People, Locations, Episodes

Wilson O. Brooks, Teacher born

*This date in 1925 celebrates the birth of Wilson O. Brooks, a Black Canadian officer, teacher, and civil rights advocate. Born in Windsor, Ontario, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Brooks. He enlisted in the Royal Canadian Air Force in April of 1943 and trained at No. 5 Bombing and Gunnery School […]

Samuel Kelly, Soldier, and Administrator born

*Samuel Kelly was born on this date in 1926. He was a Black soldier and educator. Samuel Eugene Kelly was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, to James Handy Kelly, a minister, and Essie Matilda Allen-Kelly, a homemaker. Educated at Greenwich public schools, Kelly dropped out of high school in 1943 and joined the United States Army […]

Wesley Brown, Naval Engineer born

*Wesley Brown was born on this date in 1927. He was an African American soldier, engineer and educator.

Arthur Gregg, Military Officer born

*Arthur Gregg was born on May 11, 1928. He was a Black laboratory technician and military officer. Arthur J. Gregg was born about 10 miles from Florence, South Carolina. He went to an elementary school near Florence. He attended high school in Newport News, Virginia, where he lived with his eldest brother and family. After […]

Sarah Keys, Army Nurse born

*Sarah Keyes was born on this date in 1929. She is a retired Black nurse’s aide and WAC Army officer. From Washington, N.C., Sarah Louise Keyes was the daughter of David Artist Keyes and Curley Vivian Wooten. One of seven children, she graduated locally from Mother of Mercy School in 1948. After graduation, Keyes worked […]

Carl Brashear, Master Diver (Navy) born

*Carl Brashear was born on this date in 1931. He was an Africa American Master Chief Boatswain’s Mate and the first Black Master Diver in the Navy.

Frank Petersen, Marine Corps Officer born

*Frank E. Petersen, Jr. was born on this date in 1932. He is an African American Marine Corps pilot and officer (retired) and is a lecturer and administrator

Samora Machel, Soldier and Politician born.

*Samora Machel was born on this date in 1933. He was a Black African politician and revolutionary. Samora Moisés Machel was born in Gaza Province, Mozambique, to a family of farmers. His grandfather had been an active collaborator of Gungunhana. Under Portuguese rule, his father, like most Black Mozambicans, was classified as “indígena” (native). He […]

Chukwuemeka Ojukwu, Military Officer born.

*Chukwuemeka Ojukwu was born on this date in 1933. He was a Black Nigerian military officer and politician. Chukwuemeka “Emeka” Odumegwu Ojukwu was born in northern Nigeria. He was the son of Sir Louis Odumegwu Ojukwu, an Igbo businessman in the transport business; he took advantage of the business boom during World War II to […]

Nicholas Said, Soldier born

*The birth of Nicholas Said is celebrated on February 25, 1836. He was a Black translator, soldier, and author. He was born Muhammed ‘Ali Sa’id in Kukawa, Bornu Empire, now a part of Cameroon. Said was kidnapped and fell victim to the Trans-Saharan slave trade. His aptitude for learning languages led to the elevation of his […]

Colin Powell, Policy Administrator born

Colin Powell was born on this date in 1937. He is an African American politician, administrator and former soldier.

Clara Adams-Ender, Nurse and Military Officer born

*Clara Adams-Ender was born on this date in 1939.  She is an African American U.S. Army General, Nursing advocate and author.

She was born in Willow Springs, North Carolina the fourth child of ten and grew up in a family of sharecroppers.   Her parents were Caretha Bell Sapp Leach and Otha Leach.  She attended North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University earning her B.S. degree in nursing in 1961. After that Adams-Ender joined the U.S. Army Nurse Corps.

Black History, and the WW II Double V Victory

*On this date in 1941, the Double V Victory of Black history is celebrated. President Franklin Roosevelt gave his “Four Freedoms” speech on that date. During World War II, the black press and several prominent black leaders called for a “Double V” victory against fascism abroad and against Jim Crow at home.   It was easy […]

The 758th Tank Battalion is established

*On this date in 1941, the 758th Tank Battalion was established. This was a Black military tank battalion of the United States Army that served during World War II in Italy. History In March 1941, the U.S. Army’s first black armored unit tankers reported to Fort Knox, Kentucky, to begin armored warfare training. On May […]

Joseph Reason, Naval Officer born

*Joseph Reason was born on this date in 1941. He is a retired Navy officer.    Joseph Paul Reason was born in Washington, D.C. He is the son of Joseph Reason and his wife, Bernice. His father was a professor of romance languages and director of libraries at Howard University; his mother was a high school biology teacher. Young Reason grew up in […]