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al-Sadat, Muhammad Anwar (1918-1981)
Muhammad Anwar al-Sadat, third President of post-independence Egypt (governing from 1970 to 1981), was born of peasant background in the Nile Delta village of Mit Abu al-Kum on December 25, 1918. The son an Egyptian army clerk and a Sudanese housewife, Sadat was educated in Cairo, where his family
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Source: Black Past
Jul
23
1952
The Southern Negro Youth Congress: A Participant Recalls Its Past
In the article below historian Gwendolyn Midlo Hall recounts her role as a founder of the New Orleans Youth Congress and the early years of the Southern Negro Youth Congress.  This account is part of her soon to be published
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by New York University
Nov
15
1974
Ray, Charlotte E. (1850-1911)
Charlotte E. Ray, the first African American woman to practice law in the United States, was born on January 13, 1850 in New York City, New York.  Her father, Reverend Charles Bennett Ray, was a prominent New York abolitionist and minister who served as pastor of the Bethesda Congregational Church
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Source: Black Past
Al Sharpton
Al Sharpton is a religious leader and political activist. He was born on October 3, 1954, in Brooklyn, New York. His father left the family and Sharpton was raised by his mother. They had to move to the public housing projects, where his mother worked as a maid and supported the family on her
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Source: Black History Resources
Oct
3
1954
Clarke, Yvette Diane (1964– )
Yvette Diane Clarke won her first political office when she was elected a member of the New York City Council representing part of Brooklyn in 2001. Clarke succeeded her mother, former City Councilmember, Dr. Una S.T. Clarke, making them the first mother-daughter succession in the history of the
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Pride Academy
Nov
21
1964
Moore, Kermit (1929-2013)
Over a long distinguished career Kermit Moore has been a cellist of outstanding acclaim, an orchestra conductor, composer, teacher, and mentor. Through these activities in classical music he has been successful in breaking down racial and social
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Museum of African American History in Massachusetts
Mary J. Blige
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer, songwriter and actress who has been making hit records for almost 25 years. She was born on January 11, 1971 in the Bronx, New York to Cora and Thomas Blige. She grew up in a very neglected and disastrous neighborhood and her childhood was marked by
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Source: Black History Resources
Jan
11
1971
Did You Know That In...
1780 - Two blacks aid in the capture of British spy, Major John Andre, in New York.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
0
1780
Actress Cicely Tyson is born in New York, NY
Actress Cicely Tyson is born in New York, NY
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
19
1933
Jones, Bill T. (1952- )
Bill T. Jones, Artistic Director/Co-Founder/Dancer/Choreographer of Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company was born on February 15, 1952 in Bunnell, Florida. Jones’ prolific career as a choreographer has brought him international acclaim. Awards include: 2007 Tony Award for his choreography in
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Intellitech
Feb
15
1952
Mos Def
The renowned actor and rapper, Mos Def is widely known for his hip hop songs that depict a social themes and consciousness. Fans also identify his memorable performances in Hollywood flicks such as Guide to the Galaxy, The Italian Job and
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Source: Black History Resources
Dec
11
1973
New York Draft Riots
On the Monday morning of July 13, 1863, the Enrollment
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jul
13
1863
Hubert Harrison: The Voice of Early 20th Century Harlem Radicalism
In the article below independent historian Jeffrey Perry discusses his 2008 book on early 20th Century Harlem activist Hubert
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Illinois Math and Science Academy
Dash, Julie (1952- )
Filmmaker Julie Dash was born on October 22, 1952 in Queens, New York. She received her B.A. in film production from City College of New York in 1974 and went on to earn a two-year fellowship to the Center for Advanced Film Studies at the American Film Institute (AFI) in Los Angeles.  At AFI, Dash
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Source: Black Past
Oct
22
1952
First Scat Singing Ever Recorded
Don Redman performed the first recorded scat vocals while a member of Fletcher Hendersons Orchestra. Scat singing is an improvised vocal instrumentation composed of nonsense syllables. Don Redman scatted a few bars of My Papa Doesnt Two-Time No Time, recorded in New York by Columbia. Although Louis
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Apr
16
1924
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston was an American author and anthropologist of the 19th century. She was born on January 7, 1891, in Notasulga, Alabama. Her parents John and Lucy Ann Hurston were former slaves. John Hurston was a pastor and he moved his family to Florida when Zora was still a young child. He
