People, Locations, Episodes

Eddie Murphy, Film/TV, Actor, and Director born

*On this date in 1961, Eddie Murphy was born. He is an African American actor, director, writer and comedian.

Rodney King, Laborer, and Police Brutality Victim born

*Rodney King was born on this date in 1965. He was an African American laborer and civil rights symbol (police brutality).

Martin Luther King Jr. Delivers His Last Speech

*On this date in 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the following speech; one that would be his last speech. It was in support of the striking sanitation workers at Mason Temple in Memphis, TN. the day before he was assassinated.

Here is a transcript of his speech:

RAP, (Music, Business, Culture, and Heritage), a story

On this date we explore Rap music. RAP is urban music that grew out of the hip-hop movement of the South Bronx, New York, in the 1970s. It blends rhythmic instrumental tracks created by a disc jockey, with the spoken, rhyming lyrics of an MC, (Rapper).

Ron Brown Killed in Balkans Plane Crash

*On this date in 1996, Ron Brown died. The aircraft that was carrying then Secretary of Commerce Brown and thirty-four other passengers crashed into the mountains of Bosnia.

Paul Hornung Makes Academic Racial Comment

*On this date in 2004, former Heisman Trophy winner Paul Hornung made a racial comment about Blacks.

The former Green Bay Packers star said his alma mater, Notre Dame, needed to lower its academic standards to “get the black athlete.” “We can’t stay as strict as we are as far as the academic structure is concerned because we’ve got to get the black athlete,” Hornung said. “We must get the black athlete if we’re going to compete.” This happened during a radio interview in Detroit on WXVT-AM before the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame banquet.

White Judge Resigns After His Racist Remarks

*On this date in 2004, racism caused a Richmond, Virginia General District Judge to step down.

White judge Ralph B. Robertson resigned after the disclosure of racially charged comments he wrote in an Internet chat room. These included statements suggesting that Blacks have a biological tendency toward violence. He stopped hearing cases last week and filed for retirement, which is to take effect April 1st of 2004 after 19 years on the bench.

The Pan-African Parliament is founded

*On this date in 2004, The Pan-African Parliament (PAP) was founded.   Also known as the African Parliament, it is the legislative body of the African Union. It held its inaugural session in March 2004. For the first five years, the Parliament exercised oversight and had advisory and consultative powers. Initially, the seat of the Pan-African […]

Condoleezza Rice Refuses Participation in 9/11 Testimony

*On this date in 2004 National security adviser Condoleezza Rice said she will not testify publicly in front of the independent September 11th commission. Rice continued a vigorous defense of her actions in every other public forum over the issue. The Sept. 11 commission is one where she would be questioned about the Bush administrations failure to prevent the terrorist attacks before 9/11/2001.