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 [...]
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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 [...]
Joseph “Cyclone Joe” Williams – February 25th in African American History
February 25, 1951 Joseph “Cyclone Joe” Williams, hall of fame Negro League baseball pitcher, died. Williams was born April 6, 1886 in Seguin, Texas. He began playing baseball professionally in 1905. Then known as Smokey Joe Williams, he spent 5 years with southern black baseball before moving in 1910 to the Chicago Giants. When playing [...]
Frederick Rudolph “Fred” Dean – February 24th in African American History
February 24, 1952 Frederick Rudolph “Fred” Dean, hall of fame football player, was born in Arcadia, Louisiana. Dean played college football at Louisiana Tech University and was an All-Southland Conference defensive tackle. He was selected by the San Diego Chargers in the 1975 NFL Draft and over his eleven season professional career was a four-time [...]
Elston Gene Howard – February 23rd in African American History
February 23, 1929 Elston Gene Howard, former Negro and Major League baseball player, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Growing up in St. Louis, Howard showed that baseball was not his his only strength. He played football, ran track and made all-state in basketball. In 1947, after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier and debuted [...]
Francis Ellen Watkins Harper – February 22nd in African American History
February 22, 1911 Francis Ellen Watkins Harper, abolitionist and poet, died. Harper was born September 24, 1825 in Baltimore, Maryland. She was an only child to free African American parents and when her mother died when she was only three, she wen to live with her aunt and uncle. She attended school for black youths until [...]