People, Locations, Episodes

Charles H. Coles, Dancer born

On this date in 1911 Charles “Honi” Coles, an African American tap dancer, was born.

Charles White, Artist, and Instructor born

*On this date Charles White was born in 1918. He was an African American graphic artist, painter, and instructor.

Sam Middleton, Artist born

*Sam Middleton was born on this date in 1927. He was a Black mixed-media artist.  Middleton was born and raised in Harlem, New York City. As a young boy, he often visited the nearby Savoy Ballroom, where jazz and classical music became important inspirations for his artistic endeavors. While working at the Savoy, Middleton designed costumes […]

Dolly Rathebe, South African Entertainer, and Columnist born

*Dolly Rathebe was born on this date in 1928. She was a Black South African musician, columnist, and actress. Dolly Rathebe was born in Randfontein, South Africa, but grew up in Sophiatown, which she describes as “a wonderful place.” She was discovered around 1948 after singing at a picnic in Johannesburg. A talent scout from […]

Katie Hall, Politician born

*Katie Hall was born on this date in 1938.  She was a Black educator and politician.   Katie Beatrice Green was born to Jeff and Bessie Mae (Hooper) Green at Mound Bayou in Bolivar County, Mississippi. She attended the public schools of Mound Bayou and married John Henry Hall on August 15, 1957. They had three […]

Marvin Gaye, Lyricist, and Singer born

This date marks the birth of Marvin Gaye, an African
American singer, songwriter, and recording artist, in 1939.

The Panther 21, a story

*The Panther 21 episode is affirmed on this date in 1969. They were twenty-one Harlem Chapter Black Panther members arrested and accused of a planned, coordinated bombing and long-range rifle attacks on two police stations and an education office in New York City. Among the defendants were Afeni Shakur, Lumumba Shakur, Ali Bey Hassan, Michael Tabor, […]

The First Black Coach Wins an NCAA Basketball Title

On this date in 1984 John Thompson, of Georgetown University, became the first Black coach to win the NCAA basketball tournament.

That evening Georgetown beat Houston in the NCAA final, 84-75, to win its only national championship.

American Marines Land in Haiti

*On this date in 2004, Fifty U.S. Marines were headed to Haiti to protect their American Embassy and diplomats.

This occurred at Cap-Haitien, Haiti after rebels overran Haiti’s second-largest city and began detaining supporters of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide. Western diplomats said the Marines were requested after rebels threatened to attack the capital, Port-au-Prince. Two police stations outside Port-au-Prince were attacked the day before (shown), and Aristide supporters began building barricades to protect the city.

Jean-Bertrand Aristide Flees Haiti

*On this date in 2004, President Jean-Bertrand Aristide fled Haiti.

He was bowing to pressure from a rebellion at home and governments out of the country. Hundreds of angry Aristide militants armed with old rifles and pistols converged on the Haitien National Palace in Port-au-Prince. It was not immediately clear who was in charge, but Aristide’s Prime Minister Yvan Neptune called a news conference.

In Cap-Haitien, the northern port that has become a base for the rebels, crowds danced and sang in the street ready to disarm once a new government was in place. “Aristide’s gone!

Chicago Elects Its First Black Woman Mayor

*On this date in 2019, the first Black woman was elected mayor of Chicago, Illinois. Former federal prosecutor Lori Lightfoot easily won the Chicago mayor’s race, earning support from every part of the city to defeat a longtime political insider.    She also became the first openly Gay person to lead the United States of America’s […]