People, Locations, Episodes

Ethiopian Jews, Rich Past, Rich Future

*This date, The Registry honors Ethiopian Jews. Ethiopian Jews or Beta Israel are a Black African ethnic group from northwestern Ethiopia who practice Judaism.

Frances E. Watkins Harper, Poet, and Abolitionist born

Frances Ellen Watkins Harper was born on this date in 1825. She was a Black poet, writer, and lecturer, as well as an anti-slavery, women’s rights, and temperance activist.

Harper was from Baltimore, MD., where she attended Baltimore’s Academy for Negro Youth school. There she studied Greek, Latin, and the Bible. Writing poetry as a teenager, she started her career as a writer in 1845 by publishing the poetry collection, “Forest Leaves.”

A Black Inventor Patents a Library Table

On this date in 1878, African American innovator W. R. Davis Jr., patented the library table.
The patent number is, 208378.

Ebenezer Baptist Church (Atlanta) is Founded

The founding of Ebenezer Baptist Church in 1886 is celebrated on this date. This Atlanta house of worship is a unique landmark of Civil Rights in the Africa American community.

St. Paul’s Normal and Industrial School of Virginia Opens

*Saint Paul’s Normal and Industrial School opened its doors on this date in 1888. They were a private, Historically Black College and University (HBCU). Archdeacon James S. Russell of the Episcopal Church founded St. Paul Normal and Industrial school. Located in Lawrenceville, Virginia, it was for training students as teachers for agricultural and industrial work. […]

Blind Lemon Jefferson, Blues Musician born

This date celebrates the birth of Blind Lemon Jefferson in 1897. He was an African American country blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter, one of the earliest Black folk-blues singers to achieve popular success.

E. Franklin Frazier, Sociologist born

On this date in 1894, E. Franklin Frazier was born. He was an African American sociologist.

Born in Baltimore, Md., Edward Franklin Frazier received his A. B. from Howard University in 1916 and his A. M. in sociology from Clark University in 1920. After he was awarded a fellowship to the New York School of Social Work (1920-21), he accepted an American-Scandinavian Foundation grant to study folk high schools and the Cooperative Movement in Denmark from 1921-22.

Herb Jefferies, Singer, and Actor born

*Herb Jeffries was born on this date in 1913. He was a Black singer and actor. From Detroit, MI., his white Irish mother ran a rooming house, and his father, whom he never knew, was of Sicilian, Ethiopian, French, Italian and Moorish ancestry. Jefferies grew up in a mixed neighborhood. He showed definitive interest in singing during his […]

Fats Navarro, Trumpeter born

On this date in 1923, Fats Navarro was born. He was an African American jazz trumpet virtuoso, one of the founders of bebop.

Navarro was from Key West, FL. He first performed as a tenor saxophonist in Miami, and went on to play trumpet in big bands, most notably Andy Kirk’s in 1943-44 and the avant-garde Billy Eckstine band of 1945-46. He then worked and recorded with other well-known leaders, including Illinois Jacquet and Coleman Hawkins, before making the most important association of his career with composer-band leader Tadd Dameron in 1948-49.

Theresa Merritt, Stage, Musicals, and TV actress born

Theresa Merritt was born on this date in 1924. She was an African American actress.

She was born in Emporia, VA, and probably best recognized from her role as “Mama Eloise” on the TV sitcom “That’s My Mama.” Merritt’s talents found success on TV, film, and the stage. In 1985, she received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom” on Broadway. Her films included “The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas” and “All That Jazz,” and she played “Aunt Em” in the musical “The Wiz.”

Danny Davis, Boxer, and Community Advocate born

Danny Davis was born on this date in 1929. He was an African American boxer, businessman, and community activist.

Daniel Webster Davis was from Minneapolis, MN, one of 11 children of Bessie and Clinton Davis. He was very close to his mother and graduated from Minneapolis North High School. As a young boy, he was active in the Phyllis Wheatley settlement house in North Minneapolis and took part in its many programs, one of which was boxing.

William Jackson, Chemist, and Professor born

*William M. Jackson was born on this date in 1936.  He is a Black Research Chemist in the field of astrochemistry and Emeritus Professor.   William Morgan Jackson was born in Birmingham, Alabama. He grew up in Dynamite Hill, an area of the city that the Ku Klux Klan frequently bombed during the 20th century American […]

John Mackey, Football Player born

*John Mackey was born on this date in 1941.  He was an African American football player.  

Central High School (Little Rock) Is Integrated

*On this date in 1957, President Dwight D. Eisenhower sends 1,000 U. S. government paratroopers to Little Rock, Ark., to desegregate schools.

The troops escorted nine Black school young people to Central High School in the first federally supported effort to integrate America’s public schools.

Guinea-Bissau Gains Independence From Portugal

*On this date in 1973, Guinea-Bissau gained Independence from Portugal. Self-governing occurred 89 years after the 1884 invasion from the Berlin Conference, the highpoint of white-European competition for territory in Africa, a process commonly known as the Scramble for Africa.  Recognition became universal following April 24, 1974 socialist-inspired military coup in Portugal, which overthrew Lisbon’s Estado Novo […]