September 3, 1985 Jonathan David Samuel “Jo” Jones, influential jazz drummer, died. Jones was born October 7, 1911 in Chicago, Illinois but raised in Birmingham, Alabama. He worked as a drummer and tap dancer at carnival shows until joining Walter Page’s band in the late 1920s. In 1933, Jones joined Count Basie’s band and he […]
About Chimsima Zuhri
September 2nd in African American History – Joseph W. Hatchett
September 2, 1975 Joseph W. Hatchett was appointed to the Florida Supreme Court, making him the first African American Supreme Court justice in the South in the 20th century. Hatchett was born September 17, 1932 in Clearwater, Florida. Because the law schools in Florida were segregated, Hatchett attended Howard University Law School and graduated in […]
September 2nd in African American History – Lennox Claudius Lewis
September 2, 1965 Lennox Claudius Lewis, hall of fame boxer, was born in London, England but raised in Ontario, Canada. Lewis was a dominant amateur boxer and in 1983 won the World Amateur Junior championship. In 1988, he won the super heavyweight boxing Gold medal at the Seoul Olympic Games. After the Olympics, Lewis turned […]
September 1st in African American History – Al Green
September 1, 1947 Al Green, Congressman from Texas, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Green earned his bachelor’s degree from Tuskegee University and his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Texas Southern University in 1974. After college, Green co-founded a private law firm and also served as president of the NAACP Houston chapter.
September 1st in African American History – Vincent “Vinnie” Johnson
September 1, 1956 Vincent Johnson, retired professional basketball player, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Johnson played college basketball at Baylor University and was a two-time All-American. He holds the Baylor record for most points scored in a game. Johnson was selected by the Seattle SuperSonics in the 1979 NBA Draft and traded to the […]
August 31st in African American History – Christopher “Chris” Tucker
August 31, 1972 Christopher “Chris” Tucker, comedian and actor, was born in Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating from high school, Tucker moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy and movies. He made his film debut in “House Party 3” (1994) and his first major role was in the 1995 film “Friday.”
August 31st in African American History – Lionel Leo Hampton
August 31, 2002 Lionel Leo Hampton, jazz vibraphonist and band leader, died. Hampton was born April 20, 1908 in Louisville, Kentucky. While still a teenager, he played the xylophone and drums. In 1936, he joined the Benny Goodman Quartet, making it one of the first racially integrated jazz groups to record and play before wide […]