May 7, 1955 George W. Lee, minister, entrepreneur and civil rights activist, was assassinated. Lee was born in 1904 in Edwards, Mississippi and in the early 1930’s accepted a call to preach in Belzoni, Mississippi. Over time, Lee led four churches, opened a grocery store, and set up a printing business. In 1953, he co-founded […]
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May 7th in African American History – Thelma Jackson Houston
May 7, 1946 Thelma Jackson Houston, singer, actress, and songwriter, was born in Leland, Mississippi. In 1969 Houston released her debut album, “Sunshower,” and in 1971 she signed with Motown Records. Houston’s first successful single was “You’ve Been Doing Wrong for So Long” (1974) which earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Female R&B Vocal […]
May 6th in African American History – William Howard “Willie” Mays
May 6, 1931 William Howard “Willie” Mays, hall of fame baseball player and “The Say Hey Kid,” was born in Westfield, Alabama. Mays began his professional baseball career in 1947 in the Negro Baseball Leagues. In 1950, Mays was signed by the New York Giants and he began his major league career in 1951. Mays […]
May 6th in African American History – Otis Blackwell
May 6, 2002 Otis Blackwell, singer, pianist, and songwriter, died. Blackwell was born February 16, 1932 in Brooklyn, New York and learned to play the piano as a child. In 1952, Blackwell won a talent contest at the Apollo Theater, but his real love was songwriting. In 1956, he had his first success, composing “Fever,” […]
May 5th in African American History – Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu
May 5, 2003 Walter Max Ulyate Sisulu, South African anti-apratheid activist, died. Sisulu was born May 18, 1912 in Engcobo, South Africa and moved to Johannesburg in 1928 to work at a number of manual jobs. He joined the African National Congress in 1940 and in 1943 became the treasurer of the ANC Youth League. […]
May 5th in African American History – Josiah Henson
May 5, 1883 Josiah Henson, author, abolitionist, and minister, died. Henson was born enslaved on June 15, 1789 in Charles County, Maryland. In 1830, after trying to buy his freedom and being cheated out of his money, Henson escaped with his wife and children to Canada. After arriving in Ontario, he founded The Dawn Settlement […]
May 4th in African American History – Ron Carter
May 4, 1937 Ron Carter, jazz double-bassist, cellist, and composer, was born in Ferndale, Michigan. Carter started to play the cello at the age of 10 and later moved to the bass. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the Eastman School of Music in 1959 and a master’s degree in double bass performance from the […]