People, Locations, Episodes

Southwestern Christian College is Founded

*Southwestern Christian College (SwCC) started classes on this date in 1948. It is among over 100 historically black colleges and universities in America (HBCUs).   SwCC was founded by the educator and minister G. P. Bowser under the Southern Bible Institute in Fort Worth, Texas. The initial class consisted of 45 students.  School officials intended to buy property in Fort Worth […]

Theresa Venable, Librarian and Administrator born.

*Theresa Venable was born on this date in 1948.  She is a Black educator, historian, and retired librarian. Theresa Evans Venable, from Knoxville, TN, earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and an M.S. in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. She was an elementary and middle school reading and language arts teacher […]

Qintard Taylor Jr., Author and Historian born

*Quintard Taylor Jr. was born on this date in 1948. He is a Black historian, author, and professor. He was born in Brownsville, Tennessee, to Quintard Taylor and Grace Taylor. He graduated from Carver High School in Brownsville. He received his B.A. degree in American history in 1969 from St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, and […]

Algeania Freeman, Educator, and Administrator born

*On this date in 1949, Algeania Freeman was born. She is a Black educator, administrator, author, consultant, and community activist. Algeania Marie Warren Freeman, a native of Benson, North Carolina, was born in Betsy Johnson Memorial Hospital in Dunn, North Carolina, to Ms. Ada Mae Warren and Mr. Al Woodard, Jr. Until seven years old, […]

The First Black Student Graduates From Annapolis

On this date in 1949, the first Black man graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Webb v. School District No. 90 is decided

*On this date in 1949, Webb v. School District No. 90 was decided. This Supreme Court case involved 39 Black students fighting for educational rights. Background Population growth after World War II prompted the construction of a new $90,000 South Park Elementary School near Merriam, Kansas. The district school board had unlawfully established the Walker […]

Beverley Bryan, Cultural Educator born

*Beverley Bryan was born on this date in 1949.  She is a retired Jamaican academic and professor.  Bryan was born in the district of Fairy Hill in Portland, Jamaica. In 1950, her uncle migrated to London. Her parents followed in 1953, settling in Battersea, while Bryan and her siblings remained in Jamaica.  Her London neighborhood […]

Lani Guinier, Lawyer, and Educator born

Lani Guinier was born on this date in 1950.

Mississippi Valley State University is Founded

On this date in 1950, Mississippi Valley State University was founded in Bena in the heart of the Delta. It is one of over 100 historically black colleges and universities in America.

Miriam Rose, Aboriginal Educator born

*This date in 1950 is celebrated as the birth date of Miriam Rose. She is a Black Aboriginal Artist and Educator.  Miriam Rose Ungunmerr-Baumann was born in the bush near Daly River in 1950.  She is a member of the Ngangiwumirr language group and speaks four other local languages. When she was about five years […]

Alexs Pate, Author, and Educator born

*Alexs Pate was born on this date in 1950. He is a Black Author and educator. He was born in Philadelphia, PA. From 1999 to 201, he was on the University of Southern Maine faculty and an assistant professor at the University of Minnesota. Pate has published five novels to date. His best-known work is […]

Freeman Hrabowski, Biochemist born.

*Freeman Hrabowski was born on this date in 1950. He is an African American administrator and educator in biochemistry.

Henry Louis Gates Jr., Educator born

*Henry Louis Gates Jr. was born on this date in 1950. He is an African American educator, author, literary critic, and historian.

From Keyser, W.Va., he grew up in neighboring Piedmont. At the age of 14, Gates was injured while playing touch football, fracturing the ball and socket joint of his hip, resulting in a slipped epiphysis. The injury was misdiagnosed and when the physical damage finally healed, Gates’ right leg was two inches shorter than his left. Because of the injury, Gates uses a cane to help him walk.

Robert Jones Jr., Agronomist, and Activist born

Robert J. Jones was born on this date in 1951. He is an African American administrator, agronomist and educator.

Verene Shepherd, Academic and Professor born

*The birth of Verene Shepherd is celebrated on this date in 1951. She is an Afro Jamaican academic and professor. Verene Albertha Shepherd was born in Hopewell, Saint Mary Parish, Jamaica, and was one of the ten children of Ruthlyn and Alfred Lazarus. She attended Huffstead Basic School, Rosebank Primary School, and St. Mary High School […]