August 29, 1958 Michael Joseph Jackson, the “King of Pop,” was born in Gary, Indiana. Jackson made his professional debut in 1964 as a member of the Jackson 5. In 1968, they signed with Motown Records and their first four singles, “I Want You Back” (1969), “ABC” (1970), “The Love You Save” (1970), and “I’ll […]
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August 28th in African American History – March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
August 28, 1963 More than 250,000 people participated in the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom in Washington, D.C. by marching from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial. The march was organized by A. Phillip Randolph, president of the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, James Farmer, president of the Congress of Racial Equality, […]
August 28th in African American History – William Patrick Foster
August 28, 2010 William Patrick Foster, creator of the Florida A&M University “Marching 100,” died. Foster was born August 25, 1919 in Kansas City, Kansas. He earned his Bachelor of Music Education degree from the University of Kansas in 1941, his Master of Arts degree in music from Wayne State University in 1950, and his […]
August 27th in African American History – Norman W. Lewis
August 27, 1979 Norman W. Lewis, painter, scholar, and educator, died. Lewis was born July 23, 1909 in Harlem, New York. Always interested in art, he had amassed a large art history library by the time he was a young man. His early paintings were mostly figurative, including “Meeting Place” (1930), “The Yellow Hat” (1936), […]
August 27th in African American History – Francis Gregory Morris
August 27, 1996 Francis Gregory Morris, television and movie actor, died. Morris was born September 27, 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio. He began his acting career in the early 1960s with guest appearances on television shows such as “The Twilight Zone” and “Ben Casey.” In September, 1966, he was cast in his most memorable role as […]
August 26th in African American History – King Solomon White
August 26, 1955 King Solomon White, Negro League baseball player, manager, executive, and author, died. White was born June 12, 1868 in Bellaire, Ohio. He joined the Pittsburgh Keystones of the National Colored Baseball League in 1887, starting a playing career that lasted until 1912.
August 26th in African American History – Branford Marsalis
August 26, 1960 Branford Marsalis, saxophonist, composer, bandleader, and educator, was born in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. In 1980, while still a Berklee College of Music student, Marsalis toured Europe playing saxophone in a large ensemble led by drummer Art Blakey. In 1981, he joined his brother Wynton in Blakey’s Jazz Messengers. His primary focus since […]