August 11, 1965 Viola Davis, stage and film actress, was born in St. Matthews, South Carolina. Davis graduated from Rhode Island College with a major in theatre in 1988. She also attended the Juilliard School for the Performing Arts from 1990 to 1994. Davis won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress […]
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August 11th in African American History – Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic
August 11, 1929 The first Bud Billiken Parade and Picnic was held in Chicago, Illinois “as a celebration of the unity in diversity for the children of Chicago.” The parade and picnic is held annually on the second Saturday in August and has grown into the oldest and largest African American parade in the United […]
August 10th in African American History – Clarence Cameron White
August 10, 1880 Clarence Cameron White, violinist, teacher, and composer, was born in Clarkville, Tennessee. White started studying violin at the age of eight and in 1896 entered the Oberlin Conservatory of Music where he was the only Black student in the orchestra. Before graduating, he left Oberlin to accept a teaching position. From 1924 […]
August 10th in African American History – Henry Cabot Lodge Bohler
August 10, 2007 Henry Cabot Lodge Bohler, former Tuskegee Airman, died. Bohler was born in Augusta, Georgia in 1925. He enlisted in the Army Air Force at the age of 17 and trained at the Tuskegee Army Air Field, earning his wings in 1944. Bohler remained with the air force until 1947, rising to the […]
August 9th in African American History – Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr.
August 9, 2008 Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr., musician, songwriter, singer and actor, died. Hayes was born August 20, 1942 in Covington, Tennessee. He began his career in the early 1960s as a session player, songwriter, and producer at Stax Records. Along with his partner David Porter, Hayes wrote a string of hits for the artists […]
August 9th in African American History – Bernard Jeffrey “Bernie Mac” McCullough
August 9, 2008 Bernard Jeffrey “Bernie Mac” McCullough, comedian and actor, died. Bernie Mac was born October 5, 1957 in Chicago, Illinois. He started out as a stand-up comedian around Chicago and in 1989 won the Miller Lite Comedy Search. His first major acting role was in the 1995 film “Friday”. That was followed by […]
August 8th in African American History – Eligio Sardinas Montalvo (Kid Chocolate)
August 8, 1988 Eligio Sardinas Montalvo (Kid Chocolate), hall of fame boxer, died. Montalvo was born January 6, 1910 in Havana, Cuba. He never lost a fight as an amateur and turned professional in 1927. His first twelve fights were in Cuba before he moved to New York City in 1928. In 1931, Montalvo became […]