Detroit.
On this date in 1949, boxer Larry Holmes who began his career around age 13 was born. He would win the heavyweight title in 1970 and defend it some... Continue →
On this date in 1945, Spingarn Medal presented to Paul Robeson "for his outstanding achievement in the theater, on the concert stage, and in the... Continue →
ON this date in 1945, Irving C. Mollison, a Chicago Republican, sworn in as U.S. Customs Court judge in New York City.
On this date in 1942, William L. Dawson elected to Congress from Chicago.
On this date in 1920, Emperor Jones opened at the Provincetown Theater with Charles Gilpin in the title role.
On this date in 1868, First Black elected to Congress John W. Menard, defeated a white candidate, 5,107 to 2,833, in an election in Louisiana's... Continue →
Birthday of musician Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. Combs had early training working for record companies before setting off on his own with Bad Boy... Continue →
On this date in 1997, in a low-turnout election on this day, Chuck E. Burris defeated the incumbent, Pat Wheeler, by 278 votes to 260; a third... Continue →
On this date in 1988, the Martin L. King, Jr, federal Building is dedicated in Atlanta, Ga. It is the first federal building in the nation to bear... Continue →
On this date in 1981, Zena Garrison becomes the 1st African American player to win the junior singles tennis championship at Wimbledon, England
On this date in 1978, William Howard Jr., elected president of the National Council of Churches.
On this date in 1969, Howard N. Lee and Charles Evers are elected the first African American mayors of Chapel Hill, N.C. and Fayette, Miss.,... Continue →
ON this date in 1958, World renowned opera singer, Shirley Verrett, makes her debut in New York City, 1958
On this date in 1953, Hulan Jack was elected first Black Borough President of Manhattan, NYC.
On this date in 1949, Berlinda Tolbert played Jenny Willis, Lionel Jefferson's girlfriend, on the long running comedy "The Jefferson."
On this date in 1884, Grover Cleveland won election and became the first Democratic president of the United States since the Civil War.
On this date in 1879, T. Elkins puts patents on the refrigerating apparatus. U.S. patent #221,222
On this date in 1872, Three Blacks elected to major offices in Louisiana elections: C.C Antoine, lieutenant governor; P.G. Deslonde, secretary of... Continue →
On this date in 1872, P.B.S. Pinchback was elected congressman at large. Pinckney Benton Stewart Pinchback (May 10, 1837 – December 21, 1921) was... Continue →
On this date in 1872, Fourth Black official, Treasurer Antoine Dubuclet, won elections in 1870 and 1874.
On this date in 1750, Jean-Baptist-Point Du Sable was a black pioneer, trader and founder of the settlement that later became the city of Chicago.
On this date in 1974, George Brown was elected Lt Governor of Colorado, becoming one of the first two Black Lt Governors in the USA.
ON this date in 1974, Harold Ford of Memphis elected to House of Representatives.
On this date in 1974, Spingarn Medal awarded Damon J. Keith "in tribute to his steadfast defense of constitutional principles as revealed in a series... Continue →
On this date in 1974, State Sen. Mervyn M. Dymally elected lieutenant governor of California. State Sen. Georgia L. Brown elected lieutenant governor... Continue →
On this date in 1974, Walter E. Washington, became the first elected mayor of Washington, D.C., in the twentieth century.
On this date in 1968, Shirley Chisholm becomes first Black woman to be elected to Congress, representing Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NYC.
On this date in 1968, a record number of Black congressmen and the first Black woman representative were elected to Congress. The nine Black... Continue →
On this dated in 1956, pianist Art Tatum (46) dies in Los Angeles, California.
On this date in 1935, Maryland Court of Appeals ordered the University of Maryland to admit Donald Murray.
On this date in 1912, Woodrow Wilson elected president.
On this date in 1862, Frazier A Boutelle is commissioned as second lieutenant in the Fifth New York Calvary.
On this date in 1836, Theo Wright becomes the first Black person to get a Theology Degree in the US.
On this date in 1990, Sharon Pratt Dixon (now Kelly) was elected mayor of Washington, D.C., making this a first for a woman of any race.
On this date in 1973, Coleman Young was elected mayor of Detroit, becoming one of the first two Black mayors of city's with over a million citizens.
On this date in 1973, Spingarn Medal presented to Wilson C. Riles, superintendent of public instruction, California, "in recognition of the stature... Continue →
ON this date in 1973, Marcus A. Foster, superintendent of schools in Oakland, Calif., killed in ambush after Board of Education meeting. Two members... Continue →
On this date in 1962, Edward W. Brooke elected attorney general of Massachusetts. Gerald Lamb elected treasurer of Connecticut. Otis M. Smith elected... Continue →
ON this date in 1928, Oscar DePriest elected to Seventy-first Congress from Illinois' First Congressional District (Chicago). He was the first... Continue →
ON this date in 1928, the Atlanta Daily World founded by W.A. Scott Jr. The newspaper became a daily in 1933.
