People, Locations, Episodes

Black Enterprise Magazine is Published

*The first issue of Black Enterprise Magazine is affirmed on this date in 1970.  Black Enterprise is a black-owned multimedia company. Since the 1970s, its flagship product, Black Enterprise magazine, has covered African American businesses with a readership of 3.7 million. Earl G. Graves Sr. founded the company. It publishes in print and digital, an annual listing of the largest African American companies in […]

The National Coalition of 100 Black Women is Formed

*On this date, we celebrate the founding of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women (NCBW) in 1970.

The NCBW, an advocacy organization, is dedicated to community service, leadership development, and the enhancement of career opportunities through networking and programming. NCBW was conceived in New York City and became a national organization in 1981. The NCBW has 60 chapters in 21 states and the District of Columbia, with over 7,000 members. NCBW’s diverse membership is comprised of professional women who are actively involved in the political and economic life of their communities.

Marcus Samuelson Chef, and Restaurateur born

*Marcus Samuelsson was born on this date in 1971. He is an Afro Swedish (Black Swede) chef and restaurateur. He is the head chef of Red Rooster in Harlem, New York. Born Kassahun Tsegie in Ethiopia. His father, Tsegie, is an Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church priest. His mother died in a tuberculosis epidemic when he was […]

The National Organization of Minority Architects is Formed

This date in 1971 celebrates the founding of The National Organization of Minority Architects (NOMA).

That year, 12 African American architects from different parts of the co) National Convention in Detroit. They saw the desperate need for an organization dedicated to the development and advancement of minority architects. These men were William Brown, Leroy Campbell, Wendell Campbell, John S. Chase, D. Dodd, Kenneth B. Groggs, Nelson Harris, Jeh Johnson, E.H. McDowell, Robert J. Nash, Harold Williams, and Robert Wilson.

The Rainbow/PUSH Organization is Formed

*On this date in 1971, we celebrate the founding of Rainbow/PUSH, a nonprofit organization formed as a merger by Jesse Jackson.   Operation PUSH (People United to Save Humanity) and the National Rainbow Coalition. The organizations pursue social justice, civil rights, and political activism. 1971, Jackson resigned from Operation Breadbasket after clashing with Ralph Abernathy […]

Shaquille O’Neal, Basketball Player and Businessman born

*Shaquille O’Neal was born on this date in 1972. He was an African American professional basketball player.

The Keystone Korner Jazz Club Opens

*This date in 1972 marks the opening night of the Keystone Korner nightclub, a jazz club in the North Beach neighborhood of San Francisco. In 1969, Freddie Herrera bought Dino and Carlo’s Bar in the North Beach section of San Francisco. He changed the name to Keystone Korner, a reference to Keystone Cops, because of its proximity […]

The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists is Formed

*The Coalition of Black Trade Unionists (CBTU) began on this date in 1972. It is a nonprofit organization of African American trade union members affiliated with the AFL-CIO. The CBTU began when more than 1,200 black union officials and rank-and-file members from 37 national unions met at the LaSalle Hotel in Chicago, Illinois, to discuss […]

The First Black-Owned McDonald’s in America Opens

The founding of the National Black McDonald’s Operators Association (NBMOA) in 1972 is celebrated on this date.

NBMOA is a self-help organization, established for the improvement and betterment of each and every member. On December 21, 1968, Herman Petty of Chicago opened the first black owned McDonald’s franchise. Earlier that year, McDonald’s Corporation and its management team felt that black business leaders could better address issues and concerns in the community where they live and work. Petty is still a McDonald’s Owner/Operator today.

A Black Man, and Woman Patent a Corner Cleaner Attachment

*On this date in 1973, a Black man and woman patented a corner cleaner attachment.  Gertrude E. Downing and William. Desjardin received patent No. 3,715,772. The device combines two cleaning machines for the expense of one.

George Osodiis, Photographer born

*The birth of George Osodiis is celebrated on this date in 1974.  He is a Black African photographer.  George Osodi is from Lagos, Nigeria, and works there. He studied Business Administration at the Yaba College of Technology in Lagos before working as a photojournalist for the Comet Newspaper in Lagos from 1999- 2001. He joined the Associated […]

Black Archives of Mid-America is Founded

The Black Archives of Mid- America (BAMA), Inc. was founded on this date in 1974.

Aaron McGruder, Cartoonist born

The birth of Aaron McGruder in 1974 is celebrated on this date. He is an African American cartoonist and social commentator through media.

Aïda Muluneh, Photographer born.

*The birth of Aïda Muluneh is celebrated on this date in 1974. She is a Black African photographer and contemporary visual artist. Muluneh was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She spent her childhood in Cyprus, Greece, the U.K., and Yemen before settling in Canada in 1985. As a teenager, Muluneh attended Western Canada High School in […]

Fabrice Monteiro, Photographer born.

*This date celebrates Fabrice Monteiro’s birth, which was in 1974. He is an Afro Brazilian photographer and visual artist. Fabrice Monteiro is an Agouda, the descendant of enslaved Brazilians with Portuguese names. He was born to a Beninese father and a Belgian mother. He was born in Belgium, grew up in Benin, and now lives and works in […]