15 Pioneering Black Architects Who Shaped America

Marion Perkins (Sculptor)

Sculptor, Marion Perkins, died on 12/17/61. During the Depression of the thirties, Marion Perkins sold papers at a newsstand on Chicagos South Side. In his free moments at the stand he busied himself whittling on bars of soap. Peter Pollack, then director of the Community Art Center Division of the

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Dec

17

1961

Robert N.C. Nix, first African American rep

Robert N.C. Nix, first African American representative from Pennsylvania and 11 term congressman, born

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Aug

9

1905

Organization for Afro-American Unity

Organization for Afro-American Unity founded in New York by Malcolm X.

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Jun

28

1964

President Roosevelt wanted demonstration ended

President Roosevelt conferred with A. Philip Randolph and other leaders of the March on Washington movement and urged them to call off a scheduled demonstration. Randolph refused.

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Jun

18

1941

Death of Ralph J. Bunche

Death of Ralph J. Bunche (67), Nobel Peace Prize winner and undersecretary of the UN from 1955 to his retirement in October, 1971, in New York City.

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Dec

9

1971

Harlem's Cotton Club closes

Harlems Cotton Club closes.

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Jun

10

1940

Moneta Sleet becomes the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for his

Moneta Sleet becomes the first African American to win a Pulitzer Prize for his photograph of Mrs. Martin Luther King, Jr. and her daughter at her husbands funeral

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May

5

1969

Sammy Davis Jr., dies

Sammy Davis Jr., actor, dancer, singer and world class entertainer dies in Beverly Hills, California at age 64. Davis, born in Harlem, was a member of the popular and notorious Hollywood Rat Pack. He also held starring roles in a host of Broadway musicals and motion pictures.

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May

16

1990

Charles Chesnutt Born

Charles Chesnutt, one of the first African-Americans to gain a national audience, is born in Cleveland Ohio.

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Jun

20

1858

the Bronze Muse

On this day, the Bronze Muse died in

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Feb

22

1911

Blanche Kelso Bruce sworn in as a U.S. Senator.

Blanche Kelso Bruce was a US Senator from Mississippi; the first black man to serve a full term in the senate, and the first person born into slavery to preside over the senate. While serving in the senate, he was an advocate for civil rights for blacks, native Americans, Chinese immigrants and

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May

21

1881

The Black Fashion Museum is opened in Harlem by Lois Alexander to highlight the

The Black Fashion Museum is opened in Harlem by Lois Alexander to highlight the achievements and contributions of African Americans to fashion.

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Oct

21

1979

Congressman William Gray

Congressman William Gray is elected Democratic Whip of the House of Representatives, the highest ranking leadership position ever held by an African American in Congress.

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Jun

14

1989

Chemist Percy Julian born

Chemist Percy Julian born in Montgomery, Alabama. Julian studied at DePauwm, Fisk, Harvard and Vienna (Germany) Universities. In his lifetime he discovered several synthetic substances including one that made paint water-tight, cortisone and a fire suppressing foam.

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Apr

11

1899

Rosa Parks (born Roas Louise McCauley) was born on this day.

Rosa Parks (born Rosa Louise McCauley) was born on this day in Tuskegee, Alabama

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Feb

4

1913

Leopold Sedar Senghor, poet, politician, is elected President of Senegal.

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Sep

5

1960

Countee Cullen, born

Born in 1903 in New York City, Countee Cullen was raised in a Methodist

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May

30

1903

Philips, 1st Black nominated president

Rev. Channing E. Philips of Washington, D.C., became first Black nominated for president by a major national party. Philips was nominated as favorite son candidate by District of Columbia delegation at Democratic convention in Chicago and received 671/2 votes.

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Aug

28

1968

Walter F.White, NAACP Pres.

Walter F. White named NAACP executive secretary. The NAACP has had many leaders since its beginning in 1910, but none was more determined and devoted than Walter F. White. This fair-skinned, blue-eyed man who wouldnt pass worked a lifetime to defeat the nations barriers to integration

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Mar

9

1931

Lelia Smith Foley becomes the first African A

Lelia Smith Foley becomes the first African American woman to be elected mayor of a U.S. city (Taft, OK)

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Apr

16

1973

Charles Edward Anderson

In 1960, Charles Edward Anderson earned a Ph.D. in Meteorology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, Massachusetts. Charles Edward Anderson the first African American to earn a Ph.D. in Meteorology; died today.

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Oct

21

1994

1989: The Civil rights Memorial in Montgomery, AL is dedicated.

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Nov

11

1999

TV Premiere

Sansford and Son TV Premiere Jan 14, 1972. NBC sitcom which gained immediate popularity depicting an African-American Father and son engaged in the junkyard business. Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin developed the comedy series based on the British Steptoe and Son. The name Sanford came from John

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Jan

14

1972

Death of George Washington Williams

Death of George Washington Williams (41), Blackpool, England. Williams served in the Ohio House of Representatives from 1880 to 1881, during the 64th session of the General Assembly. He was the first African-American to serve in the Ohio Legislature.

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Aug

4

1891

Shirley Chisholm

Shirley Chisholm became the first African American Presidential nominee, with 151 votes from the delegates polled.

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Jul

13

1972

Federal State Crisis

Mississippi Governor Ross R. Barnett defied the federal government in impassioned speech on statewide radio-television hookup, saying he would interpose the authority of the state between the University of Mississippi and federal judges who had ordered the admission of James H. Meredith. Barnett

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Sep

13

1962

Ambassador

Clifton Wharton is sworn in as ambassador to Norway. Clifton Wharton was the 1st Black person to earn a PhD in economics from University of Chicago in as well as the first Black president of Michigan State, predominantly White university.

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Mar

9

1961

Governor Barnett Found Guilty

Governor Barnett found guilty of civil contempt of the federal court. United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ordered Barnett to purge himself of contempt or face arrest and a fine of $10,000 a day.

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Sep

28

1962

Edward Mitchell Bannister wins a bronze medal for his painting Under the Oaks at

Edward Mitchell Bannister wins a bronze medal for his painting Under the Oaks at the American Centennial Exposition, in Philadelphia. The award will cause controversy among whites who think African Americans incapable of artistic excellence.

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Sep

27

1876

Pioneer

Black Senate Page Appointed on April 8, 1965. 16 year old Lawrene Bradford of New York City was the first Black Page appointed to the US Senate.

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Apr

8

1965

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