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The Harlem Renaissance in the American West
In the following article historians Bruce Glasrud and Cary Wintz discuss their new book, The Harlem Renaissance in the American West which argues that the literary and artistic outpouring by African Americans during the third decade of the 20th Century was a national phenomenon which included the
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Source: Black Past
Sharon Pratt Dixon, first woman Mayor of Washingto
Sharon Pratt Dixon, first woman Mayor of Washington, D.C., born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
30
1944
Howard University,in Washington, D.C. named for General Oliver O. Howard, opened
Howard University,in Washington, D.C. named for General Oliver O. Howard, opened.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
1
1867
Birthday
Carmen McRae Born April 8, 1920. After winning an amateur contest at Harlems legendary Apollo Theatre in her hometown New York City, McRae went on to become a noted jazz singer with Earl Hines, Mercer Duke Ellington and Benny Carter bands among others and recording more than 20 albums. She Died
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
8
1920
Samuel L. Jackson
Actor Samuel Jackson was born on this day in Washington, DC. Jackson will begin his acting career as a student at Morehouse College. He will star in over 40 movies including box office hits The Long Kiss Goodnight, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, and A Time to Kill.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
21
1941
La Tribune de la Nouvelle-Orléans (1864-1868)
The New Orleans Tribune was the first African American daily newspaper in the United States. Started in 1864 by Charles Louise Roudanez the Tribune was notable in that it was bilingual. Articles were written in both French, for the majority of African Americans in Louisiana, and English, in order
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Source: Black Past
Benjamin Banneker, inventor and scientist, dies
Benjamin Banneker, inventor and scientist, dies October 26, 1806 at the age of
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Oct
26
1806
Clifford Brown dies
Jazz trumpeter Clifford Brown dies in an auto accident on the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Founder of the Brown-Roach Quintet with Max Roach two years earlier, Brown had built a reputation as one of the finest jazz trumpeters of his day as a major proponent of hard bop.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jun
26
1956
First recorded use of oboe in jazz
Don Redman, musical prodigy, multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger, vocalist and bandleader, was the first musician to use the oboe as a jazz instrument in a solo he performed in a recording of After the Storm, with Fletcher Henderson and His Orchestra. The piece was recorded by Pathe Actuelle
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
28
1924
Duke Ellington Born
Edward Kennedy Duke Ellington, world famous musician, born in Washington, D.C.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
29
1899
Walter E. Washington
President Lyndon B. Johnson named Walter E. Washington commissioner and unofficial mayor of Washington, D.C.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sep
6
1967
Max Robinson
The first Black network anchor, Max Robinson, who joined ABCs World News Tonight died on this day of complication from Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), in Washington, DC.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Dec
20
1986
Oscar Peterson, jazz musician, born
Oscar Peterson, jazz musician, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Boston Professional Chapter
Aug
15
1925
Jackie Robinson
Born: 1/31/1919 Cairo, GeorgiaDied: 10/24/1972 Stamford, ConnecticutJackie Robinson was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) second baseman who became the first African American to play in the major leagues in the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when the Brooklyn Dodgers
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
15
1947
The Bethune Museum & Archives, a depository and center for AfricanAmerican wom
The Bethune Museum & Archives, a depository and center for African American womens history, is established in Washington, DC
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Massachusetts Black Lawyers Association (MBLA)
Nov
11
1979
Toni Morrison
Born: 2/8/93 Lorain, OhioToni Morrison is an American novelist, editor, and professor. Her novels are known for their epic themes, vivid dialogue, and richly detailed characters. Among her best known novels are The Bluest Eye, Sula, Song of Solomon, and Beloved.Business / Schooling: Awards
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Louis Armstrong influenced direction of jazz
Louis Armstrong recorded the first of Hot Five and Hot Seven recordings that influenced the direction of jazz.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
11
1925
WHMM-TV in Washington, DC becomes the first African American broadcasting tele
WHMM-TV in Washington, DC becomes the first African American broadcasting television station
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
17
1980
Carter G. Woodson
Born: 12/19/1875 New Canton, VirginiaDied: 4/3/1950 Washington, D.C., United StatesKnown as the “Father of Black History,” Carter G. Woodson believed that documenting and sharing African American contributions was essential to cultivating positive self worth among African-Americans as
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Diversity In Action
Washington DC home of Frederick Douglas is declared a national shrine, 1922
Washington DC home of Frederick Douglas is declared a national shrine, 1922
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
12
1922
Martin Luther King Jr
Martin Luther King Jr. stabbed in chest by a deranged Black woman while he was autographing books in a Harlem department store. Woman was placed under mental observation.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Prospanica Boston Professional Chapter
Sep
20
1958
Dorothy Height born
Birthday of Dorothy Irene Height in Richmond, Virginia. Height, president of the National Council of Negro Women for more than three decades, organized a successful drive to place a statue of Mary McLeod Bethune in a District of Columbia park. Once erected, the statue became the first of an African
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
24
1912
August Wilson's play The Piano Lesson
August Wilsons play The Piano Lesson wins the Pulitzer Prize for drama. It is the second Pulitzer Prize for Wilson who also won one for Fences in 1981 and was award the New York Drama Critics Award for Fences, Ma Raineys Black Bottom, and Joe Turners Come and Gone.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Aug
12
1990
Alice Walker is awarded the Pulitzer Prize
Alice Walker is awarded the Pulitzer Prize for The Color Purple. Ten days later the novel will also win the American Book Award for fiction.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Boston Professional Chapter
Apr
18
1983
Count Basie
William Count Basie, jazz musician, dies.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by BARBinc
Apr
26
1984
Ernest Everett Just
Born: 8/14/1883 Charleston, South CarolinaDied: 10/27/1941 Washington, D.C., United StatesErnest Everett Just was a pioneering African-American biologist, academic and science writer. Justs primary legacy is his recognition of the fundamental role of the cell surface in the development of
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Life Insurance Company organized
National Benefit Life Insurance Company organized in Washington, D.C., Samuel w. Rutherford. National Benefit was the largest Black insurance company for several years.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Nov
10
1898
Arthur Mitchell, dancer
Arthur Mitchell, first African American principal of the New York City Ballet Company and founder, Dance Theatre of Harlem, born
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by New York University
Mar
27
1934
Jazz singer Sarah Vaughn dies
Jazz vocalist Sarah Vaughn dies
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Apr
5
1990
Thornton, Willie Mae “Big Mama” (1926-1984)
Willie Mae “Big Mama” Thornton was a blues singer and songwriter whose recordings of “Hound Dog” and “Ball ‘n’ Chain” later were transformed into huge hits by Elvis Presley and Janis
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Greater Boston Veterans Collaborative
Jul
25
1984
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