February 26, 1965 Jimmie Lee Jackson, an unarmed civil rights protestor, was shot to death by an Alabama State Trooper. Jackson was born December 16, 1938 in Marion, Alabama. He was a deacon in his church who had unsuccessfully tried to register to vote for four years.
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February 25th in African American History – Carl J. Murphy
February 25, 1967 Carl J. Murphy, journalist, civil rights leader and educator, died. Murphy was born January 17, 1889 in Baltimore, Maryland. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Howard University in 1911 and his Master of Arts degree from Harvard University in 1913.
February 25th in African American History – Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr.
February 25, 1978 Daniel “Chappie” James, Jr., the first African American to achieve the rank of general, died. James was born February 11, 1920 in Pensacola, Florida. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Tuskegee Institute in 1942.
February 24th in African American History – Amanda Berry Smith
February 24, 1915 Amanda Berry Smith, evangelist, died. Smith was born enslaved January 23, 1837 in Long Green, Maryland. As a child, her father worked for years to save enough money to buy his family’s freedom and when she was 13 she moved to Pennsylvania to work.
February 24th in African American History – Elijah Muhammad
February 24, 1975 Elijah Muhammad, leader of the Nation of Islam, died. Muhammad was born Elijah Poole on October 7, 1897 in Sandersville, Georgia.
February 23rd in African American History – Donald Luther Lee (Haki R. Madhubuti)
February 23, 1942 Donald Luther Lee (Haki R. Madhubuti), author, poet and educator, was born in Little Rock, Arkansas. Madhubuti served in the United States Army from 1960 to 1963 and earned his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa in 1984.
February 23rd in African American History – William Edward Burghardt Du Bois
February 23, 1868 William Edward Burghardt Du Bois, civil rights activist, historian and author, was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. In 1888, Du Bois earned a bachelor’s degree from Fisk University and in 1895 became the first African American to earn a Ph. D. from Harvard University.