February 29, 1948 Willi Donnell Smith, one of the most successful young fashion designers in fashion history, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Smith attended Philadelphia College of Art for fashion illustration and then moved to New York City to attend Parsons School of Design. He quit Parsons in 1967 to pursue a design career on […]
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February 29th in African American History – Cullen Jones
February 29, 1984 Cullen Jones, Olympic Gold medal winning freestyle sprint swimmer, was born in New York City, but grew up in Irvington, New Jersey. Jones learned to swim after he nearly drowned when he was five years old. He turned professional in 2006 and swam a leg in the world record breaking 4 by […]
February 28th in African American History – James Anderson, Jr.
February 28, 1967 James Anderson, Jr., the first African American United States Marine recipient of the Medal of Honor, died in action. Anderson was born January 22, 1947 in Los Angeles, California. He enlisted in the marines in 1966. He was promoted to private first class after graduating from recruit training and sent to Vietnam […]
February 28th in African American History – James Amos Porter
February 28, 1970 James Amos Porter, artist and “father of African American art history,” died. Porter was born December 22, 1905 in Baltimore, Maryland. After earning his Bachelor of Science degree from Howard University in 1927, he accepted a position at the university as instructor of painting and drawing. In 1933, he received the Schomburg […]
February 27th in African American History – Dexter Keith Gordon
February 27, 1923 Dexter Keith Gordon, jazz tenor saxophonist and actor, was born in Los Angeles, California. Gordon played the clarinet from the age of 13 before switching to the saxophone at 15. Between 1940 and 1943, Gordon was a member of the Lionel Hampton Band and in 1943 he made his first recording under […]
February 27th in African American History – James Ager Worthy
February 27, 1961 James Ager Worthy, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Gastonia, North Carolina. Worthy was an All-American high school basketball player and after graduating enrolled at the University of North Carolina. In 1982, Worthy was an All-American and co-College Player of the Year. That year, he also led UNC to the […]
February 26th in African American History – Antoine Dominique “Fats” Domino
February 26, 1928 Antoine Dominique “Fats” Domino, pianist, singer, and songwriter, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. Domino first attracted national attention with the 1949 release of “Fat Man” which is widely regarded to be the first rock and roll record to sell more than a million copies.