July 18, 1992 Willa Beatrice Brown Chappell, pioneering aviator, died. Chappell was born January 22, 1906 in Glasgow, Kentucky. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana Teachers College in 1927. Chappell started to take flying lessons in 1934 and earned her pilot’s license in 1937, making her the first African American woman licensed […]
Archive | July, 2011
July 17th in African American History – Harold Robert Perry
July 17, 1991 Harold Robert Perry, the first African American to serve as a Catholic bishop in the 20th century, died. Perry was born October 9, 1916 in Lake Charles, Louisiana. At the age of 13, he entered the seminary of the Society of the Divine Word and in 1938 he took his vows as […]
July 17th in African American History – John William Coltrane
July 17, 1967 John William Coltrane, jazz saxophonist and composer, died. Coltrane was born September 23, 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. In 1945, he enlisted in the United States Navy and played in the Navy jazz band. After returning to civilian life, Coltrane began freelancing around Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. From October, 1955 to April, 1957, Coltrane […]
July 16th in African American History – Barry David Sanders
July 16, 1968 Barry David Sanders, hall of fame football player, was born in Wichita, Kansas. Sanders played college football at Oklahoma State University from 1986 to 1988. In 1988, in what many consider the greatest season in college football history, Sanders led the nation by averaging 7.6 yards per carry and over 200 yards […]
July 16th in African American History – John Henrik Clarke
July 16, 1998 John Henrik Clarke, Pan-Africanist writer, historian, and professor, died. Clarke was born January 1, 1915 in Union Springs, Alabama. In 1933, Clarke left the South and moved to Harlem where he joined study circles like the Harlem History Club and the Harlem Writers’ Workshop. He was a “self-educated intellectual.” Clarke was co-founder […]
July 15th in African American History – Johnny Lee Stallworth
July 15, 1952 Johnny Lee Stallworth, hall of fame football player, was born in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Stallworth played college football at Alabama A&M University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration in 1974. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1974 NFL Draft and over his 14 season professional […]
July 15th in African American History – Forest Steven Whitaker
July 15, 1961 Forest Steven Whitaker, actor, producer and director, was born in Longview, Texas. Whitaker’s family moved to Los Angeles in 1965 due to racism. While in high school, Whitaker took voice lessons, performed in musicals, and caught the “acting bug.” Whitaker was accepted into the Music Conservatory at the University of Southern California […]