in 1870, the 15TH AMENDMENT, giving BLACKS THE RIGHT TO VOTE was ratified
in 1874, in Mississippi, BLANCHE KELSO BRUCE was elected to a full 6-year term in the US Senate becoming the FIRST BLACK SENATOR TO SERVE A FULL TERM.
BLANCHE KELSO BRUCE
in 1879, CHARLES W. FOLLIS was BORN in CLOVERDALE, VA. On September 16, 1904 when Mr. Follis, then Halfback from Wooster College, signed a contract with the Shelby Blues of the “Ohio League”, he became the FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN CONTRACTED TO PLAY FOOTBALL. “The Black Cyclone,” as he was called, was the FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PROFESSIONAL FOOTBALL PLAYER having reportedly played for “The Blues” from 1902 to 1906. Additionally, Mr. Follis was the FIRST BLACK CATCHER TO MOVE FROM COLLEGE BASEBALL ONTO A BLACK PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL TEAM.
CHARLES W. FOLLIS
in 1910, ROBERT EARL JONES, stage and film actor and father of James Earl Jones, was BORN in SENATOBIA, MISSISSIPPI. Before moving to New York City to pursue an his acting career, Mr. Jones was a sharecropper and boxer. Mr. Jones made his film debut in the 1939 film “Lying Lips” and appeared in over 20 other films, including “One Potato, Two Potato” (1964), “The Sting” (1973), and “Witness” (1985). Mr. Jones’ on stage performances included “The Hasty Heart” (1945), “Infidel Caesar” (1962), “The Gospel at Colonus” (1988), and the 1991 production of “Mule Bone.” The National Black Theater Festival honored Mr. Jones with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
in 1935, JOHNNY “GUITAR” WATSON, was born in HOUSTON, TX. Mr. Watson was a guitarist who masterfully blended blues, rock and funk on hits through the 1950s and 60s. The reinvention of guitar styles birthed hits such as “Superman Lover” and his biggest hit, “A Real Mother For Ya.”
in 1938, EMILE ALPHONSE GRIFFITH, hall of fame Boxer, was BORN in SAINT THOMAS, U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS. Mr. Griffith began boxing professionally in 1958 and in April, 1961 won the World Welterweight Championship, becoming the FIRST BOXING WORLD CHAMPION FROM THE VIRGIN ISLANDS. After losing the title in September, 1961, he regained it in March, 1962 in a fight which resulted in the death of his opponent, Benny Paret. That fight and the subsequent publicity and criticism became the basis for the 2005 documentary, “Ring of Fire: The Emile Griffith Story.” Mr. Griffith won the World Middleweight Championship in April, 1966 and held it until April, 1967. After an 18-year career, Mr. Griffith retired with a record of 85 wins, 24 losses and 2 draws. During his retirement, Mr. Griffith trained a number of other boxers including Wilfredo Benitez and Juan Laporte who won world championships. Ring Magazine named Mr. Griffith Fighter of the Year in 1964. In 1990, he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. A park in the Virgin Islands is named in Mr. Gfiffith’s honor.
in 1943, R&B Singer, DENNIS EDWARDS was BORN in BIRMINGHAM, AL. A lead singer with The Temptations, Mr. Edwards replaced David Ruffin on July 9, 1968. The distinct sound of Mr. Edwards can be heard on The Temptations’ hits “Cloud Nine” and “Papa Was a Rollin Stone.” In 1984, Mr. Edwards recorded his greatest solo hit, “Don’t Look Any Further.”
in 1947, PERCIVAL PRATTIS was the FIRST BLACK NEWS CORRESPONDENT ALLOWED IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE AND SENATE PRESS GALLERY. Mr. Prattis, a veteran of World War I, joined the Pittsburgh Courier in 1935. Years after his great accomplishment, he became editor in 1956 and retired in 1962. Mr. Prattis was a Civil Rights Leader who was noted for his ability to unify black newspeople in the fight against discrimination of African Americans in the press.
in 1956, AUTHERINE J. LUCY became the FIRST BLACK STUDENT TO ATTEND THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA. Three days later, Ms. Lucy was expelled from the school “for her own safety” in response to mob threats. In 1992, Ms. Autherine Lucy-Foster graduated from the University with a master’s degree in education. Grazia Foster, Autherine’s daughter, graduated with a bachelor’s degree in corporate finance on the same day.
AUTHERINE J. LUCY
in 1964, BLACKS AND PUERTO RICAN STUDENTS BOYCOTTED NYC PUBLIC SCHOOLS. School officials reported that 464,000 Black and Puerto Rican students boycotted New York City public schools. More than 267,000 were absent during second boycott, March 16.
in 1965, renowned Sculptor and Painter, GERALDINE MCCOLLOUGH received theGEORGE D. WIDENER GOLD MEDAL FOR SCULPTURE for her steel and copper structure, Phoenix.
GERALDINE MCCOLLOUGH
in 1967, PURPLE HAZE was recorded by JIMMY HENDRIX.