On this date in 1928, Spingarn Medal presented to Charles W. Chestnutt, the first Black to receive widespread critical recognition as a novelist. He... Continue →
ON this date in 1920, James Weldon Johnson became the first Black executive secretary of the NAACP.
On this date in 1920, Spingarn Medal awarded to W.E.B. Du Bois for "the founding and calling of the Pan African Congress."
On this date in 1901, Juanita Long Hall was born in Keyport, New Jersey, and died February 29, 1968, in Bayshore, New York. This singer, actress, and... Continue →
On this date in 1900, James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson composed "Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing."
On this date in 1884, Novelist and dramatist, William Wells Brown, dies.
On this date in 1868, Jonathan Gibbs, minister and educator, appointed secretary of state by the Florida governor.
On this date in 1860, Abraham Lincoln elected president.
On this date in 1858, Samuel E. Cornish died. Samuel Cornish was an American Presbyterian minister, abolitionist, publisher, and journalist. He was a... Continue →
ON this date in 1746, Absalom Jones rose from slavery in Sussex, Delaware to become the first black Episcopal priest and principal founder of St.... Continue →
On November 7, 1876, Edward Mitchell Bannister became the first Black artist to receive wide critical acclaim when he was awarded a first-prize medal... Continue →
On November 8, 1933, Esther Rolle was born in Pompano Beach, Florida. She became a pioneering actress, best known for her role as Florida Evans on... Continue →
On November 8, 1966, John H. Johnson, the founder of Ebony and Jet magazines, was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP. The medal was given to him... Continue →
Award-winning actress Alfre Woodard was born on November 8, 1953, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. With a career spanning decades, she is known for her powerful... Continue →
On November 8, 1932, Robert Russa Moton, the second president of Tuskegee Institute, was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP. Who was... Continue →
On November 8, 1878, Marshall Walter "Major" Taylor was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. He became the first African American world cycling... Continue →
Mark Althavean Andrews, better known by his stage name Sisqó, was born on this day in Baltimore, Maryland. Sisqó is an American R&B singer,... Continue →
Benjamin Banneker was born on this day in Ellicott Mills, Maryland, to a free African American woman and a formerly enslaved father. Despite having... Continue →
Roger Arliner Young, a pioneering African American scientist, died on this day in 1964. She was the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in... Continue →
On this day, Mattiwilda Dobbs became the first African American to sing a romantic lead role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. She starred... Continue →
Dorothy Dandridge, groundbreaking actress, singer, and dancer, was born on this day in Cleveland, Ohio. She became the first African American woman... Continue →
While traveling near Marion, Arkansas, soul singer Sam Cooke, gospel great Lou Rawls, and a young Bobby Womack were involved in a serious automobile... Continue →
After being captured for leading the Southampton, Virginia slave rebellion, Nat Turner was interviewed in jail by Thomas R. Gray, a Baltimore lawyer.... Continue →
Carmen McRae, a celebrated American jazz singer, pianist, and composer, died on November 10, 1994, at the age of 74. Known for her distinctive... Continue →
Ken Saro-Wiwa, a Nigerian author, environmentalist, and human rights activist, was executed by the Nigerian military regime along with eight other... Continue →
On this day, Louis Armstrong recorded the first of his legendary Hot Five and later Hot Seven recordings in Chicago. These sessions are widely... Continue →
Nat Turner, an enslaved preacher and leader of one of the most significant slave rebellions in American history, was executed by hanging in... Continue →
Alexander P. Haley, acclaimed author of Roots: The Saga of an American Family, was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP for his unparalleled... Continue →
Mary Cardwell Dawson, a trailblazing African American music educator and opera singer, founded the National Negro Opera Company (NNOC) in Pittsburgh,... Continue →
On this day, the 1900 Paris Exposition (Exposition Universelle) officially closed. Among the 6,916 American exhibitors was Henry Ossawa Tanner, a... Continue →
On this date, William Edmondson was born in Nashville, Tennessee (not 1863, but 1874). He became the first African American artist to have a solo... Continue →
Caryn Elaine Johnson, later known as Whoopi Goldberg, was born in New York City on this day. She began performing at the age of eight with New... Continue →
On this day, Janet Collins made history by becoming the first African American prima ballerina to perform with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet in New... Continue →
William Levi Dawson’s Symphony No. 1: Negro Folk Symphony premiered at Carnegie Hall on this date, performed by the Philadelphia Orchestra under... Continue →
Booker T. Washington, one of the most prominent African American leaders of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, died at age 59 in Tuskegee,... Continue →
