Austrian Airlines kicks off the new year with the 'Jerusalema' dance challenge [video]

Anderson, Lauren (1965- )

When Lauren Anderson was promoted to principal dancer with the Houston Ballet in 1990, she became the first female African American principal dancer in the United States and, at the time, the world’s only African American prima ballerina heading a major ballet

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Source: Black Past

(1838) Angelina Grimké Weld, “Speech in Pennsylvania Hall”

In the speech below Angelina Grimke Weld, who was born to a prominent slaveholding family in Charleston, South Carolina, invites the women and men of Philadelphia to join her in the campaign against

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Source: Black Past

Mae Jemison: First African-American Woman Astronaut

NASA astronauts have a love of science and adventure, and are highly trained in their fields. Dr. Mae C. Jemison is no exception. Shes a chemical engineer, scientist, physician, teacher, astronaut, and actor. Over the course of her career, she has worked in engineering and medical research, and was

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Source: ThoughtCo

Biography of Controversial Rap Group Public Enemy

By tackling racism head on in songs such as “Burn Hollywood Burn,” “911 Is a Joke” and “By the Time I Get to Arizona,” rap outfit Public Enemy emerged during the late 1980s as one of the most politically charged music groups in history. This Public Enemy

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Source: ThoughtCo

Katherine Dunham, dancer/anthropologist born

Katherine Dunham

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jun

22

1912

Ella Fitzgerald Born

Ella Fitzgerald, First Lady of Song, born. In 1934, an awkward sixteen-year-old girl made her singing debut at the Harlem Apollo Theatre amateur night in New York City. She intended to dance, but she lost her nerve when she got on stage. The man said, do something while youre out there, the singer

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Apr

25

1918

Sierra Leone

Sierra Leone, on the Atlantic Ocean in West Africa, is half the size of Illinois. Guinea, in the north and east, and Liberia, in the south, are its neighbors. Mangrove swamps lie along the coast, with wooded hills and a plateau in the interior. The eastern region is

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Source: Fact Monster - Black History

Tupac Shakur

Tupac Shakur (also known by his stage name of 2Pac) was legendary rap and hip-hop musician. He was born in New York City in 1971 to Billy Garland and Afeni Shakur, both activists of a revolutionary black nationalist organization named “Black Panthers”. His name, Tupac Amaru

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Source: Black History Resources

Sep

7

1996

Ailey, Alvin (1931-1989)

Alvin Ailey was born in Rodgers, Texas during the Great Depression. He overcame racism, poverty, and homophobia to become one of the most celebrated choreographers in American history. His single teenage mother Lula Ailey washed clothes, picked cotton, and worked in domestic service in various

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Source: Black Past

Brownlee, Lawrence E., Jr. (1972- )

Larry Everston Brownlee, Jr., one of six children, wasborn on November 24, 1972 in Youngstown, Ohio. His father, a General Motors plant worker who was also choir director atPhillips Chapel Church of God in Christ, commanded his son to perform so oftenthat he later recalled, “I used to

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Source: Black Past

Nov

24

1972

Brown, Jill E. (1950- )

Jill Elaine Brown became the first African American woman to serve as a pilot for a major U.S airline when she was hired by Texas international Airlines at the age of 28. Her passion for flying began as a teenager, leading her into the U.S. Navy flight training program where she became its first

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Source: Black Past

King, B. B.

King, B. B., 1925–2015, African-American blues singer and guitarist, b. near Indianola, Miss., as Riley B. King. He grew up poor in the Mississippi Delta region, began playing the guitar at 12, was a street corner performer as a teenager, and as a young man worked as a singing, guitar-playing

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Source: Fact Monster - Black History

26 June 2014 breaking news - Fans adorn Michael Jackson's Hollywood star, five years on.

26 June 2014 breaking news - Fans adorn Michael Jacksons Hollywood star, five years on. - YouTube

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Source: Smithsonian Black History Teaching Resources

Mae Jemison

Mae Jemison is an American Physician and a former NASA Astronaut. Jemison is the first African American woman to travel in

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Source: Black History Resources

Oct

17

1956

Wanda L. Nesbitt (1956-- )

Wanda L. Nesbitt holds the rank of Career Minister in the U.S. Foreign Service. She joined the United States Foreign Service in 1981. She was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Madagascar by President George W. Bush and served in that capacity from 2001 to 2004. President Bush appointed her ambassador

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Source: Black Past

Dusenbury, Paul R. (1935-1998)

