February 19, 1996 Dorothy Maynor, concert soprano and founder of the Harlem School of Arts, died. Maynor was born September 3, 1910 in Norfolk, Virginia. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Hampton Institute in 1933 and another Bachelor of Arts degree from the Westminster Choir School in 1935. Maynor made her debut at […]
About Chimsima Zuhri
February 19th in African American History – Virginia Hamilton
February 19, 2002 Virginia Hamilton, children’s book author, died. Hamilton was born March 12, 1936 in Yellow Springs, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio State University in 1958 and published her first book, “Zeely,” in 1967. Over her career, she wrote 35 books, including “M. C. Higgins, the Great” which won […]
February 18th in African American History – Dedan Kimathi Waciuri
February 18, 1957 Dedan Kimathi Waciuri, Kenyan freedom fighter, was executed. Kimathi was born October 31, 1920 in the Nyeri District of Kenya. In 1941, he enlisted in the army to fight on the side of the British during World War II however he was expelled in 1944 for misconduct. In 1946, he became a […]
February 18th in African American History – Frank M. Snowden, Jr.
February 18, 2007 Frank M. Snowden, Jr., one of the foremost authorities on blacks in ancient history, died. Snowden was born July 17, 1911 in York County, Virginia. He earned his undergraduate, master’s, and doctorial degrees from Harvard University in 1932, 1933 and 1944, respectively. Snowden taught classics at Georgetown University, Vassar College, Mary Washington […]
February 17th in African American History – Michael Jeffrey “Air” Jordan
February 17, 1963 Michael Jeffrey “Air” Jordan, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Brooklyn, New York. In 1981, Jordan earned a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina who he led to a National Championship in 1982 and where he won the Naismith and Wooden College Player of the Year Awards in […]
February 17th in African American History – Thelonious Monk
February 17, 1982 Thelonious Monk, jazz pianist and composer, died. Monk was born October 10, 1917 in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina and began playing the piano at the age of six. In the early to mid-1940s, he served as the house pianist at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem, New York which featured most of the leading […]
February 16th in African American History – Levardis Robert Martyn “LeVar” Burton
February 16, 1957 Levardis Robert Martyn “LeVar” Burton, actor, director and author, was born in Landstuhl, West Germany. Burton graduated from the University of Southern California School of Theater. While still in school, he came to prominence portraying Kunta Kinte in the 1977 television miniseries “Roots.” In 1986, Burton originated the role of La Forge […]