February 8, 1924 Joseph Black, the first black pitcher to win a World Series game, was born in Plainfield, New Jersey. Black won a baseball scholarship to Morgan State University where he graduated in 1950. He was called up to the major leagues in 1952 and chosen National League Rookie of the Year after winning […]
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February 7th in African American History – Allen B. West
February 7, 1961 Allen B. West, the first African American Republican Congressman from Florida since Reconstruction, was born in Atlanta, Georgia. West earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1983 from the University of Tennessee and his Master of Arts degree in 1986 from Kansas State University, both in political science.
February 7th in African American History – James Herbert “Eubie” Blake
February 7, 1887 James Herbert “Eubie” Blake, composer, lyricist, and pianist, was born in Baltimore, Maryland. Blake began taking music lessons at the age of 7 and at 15 was playing piano in a bordello. In 1912, he began playing in vaudeville and shortly after World War I joined forces with Noble Sissle as the […]
February 6th in African American History – Walter Edward Fauntroy
February 6, 1933 Walter Edward Fauntroy, pastor, civil rights activist and former Congressman, was born in Washington, D.C. Fauntroy earned his Bachelor of Arts degree Cum Laude from Virginia University in 1955 and earned his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Yale University in 1958.
February 6th in African American History – Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley
February 6, 1945 Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley, singer and songwriter, was born in Saint Ann Parish, Jamaica. In 1963, Marley formed a group that eventually came to be called The Wailers. Their first album, “Catch a Fire,” was released in 1973 and it was followed a year later by “Burnin” which included the hit songs […]
February 5th in African American History – Henry Beard Delany
February 5, 1858 Henry Beard Delany, the second African American bishop elected in the United States, was born enslaved in Saint Mary’s, Georgia. Delany graduated in theology from Saint Augustine’s School (now college) in 1885. After graduating, he joined the faculty of the school where he taught until 1908.
February 4th in African American History – Lawrence Joel
February 4, 1984 Lawrence Joel, Medal of Honor recipient, died. Joel was born February 22, 1928 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He joined the United States Army in 1946 and served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. On November 8, 1965, while serving as a medic with the rank of specialist five assigned to the 1st […]