February 19, 1940 William “Smokey” Robinson, Jr., singer, songwriter, and record producer, was born in Detroit, Michigan. In 1955, Robinson co-founded a vocal group called The Five Chimes which was later renamed the Miracles. In 1959, they were one of the first groups to sign with the newly formed Motown Records.
Archive | February, 2012
February 19th in African American History – Ollie Genoa Matson II
February 19, 2011 Ollie Genoa Matson II, hall of fame football player, died. Matson was born May 1, 1930 in Trinity, Texas. He played college football at the University of San Francisco and in 1951 led the nation in rushing yardage and touchdowns and was named an All-American.
February 18th in African American History – Chloe Ardelia Wofford (Toni Morrison)
February 18, 1931 Chloe Ardelia Wofford (Toni Morrison), author, editor, and professor, was born in Lorain, Ohio. Morrison earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Howard University in 1953 and her Master of Arts degree in English from Cornell University in 1955.
February 18th in African American History – Audre Geraldine Lorde
February 18, 1934 Audre Geraldine Lorde, writer, poet, and activist, was born in New York City. Legally blind, Lorde wrote her first poem when she was in the eighth grade. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in library science from Hunter College in 1959 and her Master of Library Science degree from Columbia University […]
February 17th in African American History – Mary Frances Berry
February 17, 1938 Mary Frances Berry, the first black woman to head a major research university, was born in Nashville, Tennessee. Berry earned her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees from Howard University in 1961 and 1962, respectively and her Ph.D. and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Michigan in 1966 and […]
February 17th in African American History – Huey Percy Newton
February 17, 1942 Huey Percy Newton, co-founder and leader of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense, was born in Monroe, Louisiana, but raised in Oakland, California. In October, 1966, while at Oakland City College, he and Bobby Seale organized the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense with Seale as chairman and Newton as minister of defense.
February 16th in African American History – Otis Blackwell
February 16, 1932 Otis Blackwell, singer, pianist, and songwriter, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Blackwell learned to play the piano as a child. In 1952, he won a talent contest at the Apollo Theater, but his real love was songwriting.