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Source: Black History Resources
Sponsored by National Association of Black Accountants (NABA) Boston Metropolitan Chapter
Jan
7
1891
Malcolm X born in Omaha, Nebraska
Malcolm X was born Malcolm Little on May 19, 1925 in Omaha, Nebraska. His mother, Louis Norton Little, was a homemaker occupied with the familys eight children. His father, Earl Little, was an outspoken Baptist minister and avid supporter of Black Nationalist leader Marcus Garvey. Earls civil
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Source: Blackfacts.com
May
19
1925
Rhodes, J. Steven (1951- )
J. Steven Rhodes, U.S. Ambassador to Zimbabwe, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana on September 29, 1951.  After graduating from high school he attended Loyola Marymount University (LMU) in Los Angeles, California where he was a member of the LMU 1969 Hall of Fame football
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Concerned Black Men of Massachusetts
Angolan Civil War (1975-2002)
The Angolan Civil War, beginning at the time of the countrys independence from Portugal in 1975, was a 27-year struggle involving the deaths of over 500,000 soldiers and civilians.  Initiated at the height of the Cold War, pro- and anti-communist forces in Angola set the stage for a proxy fight
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Source: Black Past
Apr
25
1974
Laurence Fishburne
Laurence Fishburne is an American actor, writer, director and producer. He was born on July 30, 1961 in Augusta, Georgia to Hattie Bell and Laurence John Fishburne, Jr. His parents divorced when he was very young and he moved to Brooklyn, New York with his mother while visiting his father once
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Source: Black History Resources
Sponsored by Eastern Bank
Jul
30
1961
Classical Conductor Dean Dixon born.
Classical Conductor Dean Dixon is born in 1915 in Harlem, NY. Fluent in Swedish, French and German, Dixon became one of Europes best known conductors after leaving the US in 1949. He conducted the Goteborg (Sweden) Symphony for 10 years before being named conductor for the Hessian Radio Symphony in
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Jan
10
1915
Vanessa L. Williams born
Actress-singer and the first black Miss America Vanessa L. Williams is born in Millwood, New York.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Mar
18
1963
Adderley, Julian Edwin “Cannonball” (1928-1975)
Combining styles of earlier influences with his own unique twists secured Julian Cannonball Adderley’s place in history as an experienced alto saxophonist who was fearless in exploring fresh musical styles.  Born in Tampa, Florida on September 15, 1928, Adderley was welcomed into a musical family
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Source: Black Past
Sep
15
1928
Elbert Frank Cox
Elbert Frank Cox was born on this day in Evansville, Indiana. He became the first Black to hold a doctorates degree in mathematics which he received from Cornell University, Ithaca, New York in 1925.
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Dec
5
1895
Keyes, Alan L. (1950- )
A controversial and conservative Republican, Alan Lee Keyes has perhaps one of the most extensive resumes to date in public and political
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Slavery Abolishment
Vermont became the first American colony to abolish slavery. By 1783 slavery was prohibited in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Pennsylvania passed a gradual emancipation law in 1780. Connecticut and Rhode Island barred slavery in 1784 and were followed by New York (gradual emancipation) and New
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Source: Blackfacts.com
Sponsored by Center for Critical Race and Digital Studies
Jul
2
1777
Vanessa Williams
Vanessa Lynn Williams is a Grammy nominated singer, former beauty queen and television and film actress. She was born on March 18, 1963 in Bronx, New York but soon moved to a more fashionable neighborhood. Her parents, Milton and Helen Williams, both worked as music teachers and so Williams and her
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Source: Black History Resources
Mar
18
1963
Dixon, Charles Dean (1915-1976)
Charles Dean Dixon, conductor, was born January 10, 1915 in New York, New York to West Indian parents Henry Charles Dixon and McClara Rolston Dixon. Dixon’s parents exposed him to classical music at an early age and his mother taught him to play the violin, along with a number of other
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by BARBinc
Nov
4
1976
Williams, Vanessa (1963- )
Vanessa Lynn Williams was born in Tarrytown, New York on March 18, 1963. She is the daughter of Helen and the late Milton Williams who were music teachers. She has a younger brother, Christopher, who is also an actor.  Williams was the first African American woman to win the Miss America title on
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by Christo Rey New York High School
Delany, Martin Robison (1812-1885)
Martin Robison Delany was an African American abolitionist, the first African American Field Officer in the U.S Army, and one of the earliest African Americans to encourage a return to
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Source: Black Past
Sponsored by National Black MBA Association (NBMBAA) Boston Professional Chapter
Jan
12
1885
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