Déjà Vu: Beyoncé & JAY-Z Flick It Up In Front of An Elevator 8 Years After Infamous Solange Incident

Muddy Waters

Muddy Waters was a twentieth century African American blues musician. He is deemed the “father of modern Chicago blues” and influenced the 1960s generation of England which resulted in the appearance of British

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Source: Black History Resources

Apr

4

1913

Bassey, Shirley (1937– )

One of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the twentieth century, Dame Shirley Veronica Bassey is a Welsh singer best known for recording the theme song to three James Bond movies: Goldfinger, Diamonds Are Forever, and Moonraker. Born the youngest child to Nigerian

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Source: Black Past

Jan

8

1937

Towns, Edolphus (1934- )

Currently in his 13th term in Congress, Edolphus Towns is a Democratic Representative from the State of New York. Towns was born in Chadbourn, North Carolina on July 21, 1934, and attended the public schools of Chadbourn before graduating with a B.S. degree from North Carolina Agricultural and

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Source: Black Past

Jul

21

1934

Niger Delta Conflict, 1990s--

The Niger Delta Conflict began in the 1990s in regards to the ongoing conflict between the militia groups of Nigeria, the Nigerian government, and the foreign oil corporations set up in the Niger Delta. The Niger Delta is a major producer of petroleum for nations such as the United States and

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Source: Black Past

Janet Jackson Born

Janet Jackson, of the famous Jackson family was born on this day in Gary, Indiana. Ms. Jackson will star in television shows such as Good Times, Different Strokes, and Fame. She will also become a celebrated songstress recording such albums as Rhythm Nation:1814, Janet, and the widely criticized

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Source: Blackfacts.com

May

16

1966

Krystian Legierski (1978– )

Krystian Legierski, an LGBT activist, politician, lawyer, and entrepreneur, is the first openly gay person elected to public office in Poland. He was born on April 22, 1978, in the village of Koniakow in southwestern Poland. His mother is Polish and his father is from Mauritania. Legierski, known

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Source: Black Past

Apr

22

1978

Tunisia

Tunisias first free elections since independence in 1956 were held on October 23, 2011. Voter turnout was estimated at 90%, and the election was deemed fair. Voters selected an assembly that will write a draft constitution and establish the procedure for upcoming parliamentary and presidential

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Source: Fact Monster - Black History

Oct

23

2011

(1964) Malcolm X’s Speech at the Founding Rally of the Organization of Afro-American Unity

Malcolm X’s life changed dramatically in the first six months of 1964. On March 8, he left the Nation of Islam. In May he toured West Africa and made a pilgrimage to Mecca, returning as El Hajj Malik El-Shabazz. While in Ghana in May, he decided to form the Organization of Afro-American Unity

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Source: Black Past

Thelonious Monk

Thelonious Sphere Monk was an American jazz musician who is widely credited as being one of the creators of modern day jazz. He was born on October 10, 1917, in Rocky Mount, North Carolina to Thelonious and Barbara Monk. He had an older sister named Marion and a younger brother named Thomas. When

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Source: Black History Resources

Oct

10

1917

Aretha Franklin

Aretha Franklin is one of the most successful female recording artists of all time. She was born on March 25, 1942, in Memphis, Tennessee to C. L. and Barbara Franklin. C.L. was a famous Baptist preacher who later founded his own church and Barbara was an accomplished pianist and singer. Aretha was

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Source: Black History Resources

Mar

25

1942

Hampton, Lionel

Hampton, Lionel, 1908?–2002, African-American vibraphonist and bandleader, b. Louisville, Ky. When his family moved to Chicago c.1916, the young Hampton began playing drums in a newsboys band. He moved to Los Angeles as a teenager and became a drummer in saxophonist Les Hites band. Encouraged by

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Source: Fact Monster - Black History

An American Family's Multigenerational Rise from Slavery to Harvard University

In the account below, attorney and historian James H. Johnston describessix generations of descendants of Yarrow Mamout, a Muslim slave made famous by Charles Willson Peales 1819 painting of him in Georgetown in the District of Columbia. Johnstons discussion of the evolution of hisbook, From Slave

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Source: Black Past

Journalist Robert Maynard born

Journalist Robert Clyve Maynard, owner, editor and publisher of The Oakland Tribune, was born in the borough of Brooklyn, NY.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Jun

