February 16, 1932 Otis Blackwell, singer, pianist, and songwriter, was born in Brooklyn, New York. Blackwell learned to play the piano as a child. In 1952, he won a talent contest at the Apollo Theater, but his real love was songwriting.
February 16th in African American History – William Maud Bryant
February 16, 1933 William Maud Bryant, Medal of Honor recipient, was born in Cochran, Georgia. By March 24, 1969, Bryant was serving as a sergeant first class in Company A of the 5th Special Forces Group, 1st Special Forces. On that day, during a battle in Long Khanh province, Republic of Vietnam, his actions earned […]
February 15th in African American History – Leland Devon Melvin
February 15, 1964 Leland Devon Melvin, engineer and NASA astronaut, was born in Lynchburg, Virginia. Melvin attended the University of Richmond on a football scholarship and earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemistry in 1985.
February 15th in African American History – Nat King Cole
February 15, 1965 Nat King Cole, jazz pianist and singer, died. Cole was born Nathaniel Adam Coles on March 17, 1919 in Montgomery, Alabama. He began performing in the 1930s with the King Cole Trio and in 1943 they signed with Capitol Records.
February 14th in African American History – Frederick Douglass
February 14, 1818 Frederick Douglass, abolitionist, women’s suffragist, editor, author, and statesman, was born enslaved in Tuckahoe, Maryland. Douglass taught himself to read and write and in 1838 escaped from slavery. He delivered his first abolitionist speech at the Massachusetts Anti-Slavery Society’s annual convention in 1841.
February 14th in African American History – Gregory Oliver Hines
February 14, 1946 Gregory Oliver Hines, dancer, choreographer and actor, was born in New York City. Hines started dancing at an early age and together with his brother and father eventually became known as Hines, Hines and Dad.
February 14th in African American History – Monetta J. Sleet, Jr.
February 14, 1926 Monetta J. Sleet, Jr., photographer and the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for journalism, was born in Owensboro, Kentucky. Sleet served in the United States Army from 1944 to 1946. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree cum laude from Kentucky State University in 1947 and his Master of […]