On this day, Henry Ossawa Tanner, renowned African American painter, was posthumously elected to full membership in the National Academy of... Continue →
On this day, Rosa L. Parks received the Spingarn Medal, the NAACP’s highest honor, in recognition of her pivotal role in sparking the Montgomery... Continue →
Sir W. Arthur Lewis, a professor at Princeton University, was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences, becoming the first Black person... Continue →
On this day, Roland Hayes, one of the first internationally acclaimed African American tenors, began his fifth American tour with a concert at New... Continue →
Lisa Bonet, an American actress, was born on November 16, 1967, in San Francisco, California, to a Jewish mother and a Black father. She rose to fame... Continue →
On this day, Agbani Darego of Nigeria was crowned Miss World 2001 in Sun City, South Africa. She made history as the first Black African woman to win... Continue →
William Christopher Handy, known as the Father of the Blues, was born on this day in Florence, Alabama. A classically trained musician and composer,... Continue →
David Adkins, known professionally as Sinbad, was born on this day in Benton Harbor, Michigan. A natural entertainer from a young age, Sinbad rose to... Continue →
On this day, Wally "Famous" Amos, founder of Famous Amos Cookies, donated his signature Panama hat and embroidered shirt to the Smithsonian... Continue →
Andrew J. Young, civil rights leader, diplomat, and politician, was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP in 1978. The Spingarn Medal is the... Continue →
Sojourner Truth, born Isabella Baumfree in Swartekill, Ulster County, New York, was born into slavery but became one of America’s most powerful... Continue →
Mary Burnett Talbert, a prominent educator, activist, and former president of the National Association of Colored Women (NACW), was awarded the... Continue →
Jennifer Josephine Hosten of Grenada made history by becoming the first Black woman and the first Caribbean woman to win the Miss World title. She... Continue →
August Wilson’s powerful play, The Piano Lesson, was awarded the 1990 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play, part of Wilson’s acclaimed Pittsburgh... Continue →
Scott Joplin, a pioneering African American composer and pianist, was born in Texarkana, Texas. Widely known as the “King of Ragtime,” Joplin... Continue →
Melanie Thornton, an American pop and Eurodance singer best known as the lead vocalist of the group La Bouche, tragically died in a plane crash on... Continue →
Ralph J. Bunche, diplomat and scholar, received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP for his distinguished service as a United Nations mediator in the... Continue →
Luther "Bill" Robinson, famously known as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, passed away at the age of 71. A pioneering African American tap dancer, Robinson... Continue →
Tina Turner, born Anna Mae Bullock in Nutbush, Tennessee, was born on November 26, 1939 (not November 25, 1941). Known as the “Queen of Rock... Continue →
Benjamin O. Davis Sr., the first African American to achieve the rank of general in the U.S. Army, died at age 93 in Chicago. Commissioned as an... Continue →
Charles Gordone became the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his play No Place to Be Somebody, a powerful work about... Continue →
Sojourner Truth, renowned abolitionist, women’s rights advocate, and powerful orator, died on this day in Battle Creek, Michigan, at approximately... Continue →
On this day, the South Carolina General Assembly convened in Columbia and marked a major milestone during the Reconstruction era: Stephen A.... Continue →
On this day, Macon B. Allen was elected judge of the Inferior Court of Charleston, becoming the first African American to hold a major judicial... Continue →
Jaleel White, American actor and writer, was born in Culver City, California. He rose to fame portraying the beloved and iconic character Steve Urkel... Continue →
Robin Givens, an American actress and model, was born on this day in New York City. She rose to fame in the late 1980s for her role as Darlene... Continue →
Dorothy Height was elected as the fourth national president of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) in November 1957. She served in this role... Continue →
Mickey Leland, a Democratic Representative from Texas, was born on this day in Lubbock, Texas. A passionate advocate for the poor and... Continue →
Jimi Hendrix, one of the most influential and celebrated rock musicians of all time, was born in Seattle, Washington. Known for his groundbreaking... Continue →
Marjorie Joyner, an African American inventor and businesswoman, was granted U.S. Patent No. 1,693,515 for her invention of the permanent wave... Continue →
Coleman A. Young, the first African American mayor of Detroit, passed away on this day at age 79 due to respiratory failure caused by advanced... Continue →
Ernie Davis, a standout running back from Syracuse University, made history by becoming the first African American to win the prestigious Heisman... Continue →
Richard Nathaniel Wright, acclaimed American author of Native Son and Black Boy, died in Paris, France, at the age of 52. Wright was a trailblazing... Continue →
