April 16, 1994 Ralph Waldo Ellison, novelist, literary critic and scholar, died. Ellison was born March 1, 1914 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. In 1933, Ellison entered Tuskegee Institute on a music scholarship but after his third year he moved to New York City where he met Richard Wright who encouraged him to pursue a career […]
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April 15th in African American History – Harold Lee Washington
April 15, 1922 Harold Lee Washington, the first and only African American Mayor of Chicago, was born in Chicago, Illinois and grew up in Bronzeville, the epicenter of black culture in Chicago. After service in the United States Army Air Force from 1942 to 1945, Washington earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Roosevelt College […]
April 15th in African American History – Benjamin Lawson Hooks
April 15, 2010 Benjamin Lawson Hooks, attorney, minister and civil rights leader, died. Hooks was born January 31, 1925 in Memphis, Tennessee. After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University in 1944, he joined the army where he found that the prisoners he was responsible for guarding could eat in restaurants from which […]
April 14th in African American History – Cynthia Lynne Cooper
April 14, 1963 Cynthia Lynne Cooper, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Cooper played collegiate basketball at the University of Southern California and led them to back to back NCAA tournament championships in 1983 and 1984. After leaving college, she played professional basketball in Spain and Italy from 1986 to 1996. […]
April 14th in African American History – William Henry Hastie
April 14, 1976 William Henry Hastie, lawyer, judge, educator and civil rights advocate, died. Hastie was born November 17, 1904 in Knoxville, Tennessee. Hastie earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Amherst College in 1925, graduating first in his class and magna cum laude. He then earned his law degree and a doctorate in Judicial […]
April 13th in African American History – Albert Greene
April 13, 1946 Albert Greene (Al Green), gospel and soul singer, was born in Forrest City, Arkansas. Green started performing at the age of 10 and in 1967 recorded his debut album, “Back Up Train.” His breakthrough occurred in 1970 with the release of the album “Al Green Gets Next to You” which contained such […]
April 13th in African American History – Johnnie Clyde Johnson
April 13, 2005 Johnnie Clyde Johnson, blues piano player, died. Johnson was born July 8, 1924 in Fairmont, West Virginia and began playing the piano at the age of four. He joined the United States Marine Corp during World War II and played in the all serviceman jazz orchestra. Johnson moved to St. Louis in […]