People, Locations, Episodes

THE original American poet, George Moses Horton

*The birth of George Moses Horton in 1797 is celebrated on this date. He was a Black poet, and publisher.

Henry Box Brown, a determined and innovative abolitionist

*The birth of Henry Box Brown, in 1815, is celebrated on this date. He was a Black abolitionist and writer.

Educator and more, Ruth W. Howard Beckman

*Ruth Winifred Howard (Beckham) was born on this date in 1900. She was an African American educator, social worker, and psychologist.

Blacks on trial in Scottsboro, Alabama

*On this date in 1931, nine young Black men were arrested in Scottsboro, Alabama, and the case of the Scottsboro Boys trial began.

Journalist Roger Wilkins born

*Roger Wilkins was born in on this date in 1932. He was an African American civil rights leader, professor of history, and journalist.

Toni Bambara, writer and activist

*Toni Cade Bambara was born on this date in 1939. She was an African-American writer, civil-rights activist, and teacher who wrote about the concerns of the African American community.

One of the best singers ever, Aretha Franklin

*Aretha Franklin was born on this date in 1942. She is one of the most accomplished and influential vocalists of the last two centuries.

Admiral Lillian Fishburne born

*Lillian Fishburne was born on this date in 1949. She is an African American Rear Admiral (RADM) and Administrator.

LisaGay Hamilton, actress with depth

*LisaGay Hamilton was born on this date in 1964. She is an African American actress and film director and producer.

From New York City and raised in Long Island, she is a graduate of fine arts from New York University, she studied drama at the Julliard School where she earned a Master’s Degree. Hamilton’s first paid acting role was as a spear-carrier in the Joseph Papp Public Theatre production of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night but she soon moved on to appear opposite Kevin Kline and Andre Braugher in “Measure for Measure” in the New York Shakespeare Festival.

Debi Thomas, Olympic skater and surgeon

*Debi Thomas was born on this date in1967. She was an African American figure skater, and is a surgeon and community activist.