People, Locations, Episodes

Zina Garrison, Tennis Player born

On this date in 1963, Zina Garrison Jackson was born. She was an African American tennis professional and is an activist for inner-city youth.

Wayman Tisdale, Athlete, and Musician born

*Wayman Tisdale was born on this date in 1964. He was an African American professional basketball player and a musician.

Wayman Lawrence Tisdale was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma. His father, Louis Tisdale, was a well-known pastor in Tulsa, serving for 28 years as senior pastor of Friendship Church; a Tulsa road was named L. L. Tisdale Parkway in 2005 after him. Wayman’s older brother Weldon has been pastor of the church since 1997. Tisdale graduated from Booker T. Washington High School in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Elaine Weddington Steward, Sports Lawyer born

*The birth of Elaine Weddington Steward is celebrated on this date in 1964. She is a Black Lawyer and administrator. Born in New York City, Steward was hired by the New York Mets. She won the Jackie Robinson Foundation program scholarship in sports management to attend St. John’s University and graduated with honors, earning a […]

Angela James, Hockey Player born

*Angela James was born on this date in 1964. She is a former Black Canadian ice hockey player. James was born in Toronto, Ontario, the daughter of Donna Barrato, a white Canadian from Toronto, and Leo James, a Black American from Mississippi. He came to Canada to escape Jim Crow segregation. She has two half-brothers and […]

The First All-Black NBA Squad In America Plays

*On this date in 1964, the first all-Black National Basketball Association squad started a game. On Christmas Day of that year, the Boston Celtics defeated the Pistons 118-106. But the game produced an injury to Tommy Heinsohn. With a game against the St. Louis Hawks the following day, head coach Red Auerbach needed to replace […]

Black Players Boycott The AFL All-Star Football Game

On this date in 1965, Black pro football players boycotted the AFL All-Star game in New Orleans. This was the first boycott of a city by any professional sporting event in sports history.

After the 1964 American Football League season, the AFL All-Star Game had been scheduled for early 1965 in New Orleans’ Tulane Stadium. That weekend Black players with the AFL’s Buffalo Bills had trouble getting a taxi or even basic service at restaurants. The team discussed the situation at a meeting and agreed to boycott the game as a statement against the racist conditions in the city.

Texas Western University Makes College Basketball History

*On this date, in 1966, Texas Western University made history in the NCAA division one basketball tournament.

Coached by Don Haskins, with a team that started five Black players, defeated the University of Kentucky coached by Adolph Rupp for the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) basketball Championship. the starting five for the Texas Western “Miners” included Bobby Joe Hill, Willie Worsley, David Lattin, Orsten Artis, and Harry Flournoy.

Major League Baseball Hires Its First Black Umpire

On this date in 1966, Emmett Ashford became the first African American major league baseball umpire.

The American league hired him. Ashford was excellent at his craft. He known for his spirited umpiring, resonant voice and professionalism.

The National Basketball Association Hires Its First Black Coach

On this date in 1966, Bill Russell was named coach of the Boston Celtics basketball team.

This appointment made him the first Black to coach an NBA professional basketball team.

To become a Coach

George Weah, Footballer, and Politician born

George Weah was born on this date in 1966 in Liberia. Weah is a Liberian politician and former football forward.

George Manneh Weah is from the Clara Town slum of Monrovia in Liberia, a part of Monrovia. He was abandoned by his father at the age of 3. His mother couldn’t afford to take care of her family and she left her children with their grandmother. Weah considers her his personal heroine.

Debi Thomas, Olympic Skater, and Surgeon born

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

Muhammad Ali Refuses His Vietnam Draft Notice

On this date in 1967, African American boxing champion Muhammad Ali refused to be drafted into the U.S. Army and was eventually stripped of his heavyweight boxing title. A Muslim Ali cited religious reasons for his decision to forgo Vietnam military service. Born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr., in Louisville, Kentucky, the future three-time world champ converted to Islam […]

Muhammad Ali is Stripped Of His Boxing Title for Opposing The Vietnam War

On this date in 1967, Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) was stripped of his heavyweight title for five years.

His “transgression was the result of Ali speaking out against the Vietnam War and refusing to join the army. Succinct but unmistakable, he said, “I ain’t got no quarrel with them Viet Cong.” It spoke volumes, but the media vilified him. The government prosecuted him for draft dodging, and the boxing commission took away his license.

He was idle for what would have been the peak of his career.

Deion Sanders, Athlete, and Coach born

*Deion Sanders was born on this date in 1967. He is a Black former professional athlete, sports analyst, and coach. Deion Luwynn Sanders Sr. was born in Fort Myers, Florida. He is one of the rare successful professional two-sport athletes. He is a current college football coach. He attended North Fort Myers High School in […]

The First Black Man Wins the US Open Tennis Singles Title

*On this date in 1968, Arthur Ashe won the US Open singles tennis Championship.

This accomplishment was the first time an African American man had won this title in professional tennis.