Bill "Bojangles" Robinson, one of the most influential tap dancers in American history, passed away on this day in New York City at the age of 71.... Continue →
Berry Gordy Jr. was born in Detroit, Michigan on November 28, 1929. He would go on to found Motown Records in 1959, a groundbreaking Black-owned... Continue →
James Robinson, an enslaved African American who became a decorated soldier in the Revolutionary War, was born on this day in 1753. He fought... Continue →
Alice Childress, a pioneering playwright, actress, and novelist, became the first African American woman to win an Obie Award for Off-Broadway... Continue →
Pearl Primus, born in Trinidad and raised in New York City, was a groundbreaking dancer, choreographer, and anthropologist. She is celebrated for... Continue →
Coleman A. Young, the first African American mayor of Detroit, was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP “in recognition of his singular... Continue →
On this day, Judith Jamison made her debut with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, marking the beginning of a legendary career in modern dance.... Continue →
Shirley Chisholm, the first African American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, was born in Brooklyn, New York, to immigrant parents from Barbados... Continue →
Gordon Parks, born on this day in Fort Scott, Kansas, became a groundbreaking photographer, filmmaker, writer, and humanitarian. He was the first... Continue →
Samuel Raymond Scottron, an African American inventor and businessman, received a U.S. patent for a curtain rod (Patent No. 481,720). Scottron held... Continue →
Alexander P. Ashbourne, an African American inventor, was granted U.S. Patent No. 170,460 for a biscuit cutter. His invention automated the process... Continue →
James Baldwin, born August 2, 1924, in Harlem, New York, passed away on this day in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France. A brilliant novelist, essayist, and... Continue →
Richard Franklin Lennox Thomas Pryor III, one of the most influential comedians of all time, was born in Peoria, Illinois. Raised primarily by his... Continue →
Louis Allen Rawls, known as Lou Rawls, was born in Chicago on this day. A three-time Grammy Award-winning singer, Rawls rose to fame in the 1950s and... Continue →
Minnie Evans, a self-taught African American folk artist, was born on December 1, 1892, in Long Creek, North Carolina. Known for her vivid, dreamlike... Continue →
Jonathan Jasper Wright, the first African American to serve on a state supreme court in the United States, resigned from the South Carolina Supreme... Continue →
Mifflin Wistar Gibbs, an accomplished lawyer, publisher, and civil rights advocate, was elected city judge in Little Rock, Arkansas, becoming the... Continue →
Alvin Ailey, the visionary African American dancer and choreographer who founded the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1958, died at age 58. For... Continue →
While the exact date when Maya Angelou was invited to compose a poem for President Bill Clinton's inauguration isn't publicly documented, she... Continue →
Andre Ware, quarterback for the University of Houston, made history by becoming the first African American quarterback to win the prestigious Heisman... Continue →
Marie Van Brittan Brown, a Black American inventor, was granted U.S. Patent No. 3,482,037 for her invention of the first home security system.... Continue →
On this day, Dial Press published Judas, My Brother, a novel by Frank Yerby, one of the first Black American authors to gain international acclaim... Continue →
On this day, Roland Hayes, a groundbreaking African American tenor, became the first Black soloist to perform at Boston's Symphony Hall to widespread... Continue →
Charles C. Diggs Jr. was born on December 2, 1922, in Detroit, Michigan. He became the first African American elected to Congress from Michigan,... Continue →
Henry Armstrong, born Henry Jackson Jr., would go on to become the only boxer in history to simultaneously hold world titles in three weight... Continue →
On December 2, 1891, Charles Harris Wesley was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He became a distinguished historian, educator, minister, and author,... Continue →
On this day, Granville T. Woods, often called the “Black Edison,” was granted a patent for his improved telephone transmitter. This device... Continue →
Radical white abolitionist John Brown was executed by hanging after his failed raid on the federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in October 1859. His goal... Continue →
On this day, Thomas "Hitman" Hearns defeated Wilfred Benítez to win the WBC Junior Middleweight (Super Welterweight) title. With this victory,... Continue →
On December 3, 1964, J. Raymond Jones was elected leader of New York City's Democratic organization, Tammany Hall, becoming the first African... Continue →
Roy Wilkins, executive secretary of the NAACP, was awarded the prestigious Spingarn Medal for his lifelong dedication to civil rights and his... Continue →
Ralph Gardner-Chavis, born in Cleveland, Ohio, was a pioneering African American chemist whose research played a crucial role in the development of... Continue →
