March 23, 1931 Archibald Carey, Sr., political activist, writer and religious leader, died. Carey was born August 25, 1868 in Atlanta, Georgia. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Atlanta University in 1888 and became a licensed preacher.
Archive | March, 2014
Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus – March 19th in African American History
March 19, 1895 Clatonia Joaquin Dorticus of Newton, New Jersey received patent number 535,820 for a device for applying coloring liquids to sides of soles or heels of shoes.
Wilson Pickett – March 18th in African American History
March 18, 1941 Wilson Pickett, R&B singer and songwriter, was born in Prattville, Alabama. In 1955, Pickett moved to Detroit, Michigan where he joined a gospel group and developed his forceful, passionate style of singing.
Blanche Kelso Bruce – March 17th in African American History
March 17, 1898 Blanche Kelso Bruce, the first elected African American United States senator to serve a full term, died. Bruce was born enslaved on March 1, 1841 in Prince Edward County, Virginia. Because his father was white, he was able to legally free Bruce and arrange for a trade apprenticeship.
James H. Bronson – March 16th in African American History
March 16, 1884 James H. Bronson, Medal of Honor recipient, died. Bronson was born enslaved in 1838 in Indiana County, Pennsylvania.
Sam John “Lightnin” Hopkins – March 15th in African American History
March 15, 1912 Sam John “Lightnin” Hopkins, country blues guitarist, singer, and songwriter, was born in Centreville, Texas. Hopkins developed a deep appreciation of the blues at the age of eight, but did not make his first recording until 1946.
Quincy Delight Jones, Jr. – March 14th in African American History
March 14, 1933 Quincy Delight Jones, Jr., trumpeter, music conductor and arranger, record producer, and film composer, was born in Chicago, Illinois. In 1951, Jones won a scholarship to the Berklee College of Music, but abandoned his studies when he received an offer to play in the band of Lionel Hampton.