Paul Dusenbury was a multi-talented visual artist, musician, teacher, and proponent of the synthesis of many art expressions. His explorations, infectious inspiration, and originality were well appreciated throughout the Seattle, Washington area where he taught and worked. He expressed caring

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Source: Black Past

"Yes We Can": Barack Obama's Road to the White House, 2008

Barack Obamas campaign for the Presidency in 2008 has been described by many political analysts as brilliant and virtually flawless. Despite his inexperience in national politics and limited experience in state politics (Obama was first elected to political office in 1994), he assembled

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Source: Black Past

10 Chicago Rappers You Should Know

It has been exceptionally exciting for Chicago’s rap scene. Artists have been hustling to grasp the nation’s ear and, finally, the spotlight has come back to shine brilliantly on the city. Chicago has a plethora of styles to offer and this buffet of new hip-hop has something for everyone to

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Source: ThoughtCo

Belmopan, Belize (1970- )

Belmopan, capital of the Central American country of Belize, is a relatively new city, having assumed premier city status in 1970, succeeding the centuries old former capital, Belize City. Belize was formerly the British Colony bearing the name, British

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Source: Black Past

Count Basie

William James Basie was one of the most notable jazz musicians of the 20th century. He was born on August 21, 1904 to Harvey Lee and Lillian Basie in Red Bank, New Jersey. Both his parents were musicians, which influenced Basie from an early age. His father played the mellophone, and his mother

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Source: Black History Resources

Aug

21

1904

Bambaataa, Afrika (1957- )

One of hip-hop cultures most influential pioneers, Afrika Bambaataa was the first to articulate an ideology for the emerging youth culture, using the music to illustrate hip-hops expansive potential as a global movement. As a DJ and recording artist, Bambaataa embraced every musical genre to

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Source: Black Past

Chamillionaire

Chamillionaire is an African American rapper from Houston, Texas. His birth name is Hakeem Seriki and he was born to a Muslim father and a Christian mother. He was raised in a strict, conventional household and was the eldest of four siblings. His parents taught him good values and he worked

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Source: Black History Resources

Arroyo, Martina (1936- )

Born to a Puerto Rican father and African American mother, Martina Arroyo was a world-renowned operatic soprano from the 1960s through 1989, the year of her professional retirement. She and her contemporaries were the first generation of African American opera soloists to attain international

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Source: Black Past

Obama Immigration Reform 2014 Speech: Announcing Executive Action [FULL]

Immigration Reform 2014 News: In an address from the White House, President Obama chose confrontation over conciliation as he asserted the powers of the Oval Office to reshape the nation’s immigration

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Source: Smithsonian Black History Teaching Resources

Introduction to Jazz Music: A Brief History

Born in America, jazz can be seen as a reflection of the cultural diversity and individualism of this country. At its core are an openness to all influences, and personal expression through improvisation. Throughout its history, jazz has straddled the worlds of popular music and art music, and it

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Source: ThoughtCo

Bell Smith, Leopoldine Emma Doualla (1939– )

Leopoldine Emma Doualla-Bell Smith is the world’s first black flight attendant. Smith was born in Cameroon which, at the time, France controlled. Smith was a princess of the royal Douala family of Cameroon. She was offered a rare after-school employment opportunity in her hometown of Douala, then

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Source: Black Past

Feb

11

1958

(1947) Henry A. Wallace, “Ten Extra Years”

Henry A. Wallace, the Vice President of the United States from 1941 to 1945 and the future candidate for the Presidency on the Progressive Party ticket in 1948, chose the National Convention of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma in December 1947 to outline his views on racial

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Source: Black Past

Long, Andrea ( ? -- )

Thirteen years principal dancer at Dance Theatre of Harlem, Andrea Long began her career dancing with the New York City Ballet and remained there for over eight years. Internationally renowned, she continues to inspire in an arduous profession. She dances as guest artist with many regional ballet

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Source: Black Past

Mitchell, Arthur (1934- )

Arthur Mitchell, co-founder and Artistic Director Emeritus of Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH), America’s first African American ballet company, was born in New York City, New York on March 27, 1934. Under Mitchell’s direction, Dance Theatre of Harlem rose to become one of the premier ballet companies

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Source: Black Past

Mar

27

1934

Brown, Ruth (1928-2006)

Known as the Queen of R&B, Ruth Brown was a rhythm and blues singer and actress who crusaded for musicians’ rights. Brown was born Portsmouth, Virginia, on January 12, 1928. After a string of unfortunate events, Brown ended up in Washington, D.C. There, important people backed her such as

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Source: Black Past

Nov

17

2006

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Austrian Airlines kicks off the new year with the 'Jerusalema' dance challenge [video]

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