Helen Gray Edmonds was born in Lawrenceville, Virginia. She went on to become a distinguished educator, historian, and civic leader. Edmonds was the... Continue →
On this day, John S. Rock—a lawyer, physician, and abolitionist—passed away. In 1865, he made history as the first African American admitted to... Continue →
Moneta Sleet Jr., a photographer for Ebony magazine, became the first African American man and the first African American photographer to win a... Continue →
Clarence M. Mitchell Jr., director of the NAACP Washington Bureau, received the Spingarn Medal for the pivotal role he played in the enactment of... Continue →
Anthony Overton, a pioneering African American businessman, was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP for his outstanding achievements in business.... Continue →
On this day, Duke Ellington and his band began their legendary residency at the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York. This engagement catapulted Ellington... Continue →
On this day, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) organized nationwide protests against the film The Birth of a... Continue →
Founded in Harlem, The Amsterdam News became one of the most influential African American newspapers in the United States. It served as a critical... Continue →
Prince Hall, a pioneering African American abolitionist and founder of Prince Hall Freemasonry, died in Boston on this day in 1807. Born in the... Continue →
On this day, General George Washington delivered his emotional farewell address to his officers of the Continental Army at Fraunces Tavern in New... Continue →
On this day, Alexandre Dumas, the renowned French author of African descent, passed away at the age of 68. Dumas is best known for his literary... Continue →
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. received the Spingarn Medal, the highest honor awarded by the NAACP, for his outstanding leadership during the Montgomery... Continue →
Carl Murphy, publisher of the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper, was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP for his outstanding contributions as a... Continue →
On this date in 1946, Spingarn Medal presented to Thurgood Marshall, director of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, "for his distinguished... Continue →
On this day, renowned Harlem Renaissance poet and playwright Langston Hughes saw his play Mulatto open at the Vanderbilt Theatre on Broadway. The... Continue →
The Swing Era officially took off around this time, with the commercial success of big bands transforming the American music scene. The mid-1930s... Continue →
Mary McLeod Bethune, renowned educator and civil rights leader, was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP for her outstanding achievements in... Continue →
Reverend James Cleveland was born in Chicago, Illinois, on December 5, 1932. Known as the "King of Gospel Music," he first sang gospel under the... Continue →
Richard Wayne Penniman, known to the world as Little Richard, was born on December 5, 1932, in Macon, Georgia. A pioneer of rock and roll, Little... Continue →
Charity Adams Earley was born in Kittrell, North Carolina. In 1942, she became the first African American woman to be commissioned as an officer in... Continue →
Elbert Frank Cox was born in Evansville, Indiana on this day. In 1925, he made history by becoming the first African American in the world to receive... Continue →
The 47th Congress (1881–1883) convened with two African American Representatives: Robert Smalls of South Carolina, a formerly enslaved man... Continue →
Alexandre Dumas, the renowned French novelist and playwright, died on this day in 1870. Born in 1802, Dumas was of Afro-Caribbean descent—his... Continue →
Bill Pickett was born in Travis County, Texas, on this day. Though only 5'7" and 145 pounds, he became one of the most legendary figures of the... Continue →
Sarah Gorham, born on December 5, 1832, became the first woman appointed by the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church as a missionary to a foreign... Continue →
Phillis Wheatley, the first African American to publish a book of poetry, died in poverty at the age of 31 in Boston. Enslaved as a child and brought... Continue →
Salem Poor, a formerly enslaved Black man and soldier in the American Revolutionary War, was recognized by 14 officers for his extraordinary bravery... Continue →
William Stanley Braithwaite was born in Boston, Massachusetts. A poet, literary critic, and editor, Braithwaite played a pivotal role in shaping... Continue →
On this day, Lee P. Brown made history by being elected the first African American mayor of Houston, Texas. A former police chief and federal "drug... Continue →
Eddie Robinson, legendary head coach of Grambling State University, coached his final football game on this day. Over a remarkable 57-year career... Continue →
Grace Bumbry, a renowned American opera singer, was celebrated for her exceptional talent and significant contributions to the world of classical... Continue →
On this day, Lewis Franklin Powell Jr. was confirmed as an Associate Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court. His nomination faced opposition from civil... Continue →
Frantz Fanon, the Martinican-born psychiatrist, philosopher, revolutionary, and author, passed away from leukemia at age 36. He is best known for his... Continue →
