February 2, 1914 William Ellisworth Artis, sculptor, was born in Washington, North Carolina. In the early 1930s, Artis studied sculpture and pottery at the Augusta Savage Studios.
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Henry McNeal Turner – February 1st in African American History
February 1, 1833 Henry McNeal Turner, bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in Newberry Courthouse, South Carolina. At that time, the law prohibited a black child to be taught to read or write, therefore Turner taught himself. In 1853, he received his license to preach and during the Civil War was appointed […]
Juanita Hall – February 28th in African American History
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 […]
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 […]