February 18, 2007 Frank M. Snowden, Jr., one of the foremost authorities on blacks in ancient history, died. Snowden was born July 17, 1911 in York County, Virginia. He earned his undergraduate, master’s, and doctorial degrees from Harvard University in 1932, 1933 and 1944, respectively. Snowden taught classics at Georgetown University, Vassar College, Mary Washington […]
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February 17th in African American History – Michael Jeffrey “Air” Jordan
February 17, 1963 Michael Jeffrey “Air” Jordan, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Brooklyn, New York. In 1981, Jordan earned a basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina who he led to a National Championship in 1982 and where he won the Naismith and Wooden College Player of the Year Awards in […]
February 17th in African American History – Thelonious Monk
February 17, 1982 Thelonious Monk, jazz pianist and composer, died. Monk was born October 10, 1917 in Rocky Mountain, North Carolina and began playing the piano at the age of six. In the early to mid-1940s, he served as the house pianist at Minton’s Playhouse in Harlem, New York which featured most of the leading […]
February 16th in African American History – Levardis Robert Martyn “LeVar” Burton
February 16, 1957 Levardis Robert Martyn “LeVar” Burton, actor, director and author, was born in Landstuhl, West Germany. Burton graduated from the University of Southern California School of Theater. While still in school, he came to prominence portraying Kunta Kinte in the 1977 television miniseries “Roots.” In 1986, Burton originated the role of La Forge […]
February 16th in African American History – Jerome Abram “The Bus” Bettis
February 16, 1972 Jerome Abram “The Bus” Bettis, retired football player, was born in Detroit, Michigan. Bettis played football at Mackenzie High School and the University of Notre Dame before being selected in the first round of the 1993 NFL draft by the Los Angeles Rams. In his first year as a professional, he was […]
February 15th in African American History – Marion “Little Walter” Jacobs
February 15, 1968 Marion “Little Walter” Jacobs, blues harmonica player, died. Jacobs was born May 1, 1930 in Marksville, Louisiana. Jacobs moved to Chicago in 1945 and from 1948 to 1952 played in Muddy Walters’ band. His harmonica is featured on most of Walters’ classic recordings from the 1950s.
February 15th in African American History – Charles Leroy Thomas
February 15, 1980 Charles Leroy Thomas, Medal of Honor recipient, died. Thomas was born April 17, 1920 in Alabama. Before World War II, he worked at Ford Motor Company and was a student at Wayne State University. On December 14, 1944 Second Lieutenant Thomas led a task force in the capture of Climbach, France. Thomas’ […]