JIMMY HENDRIX
in 1977, EDWIN BANCROFT HENDERSON, the “grandfather of black basketball,” died. Henderson was born November 28, 1884 in Washington, D.C. In 1904, Mr. Henderson became the FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN CERTIFIED TO TEACH PHYSICAL EDUCATIONand from 1920 to 1954 was director of physical education in Washington’s segregated schools. Mr. Henderson’s introduction to basketball came in 1904 while attending a summer physical training class for gym teachers at Harvard University. When he returned to D.C., he introduced the game to black students. From that time, until the 1950s, Mr. Henderson played and coached basketball and taught the game to thousands of Washington area school children. Mr. Henderson was also a civil rights activist, serving as president of the Virginia Council of the NAACP from 1955 to 1958 and advocating for interracial athletic competition. Additionally, he was a prolific writer of letters to the editor, writing more than 3,000 letters concerning race relations. According to the Washington Post, no one wrote more letters to the editor than Henderson. Today, the Tinner Hill Heritage Foundation and the Post co-sponsor a “Dear Editor” contest for secondary school children in Northern Virginia in his honor. A historical marker designates his home in Falls Church, Virginia.
in 1980, LARRY HOLMES KNOCKED OUT LORENZO ZANON in 6 of 15 to retain his WBC Heavyweight Boxing Title. Mr. Holmes, then 33-0, would defend his title 15 more times before suffering his first professional loss. His 488-0 start was surpassed only by Rocky Marciano’s 49-0 record. Additionally, his twenty successful consecutive defenses of his title was second only to Joe Louis’ twenty-five. Larry Holmes is lauded by many Professional Boxing Analysts as one of the greatest heavyweight fighters of all time.
in 1980, MUHAMMED ALI cut his exhibition tour of India short after PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER asked him to undertake a five-nation African tour through Tanzania, Kenya, Nigeria, Liberia and Senegal as his SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE TO PRESENT AND GAIN SUPPORT FOR A BOYCOTT OF THE MOSCOW OLYMPIC GAMES. A convicted 1967 “Draft Dodger,” Mr. Ali would go on to become a notable figure in American and International diplomatic affairs. In 1990, Mr. Ali was inducted into the INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME and in 1996, he LIT THE OLYMPIC FLAME at the opening ceremonies of the Summer Games in Atlanta, Georgia. President George W. Bush presented Mr. Ali with thePRESIDENTIAL CITIZENS MEDAL on January 8, 2005 and the PRESIDENTIAL MEDAL OF FREEDOM at a White House ceremony on November 9, 2005. The two awards are, respectively, the second highest and the highest awards bestowed upon a citizen in the United States. On December 17, 2005 Mr. Ali received the OTTO HAHN PEACE MEDAL IN GOLD from the UN Association of Germany (DGVN) in Berlin for his work with the US Civil Rights Movement and the United Nations.
in 1981, the AIR FORCE ACADEMY DISCONTINUED ITS BAN on considering the applications of persons with the sickle-cell trait. Civilian and military medical consultants convinced Air Force officials that the ban was inappropriate. The group of consultants complained that ban which caused restrictions against blacks with sickle trait was a senseless stigma and an unscientific suggestion that their genes were somehow inferior. The old policy excluded about five black cadets from the Academy per year.
in 1988, in Montgomery, AL, THOMAS REED, president of the Alabama chapter of the NAACP, was arrested after he and 13 others attempted to scale an 8-foot fence around the State Capitol in an effort to take down a Confederate flag atop the building.
in 1989, William De Kova “BILL” WHITE, a former First Baseman with the Saint Louis Cardinals, was named President of the Major League Baseball National League, serving until 1994. White was the FIRST BLACK PERSON TO HOLD SUCH A HIGH EXECUTIVE POSITION IN ANY SPORT. Mr. White was an 8 time All-Star, the recipient of 7 consecutive Gold Gloves from 1960 to 1966 and an integral part of the 1964 St. Louis Cardinals World Championship Team. Mr. White was also one of only 235 players to “Hit for the Cycle.” One of the rarest and most difficult feats in baseball, to “Hit for the Cycle” means a batter hit a single, double, triple and homerun all in the same game. This feat has occurred only 293 times in 130 years and is akin to a pitcher achieving a “No-hitter.” Additionally, Mr. White is 297 on the list of the top 300 MLB Home Run Hitters of all time and one of only 109 players to hit a home run during their first time ever at bat.
in 1989, Tennis professional LORI MCNEIL DEFEATED CHRIS EVERT in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo repeating her performance where she ousted Evert in the 1987 U.S. Open.
LORI MCNEIL
in 1993, Cincinnati Reds owner MARGE SCHOTT was SUSPENDED FROM MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL for 1 year due to racist comments
DID YOU KNOW…
- BET was the first African-American controlled company to sell shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
- In 1787, when Slavery was made illegal in the Northwest Territory. The U.S Constitution stated that Congress could not ban the slave trade until 1808.
- Eli Whitney’s 1793 invention of the cotton gin greatly increased the demand for slave labor as it increased the opportunity for farmers.
On This Day In Black History 