October 27, 2009 Roy Rudolph DeCarava, photographer, died. DeCarava was born December 9, 1919 in Harlem, New York. He determined early that he wanted to be an artist and initially worked as a painter and commercial illustrator. Eventually he was drawn to photography and in 1955 opened A Photographer’s Gallery, pioneering an effort to win […]
October 26th in African American History – Louise Beavers
October 26, 1962 Louise Beavers, stage, film, and television actress, died. Beavers was born March 8, 1902 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Her initial acting experience was gained on the stage where she sang in many musical comedies.
October 26th in African American History – Hattie McDaniel
October 26, 1952 Hattie McDaniel, the first Black performer to win an Academy Award, died. McDaniel was born June 10, 1895 in Wichita, Kansas. She was a professional singer/songwriter, comedienne, stage and movie actress, and radio performer. Over the course of her career she appeared in more than 300 films, often portraying a maid. In […]
October 25th in African American History – Emmett W Chappelle
October 25, 1925 Emmett W. Chappelle, scientist and researcher, was born in Phoenix, Arizona. Chappelle earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from the University of California in 1950 and a master’s degree from the University of Washington in 1954. From 1950 to 1953, he served as a biochemistry instructor at Meharry Medical College […]
October 25th in African American History – Abebe Bikila
October 25, 1973 Abebe Bikila, two-time Olympic marathon champion, died. Bikila was born August 7, 1932 in the village of Jato, Ethiopia. At the 1960 Rome Olympic Games, Bikila won the marathon in world record time, becoming the first Black African to win an Olympic Gold Medal.
October 24th in African American History – Jack Roosevelt Jackie Robinson
October 24, 1972 Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Robinson, the first African American Major League Baseball player of the modern era, died. Robinson was born January 31, 1919 in Cairo, Georgia. After graduating from Pasadena Junior College in 1939, Robinson transferred to UCLA where he became the school’s first athlete to win varsity letters in four sports, […]
October 24th in African American History – Rosa Louise McCauley Parks
October 24, 2005 Rosa Louise McCauley Parks, the Mother of the Modern Day Civil Rights Movement, died. Parks was born February 4, 1913 in Tuskegee, Alabama. On December 1, 1955 in Montgomery, Alabama, she refused to obey a bus drivers order to give up her seat to a White passenger and was arrested. Her arrest […]