Huddie William Ledbetter, famously known as Lead Belly, passed away on this day in 1949 at the age of 61. A master of the 12-string guitar, Lead... Continue →
Dr. Theodore K. Lawless was born on December 6, 1892, in Thibodaux, Louisiana. He became a renowned dermatologist, medical researcher, and... Continue →
Sergeant Thomas Shaw, a member of the 9th Cavalry Regiment—one of the original Buffalo Soldier units—was awarded the Medal of Honor for his... Continue →
The 44th Congress of the United States (1875–1877) convened with a historic high of eight African American members, the largest number during the... Continue →
Pinckney Benton Stewart (P.B.S.) Pinchback was elected president pro tempore of the Louisiana State Senate on this day in 1871, and shortly after... Continue →
On December 6, 1869, James H. Harris of North Carolina was elected President of the National Convention of Colored Men, a significant assembly... Continue →
In 1982, John E. Jacob succeeded Vernon E. Jordan Jr. as president of the National Urban League, a historic civil rights organization focused on... Continue →
On December 7, 1972, the Rev. W. Sterling Cary was unanimously elected as the first Black president of the National Council of Churches (NCC), the... Continue →
Reginald F. Lewis, a trailblazer in law and business, was born on this day in Baltimore, Maryland. He earned his law degree from Harvard Law School... Continue →
On the same day as the Pearl Harbor attack, Lester B. Granger was named executive director of the National Urban League, becoming a leading figure in... Continue →
The NAACP presented the prestigious Spingarn Medal to novelist Richard Wright for his groundbreaking contributions to American literature. He was... Continue →
Doris “Dorie” Miller, a mess attendant from Waco, Texas, displayed extraordinary bravery during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor while serving... Continue →
Comer Cottrell, born on this day in Mobile, Alabama, would go on to become a pioneering entrepreneur and influential figure in American business. In... Continue →
Sir Milton Margai was born on this day in Gbangbatoke, Sierra Leone. A trained medical doctor and respected statesman, Margai became the first Prime... Continue →
The 49th Congress (1885–1887) convened on December 7, 1885, with two African American representatives serving: James E. O’Hara of North... Continue →
On this day, Kurt L. Schmoke was inaugurated as the first African American mayor of Baltimore, Maryland. A Rhodes Scholar and Yale Law graduate,... Continue →
U.S. Representative George W. Collins of Illinois died in a plane crash near Chicago Midway Airport at age 47. Collins had served in Congress since... Continue →
On this day, journalist and publisher Louis E. Martin founded the Michigan Chronicle, an African American newspaper based in Detroit. The paper... Continue →
On this day, John Hope was posthumously awarded the Spingarn Medal, the NAACP’s highest honor, recognizing outstanding achievement by an African... Continue →
Clerow “Flip” Wilson was born on this day in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was the tenth of 24 children, with 18 siblings surviving into adulthood.... Continue →
Sammy Davis Jr., legendary African American singer, dancer, actor, and comedian, was born in Harlem, New York. A child prodigy who began performing... Continue →
Henry Hugh Proctor was born in Fayette County, Tennessee. He became a prominent African American minister, educator, and writer, known for his work... Continue →
On this day, Lucy Ann Stanton made history by becoming the first African American woman to complete a college-level course of study. She graduated... Continue →
Bill Pickett, a legendary African American cowboy, was posthumously inducted into the National Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame on December 9, 1971. Born in... Continue →
On this day, Jack L. Cooper, the first African American radio broadcaster, launched "Search for Missing Persons," a public service program aimed at... Continue →
Redd Foxx, born John Elroy Sanford in St. Louis, Missouri, was an iconic comedian and actor known for his quick wit, edgy stand-up routines, and... Continue →
Roy DeCarava, pioneering African American photographer, was born in New York City. He became the first African American photographer to receive a... Continue →
On this date in 1950, Ralph J. Bunche, director of the UN Trusteeship division and former professor of political science at Howard University,... Continue →
Soul singer Otis Redding, known for hits like “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay”, tragically died at age 26 when his plane crashed into Lake... Continue →
On this day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, for his nonviolent struggle against racial segregation and... Continue →
On this day, iconic soul singer Sam Cooke died at age 33 in Los Angeles, California. According to reports, he was shot and killed by Bertha Franklin,... Continue →
Langston Hughes’ gospel musical Black Nativity premiered Off-Broadway at the 89th Street Theatre in New York City. One of the first plays written... Continue →
Blues singer Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton was born in Ariton, Alabama. A powerhouse vocalist and songwriter, she is best known for her 1952 hit... Continue →
