People, Locations, Episodes

George Jewett Jr., Collegiate Football Letterman and Doctor born

*George Jewett Jr. was born on this date in 1870. He was a Black doctor, businessman, and one of the first Black collegiate football lettermen.   George Jewett Jr. grew up in Ann Arbor, Michigan; his father was George Jewett, a blacksmith born in Kentucky, and his mother, Letty Jewett, was born in Michigan. He had an older […]

Black History in Golf, a story

*With the week of the Masters Golf Tournament underway, African American history in American golf is remembered on this date. Beginning with Reconstruction, African Americans and golf have a long, rich history.

George Dixon, Canadian Boxer born

On this date in 1870, George Dixon was born. He was an African Canadian boxer.

Nicknamed Little Chocolate, Dixon was from Africville, Nova Scotia, Canada and fought as a featherweight. He was the first Black to win a world boxing championship. He is considered one of the best fighters in the history of the bantamweight and featherweight divisions.

Bill Pickett, Cowboy born

William Pickett was born on this date in 1870. He was a legendary cowboy of Black and Indian descent.

Bill Pickett, the second of 13 children, began his career as a cowboy while in grade school. Pickett soon began giving exhibitions of his roping, riding, and bulldogging skills, passing a hat for donations. By 1888, his family had moved to Taylor, Texas, and Bill performed in the town’s first fair that year. He and his brothers started a horse-breaking business in Taylor, and he was a member of the National Guard and a deacon of the Baptist church.

Joe Walcott, Boxer born

*Joe Walcott was born on this date in 1873. He was a Black boxer.

From Barbados, British West Indies, he came to the United States in 1887 and lived in, and fought out, of Boston, Massachusetts. At 5-1 1/2 and 133-148 pounds, he was a short, squat fighter with long arms and an extremely powerful punch; he was also quick and durable. Managed by Tom O’Rourke, Walcott was one of the greatest “pound for pound” fighters in boxing history and fought men weighing from lightweight to heavyweight during his career.

Charles Grant Jr., Baseball player born

*Charles Grant Jr. was born on this date in 1874. He was a Black baseball player in Negro League baseball before the formal league was created.  Grant was born in Cincinnati, the son of an African American horse trainer, Charles Grant, and his mother, Mary.  A good fielder, Grant was of “medium height,” weighed approximately 160 pounds, and hit right-handed.  Charlie Grant joined the Page […]

Joe Gans, Boxer born

On this date, Joe Gans, African American professional boxer, was born in 1874.

Born in Baltimore, Joseph Gaines (his name at birth) was a legend in the sport. Because he was black, he was compelled by boxing promoters to permit less-talented white fighters to last the scheduled number of rounds with him and occasionally to defeat him. He was also forced to fight at unnaturally low weights, and, perhaps as a result, he was so weakened that he contracted tuberculosis and died while a young man.

John M. Shippen, Jr., Golfer born

John Mathew Shippen, Jr., was born on this date in 1874. He was an African American golfer.

Black Horse Jockey Wins The First Kentucky Derby

On this date in 1875, the first Kentucky Derby was run with a Black man as the winning jockey.

He (Oliver Lewis) rode three-year-old Aristide in record time winning the race.

Alonzo ‘Lonnie’ Clayton, Horse Jockey born

*The birth of Alonzo “Lonnie” Clayton in 1876 is celebrated on this date. He was an African American horse jockey.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri in 1876, Clayton followed his brother into the riding profession. He launched his career on the track as an exerciser rider for E.J. “Lucky” Baldwin in Chicago during the summer of 1888. He stayed with Baldwin for about a year before moving on to work for D.A. Honig’s horses in Clifton, N.J. He rode a horse named Redstone in his first race in 1890 at the Clifton track, and earned his first career victory in 1891.

Dangerfield Talbert, Baseball Player born

*Dangerfield Talbert was born on this date in 1878. He was a Black baseball third baseman in pre-Negro League baseball. Dangerfield F. Talbert was born in Platte City, Missouri, and moved to Omaha, Nebraska, attending the public schools there. He began his career as a baseball player at Omaha High School, working as a catcher at […]

Jack Johnson, Boxing Heavyweight Champion born

*Jack Johnson was born on this date in 1878. He was an African American Boxer, and the first Black heavyweight-boxing champion.

J. L. Wilkinson, Baseball Executive born

*J. L. Wilkinson was born on this date in 1878. He was a White American Black sports executive.

Born in Algona, Iowa, James Leslie Wilkinson grew up in Des Moines and attended Highland Park College.  While there he pitched for the baseball team while also playing professional and semiprofessional ball. An injury ended his playing career, but he remained on the management side of the game for the rest of his working life.

Major Taylor, Cyclist born

This date marks the birth in 1878, of “Major” Taylor. He was an African American cyclist and one of the preeminent American sports pioneers of the 20th century.

Charles Follis, Football Player born

*Charles Follis was born on this date in 1879. He was a Black professional American football player. Charles W. Follis was born to James Henry and Catherine Matilda Anderson Follis in Cloverdale, Virginia. James Henry was a farm laborer. Follis was the third child of seven. The older siblings were Lelia M. and Cora Belle, sister Laura […]