March 5, 1953 Mosima Gabriel “Tokyo” Sexwale, anti-apartheid activist, former political prisoner and businessman, was born in Transvaal, South Africa. Sexwale became a member of the Black Consciousness Movement in the late 1960s and in the early 1970s joined the African National Congress’ armed wing. In 1975, he went into exile to undergo military training. […]
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Andrew Jackson Smith – March 4th in African American History
March 4, 1932 Andrew Jackson Smith, Medal of Honor recipient, died. Smith was born enslaved on September 3, 1843 in Kentucky. With the outbreak of the Civil War, Smith’s owner joined the Confederate military with the intention of taking Smith with him. When Smith learned of his intentions, he escaped and joined the Union Army. […]
Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company – March 3rd in African American History
March 3, 1865 President Lincoln signed legislation to incorporate the Freedman’s Savings and Trust Company, commonly known as the Freedman’s Bank. The bank was set up to receive deposits only “by or on behalf of persons heretofore held in slavery in the United States, or their descendants.” The bank was setup to help with the […]
Robert Pinn – March 1st in African American History
March 1, 1843 Robert A. Pinn, Medal of Honor recipient, was born in Stark County, Ohio. Pinn joined the Union Army during the Civil War and by September 29, 1864 was serving as a first sergeant in Company I of the 5th U. S. Colored Infantry Regiment. On that day, his unit participated in the […]
Juanita Hall – February 28th in African American History
February 28, 1968 Juanita Hall, musical theater and film actress, died. Hall was born November 6, 1901 in Keyport, New Jersey and after receiving classical training at Julliard School became a leading Broadway performer. Hall began singing and playing small roles in theatre in the northeast. In 1935, she appeared on Broadway in Sailor Beware. Over the next […]
Charlayne Hunter-Gault – February 27th in African American History
February 27, 1942 Charlayne Hunter-Gault, journalist and foreign correspondent, was born in Due West, South Carolina. Hunter-Gault attended Wayne State University from 1959 to 1961, the year that she and Hamilton Holmes became the first African Americans to attend the University of Georgia. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in journalism from the university […]
James Edward O’Hara – February 26th in African American History
February 26, 1844 James Edward O’Hara, lawyer and congressman, was born in New York City. O’Hara studied law in North Carolina and at Howard University and served as a clerk for the 1868 North Carolina state convention that drafted a new state constitution. In 1871, he completed his law apprenticeship and passed the North Carolina […]