On this day, Joe "King" Oliver, a pioneering jazz cornetist and bandleader, left New Orleans and moved to Chicago, marking a key moment in the Great... Continue →
Harry T. Burleigh, a pioneering African American composer, arranger, and baritone soloist, was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP. Burleigh is... Continue →
Dionne Warwick, one of the most-charted female vocalists of all time, was born in East Orange, New Jersey. Known for her smooth vocals and... Continue →
Vincent Smith, an acclaimed African American painter and printmaker, was born in Brooklyn, New York. His work is celebrated for its vivid... Continue →
Joe Williams, acclaimed American jazz vocalist, was born in Cordele, Georgia. Renowned for his smooth baritone voice, Williams rose to fame in the... Continue →
Dewey "Pigmeat" Markham, born on April 18, 1904, in Durham, North Carolina, was a multifaceted African American entertainer renowned for his work as... Continue →
Entertainer Sammy Davis Jr. received the prestigious Spingarn Medal from the NAACP for his “superb and many-faceted talent” and his significant... Continue →
On December 14, 1963, the music world mourned the loss of Dinah Washington, a versatile and influential American singer renowned for her... Continue →
Stanley Crouch, born on December 14, 1945, in Los Angeles, California, was an influential American writer, jazz critic, and cultural commentator.... Continue →
Clark Terry was a trailblazing musician, best known for his work with Duke Ellington and Count Basie, and later as a member of the Tonight Show Band,... Continue →
On December 15, 2001, Rufus Thomas, the legendary R&B, soul, and funk singer renowned for hits like "Do the Funky Chicken" and "Walking the Dog,"... Continue →
Renowned jazz pianist, organist, composer, and entertainer Thomas W. “Fats” Waller died at age 39 in Kansas City, Missouri. A towering figure in... Continue →
Noble Sissle, renowned jazz lyricist, bandleader, and playwright, died on this day in Tampa, Florida. He was best known for his groundbreaking... Continue →
Marion Perkins, a self-taught African American sculptor from Chicago, died on this day in 1961. Born in 1908, Perkins worked as a newspaper vendor on... Continue →
Eddie Kendricks, future co-founder and falsetto lead singer of the legendary Motown group The Temptations, is born in Union Springs, Alabama. As part... Continue →
Art Neville was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He would go on to become a pioneering figure in funk and R&B music as a founding member of the... Continue →
On December 18, 1989, the New York Film Critics Circle announced their annual awards, honoring Ernest R. Dickerson with the Best Cinematography award... Continue →
On December 18, 1917, Ossie Davis was born in Cogdell, Georgia. He emerged as a distinguished actor, director, writer, and civil rights activist,... Continue →
Benjamin O. Davis Sr., the first African American to become a General in the U.S. Army, was born in Washington, D.C. on this day. His military career... Continue →
Carter Godwin Woodson was born in New Canton, Virginia. A pioneering African American historian, author, and educator, he is best known as the... Continue →
Cicely Tyson, the acclaimed American actress, was born on December 19, 1924, in Harlem, New York City. Raised by her parents, who were immigrants... Continue →
On December 20, 1988, Max Robinson, the first African American man to anchor a nightly network newscast, passed away at the age of 49 due to... Continue →
On December 20, 1981, the musical Dreamgirls premiered at Broadway's Imperial Theatre. The production ran for over three years, totaling 1,521... Continue →
On this day, Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of the first influential Black poets in American literature, published his debut poetry collection, Oak and... Continue →
Robert S. Duncanson, a pioneering African American landscape painter of the 19th century, faced significant health challenges in his later years. In... Continue →
The Spingarn Medal was awarded to Edward Kennedy ("Duke") Ellington, renowned composer, pianist, and jazz pioneer, in recognition of his outstanding... Continue →
Actor Samuel L. Jackson was born in Washington, D.C. Jackson began his acting career while attending Morehouse College and went on to star in over... Continue →
The Negro Renaissance, later known as the Harlem Renaissance, marked a period of extraordinary creativity among Black artists and writers, coupled... Continue →
Actor Charles S. Gilpin received the NAACP's Spingarn Medal for his groundbreaking performance in the title role of The Emperor Jones by Eugene... Continue →
James Amos Porter, a pioneering African American art historian and artist, was born on this date in Baltimore, Maryland. Porter was instrumental in... Continue →
W.E.B. Du Bois, a pioneering sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist, was elected to the prestigious National Institute of Arts and... Continue →
Dr. Chancellor Williams, renowned historian and author of The Destruction of Black Civilization, was born. His influential work challenged mainstream... Continue →
Arthur Wergs Mitchell, born on December 22, 1883, near Lafayette, Alabama, was the first African American elected to the U.S. Congress as a Democrat.... Continue →
