February 12, 1939 August Nathaniel Lushington, the first person of African descent to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in the United States, died. Lushington was born August 1, 1869 in Trinidad, British West Indies. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University in 1894 and his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the […]
About Chimsima Zuhri
February 12th in African American History – James Herbert “Eubie” Blake
February 12, 1983 James Herbert “Eubie” Blake, composer, lyricist and pianist, died. Blake was born February 7, 1887 in Baltimore, Maryland. He began taking music lessons at the age of 7 and at 15 was playing piano in a bordello. In 1912, he began playing in vaudeville and shortly after World War I joined forces […]
February 11th in African American History – Jonathon Jasper Wright
February 11, 1840 Jonathon Jasper Wright, lawyer and judge on the South Carolina Supreme Court, was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. After studying the law for three years and feeling himself qualified for the legal profession, Wright applied for admission to the Bar but was refused an examination because of his race. In 1865, he […]
February 11th in African American History – Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr.
February 11, 1920 Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr., the first African American to achieve the rank of General, was born in Pensacola, Florida. James earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tuskegee Institute in 1942. During World War II, he trained pilots but during the Korean War he flew 101 combat missions. In 1957, James graduated […]
February 10th in African American History – Lusia “Lucy” Harris
February 10, 1955 Lusia “Lucy” Harris, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Minter City, Mississippi. Harris attended Delta State University and led them to the AIAW National Championship three consecutive years between 1975 and 1977. She was also named All-American each of those years. When she graduated, she held 15 of 18 Delta […]
February 10th in African American History – Alexander Murray Palmer Haley
February 10, 1992 Alexander Murray Palmer Haley, author of “Roots: The Saga of an American Family,” died. Haley was born August 11, 1921 in Ithaca, New York. In 1939, he enlisted in the military and began a 20 year career with the Coast Guard where he rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer. After […]
February 9th in African American History – Beau Jack
February 9, 2000 Beau Jack, hall of fame boxer, died. Jack was born Sidney Walker on April 1, 1921 in Waynesboro, Georgia but raised in Augusta, Georgia. At the age of 15, he began to fight in battles royal, fights funded by rich white men for their entertainment in which six black men fought blindfolded […]