17

1937

Miguel talks Kaleidoscope Dream, committed relationship, and Michael Jackson

Miguel - Adorn Live on Big Boys Neighborhood - Duration: 3:29. radiobigboy 134,082 views

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Source: Smithsonian Black History Teaching Resources

Tupac in Sarajevo: The Rise of Rebellion Rap in Eastern Europe

Vildana Muratovic, a native of Bosnia-Herzegovina and now a citizen of the United States, describes the impact of hip-hop music on the people of the Balkans following her 1997 return to Sarajevo. Her paper was written in

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Source: Black Past

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

Swahili language

Swahili language, member of the Bantu group of African languages (see African languages and Bantu languages ). Swahili is spoken by 30 million people, chiefly in Tanzania, Kenya, Congo (Kinshasa), Burundi, and Uganda, and serves as a lingua franca for additional millions in E Africa, including

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Source: Fact Monster - Black History

Branford Marsalis

Best Known

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Source: Fact Monster - Black History

Bessie Smith's First Recording

On this day Bessie Smith makes her first recording, Down Hearted Blues, which sells 800,000 copies for Columbia Records.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Feb

16

1923

Billie Holiday

Billie Holiday was a legendary American jazz singer, songwriter and actress. She was born as Eleanora Fagan on April 7, 1915 to Sarah Julia Fagan and Clarence Holiday. Her parents were neither married, nor living together and Clarence left the family when Billie was just a child. Her mother moved

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Source: Black History Resources

Jul

17

1959

Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington was an eminent twentieth century African American composer and pianist. He was also a bandleader of jazz orchestras which he led from 1932 till his demise. He served the American music industry for over 50

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Source: Black History Resources

Apr

29

1899

Jordan, June (1936-2002)

June Meyer Jordan, writer, editor, poet, educator, environmental and social activist, was the only child of Granville Ivanhoe and Mildred Maude Fischer Jordan who were Jamaican immigrants. June was born in Harlem on July 9, 1936. June’s father worked as a night shift postal clerk and her mother

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Source: Black Past

Jul

9

1936

Hendrix, Jimi (1942-1970)

Legendary self-taught, left-handed guitarist Jimi Hendrix was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, the son of Lucille Jeter Hendrix and Al Hendrix. Jimi grew up in poverty but he loved science fiction, art, nearby Lake Washington and music, especially the R&B masters, Chuck Berry and Ray

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Source: Black Past

Sep

18

1970

Birthday

Eddie Murphy, 38, comedian Born Brooklyn, NY, April 3, 1961.

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Apr

3

1961

(2004) Al Sharpton, “Speech Before the 2004 Democratic National Convention"

In 2004 Rev. Al Sharpton of New York City, campaigned for the Democratic nomination for President. Sharpton saw himself as the successor to Rev. Jesse Jackson who campaigned for the Presidency on behalf of the impoverished and oppressed. Although he did not garner as much support as Jackson did

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Source: Black Past

Foxy Brown

Foxy Brown is an African American rap musician, model and actress. Her birth name is Inga DeCarlo Fung Marchand. She was born on September 6, 1978 in Brooklyn, New York. As a teenager, she won a talent contest, where she was discovered by the rapper LL Cool J’s production team. They were so

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Source: Black History Resources

Sep

6

1978

Elevator and Safety Devices Invented

The elevator as well as safety devices for elevators where invented by Alexander Miles, Patent # 371,207

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Source: Blackfacts.com

Oct

11

1887

The Church of St. Mark, Brooklyn, New York (1838- )

The Church of St. Mark in Brooklyn, New York was originally established by a group of black Episcopalians in 1838. The next year, Dr. Samuel M. Haskins was asked to be rector (pastor), the role he would maintain for 60 years. By April 1841 the congregation completed a Gothic style edifice in

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Source: Black Past

Marvin Gaye

Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. was a legendary singer and recording artist who came to be known as the “Prince of Soul”. Gaye was born on April 2, 1939 in Washington, D.C. He was raised by his father “Reverend Marvin Gay Sr.” who was a very strict guardian. Gaye was musically

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Source: Black History Resources

Apr

2

1939

Maynard, Robert C. (1937-1993)

Robert C. Maynard, the first African American editor and owner of a major daily newspaper in the United States, was known as a trailblazing journalist who led efforts to desegregate newsrooms and educate minority students to pursue careers in

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Source: Black Past

Aug

19

1993

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