Charles Lenox Remond, a pioneering abolitionist and orator, died on this day in 1873. He was the first Black lecturer employed by the Massachusetts... Continue →
Madame C.J. Walker, born Sarah Breedlove in Delta, Louisiana, was born on this day. She would go on to found a successful Black hair-care business in... Continue →
Henry Highland Garnet, a minister, abolitionist, and diplomat, was born into slavery in Kent County, Maryland. He became a prominent figure in the... Continue →
Octavia V. Rogers Albert, an African American author and former enslaved woman, was born. She is best known for her influential book The House of... Continue →
Bandleader and pioneering jazz singer, Cab Calloway became the first jazz vocalist to sell a million records, leaving a lasting impact on American... Continue →
The Mirror of Liberty, the first African American magazine, was published in New York City by abolitionist David Ruggles. It served as a powerful... Continue →
Considered the first published African American poet, Jupiter Hammon's work marked a significant moment in Black literary history. His deeply... Continue →
Lonne Elder III was an influential American actor, playwright, and screenwriter, renowned for his contributions to African-American theater and film.... Continue →
DeFord Bailey, an influential African American harmonica player, was among the Grand Ole Opry's earliest and most celebrated performers. His first... Continue →
In Sydney, Australia, Jack Johnson defeated Tommy Burns to win the world heavyweight championship, becoming the first Black man to hold the title.... Continue →
Jean Toomer, a pioneering African-American writer and the grandson of P.B.S. Pinchback—the first African-American governor of a U.S. state—was... Continue →
On this day, Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP for his outstanding conduct both on and off the baseball... Continue →
John Amos was born in Newark, New Jersey. He gained prominence in the 1970s for his role in Good Times, where he portrayed a strong Black father... Continue →
With the support of his wife, Work went on to publish The Negro Year Book, an annual encyclopedia of African American achievement. In 1928, he... Continue →
William A. Harper, one of the most gifted African American artists of the early 20th century, was born in Ontario, Canada. A student of renowned... Continue →
Actor Denzel Washington was born on this day in Mount Vernon, NY. Washington will star in such films as "Malcolm X", "Glory", "Much Ado about... Continue →
On this day, Karen Farmer broke racial barriers by becoming the first African American admitted to the Daughters of the American Revolution. She... Continue →
George H. White was the final Black member of Congress during the post-Reconstruction period, serving North Carolina’s 2nd congressional district... Continue →
William Stanley Braithwaite, renowned poet, literary critic, and editor, received the Spingarn Medal from the NAACP for distinguished achievement in... Continue →
Hines revolutionized jazz piano with his innovative "trumpet-style" approach, influencing countless musicians and shaping the future of jazz. His... Continue →
Elizabeth Freeman, known as "Mumbet," dies. Born into slavery, she escaped after mistreatment and successfully sued for her freedom in Massachusetts.... Continue →
Thomas J. "Tom" Bradley was born on December 29, 1917, in Calvert, Texas. He moved with his family to Los Angeles around 1924, where he later... Continue →
On this day in 1960, renowned poet and writer Langston Hughes was presented with the NAACP Spingarn Medal, honoring his outstanding achievements in... Continue →
On this day in 1928, Bo Diddley was born Ellas Bates on a small farm near McComb, Mississippi, in rural Pike County near the Louisiana border. Raised... Continue →
Dr. Miles V. Lynk, a pioneering African American physician, published The Medical and Surgical Observer, the first Black medical journal in the... Continue →
Josiah T. Walls, the first Black man elected to the U.S. Congress from Florida, was born on this day in 1842. Born into slavery in Virginia, Walls... Continue →
Donna Summer, the iconic "Queen of Disco," is born in Boston, Massachusetts. Rising to fame in the 1970s, she became a defining voice of the disco... Continue →
On this day in 1953, Hulan Jack was sworn in as the Borough President of Manhattan, becoming one of the first African Americans to hold such a... Continue →
On December 31, 1953, the NAACP awarded the Spingarn Medal to Paul R. Williams for his outstanding achievements in architecture. Williams broke... Continue →
On this day, Marian Anderson made her debut at Town Hall in New York City. Her performance was widely praised, with New York Times critic Howard... Continue →
Odetta Felious Gordon, known simply as Odetta, is born in Birmingham, Alabama. A powerful folk singer, guitarist, and civil rights activist, Odetta... Continue →
Sculptor and educator Selma Burke was born on this day in Mooresville, North Carolina. She gained national recognition after being commissioned to... Continue →
Annie Wealthy Holland, an influential African American educator, was born on this day. She is best known for founding the Parent Teacher Association... Continue →
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