January 14, 1969 John Earl Warren, Jr., Medal of Honor recipient, was killed in action. Warren was born November 16, 1946 in Brooklyn, New York. By January 14, 1969, he was serving as a first lieutenant in Company C, 2nd Battalion, 22nd Infantry, 25th Infantry Division of the United States Army in Tay Ninh Province, […]
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January 13th in African American History – Charity Edna Adams Earley
January 13, 2002 Charity Edna Adams Earley, the first African American officer in the Woman’s Army Air Corps, died. Earley was born December 5, 1918 in Kittrell, North Carolina. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics and physics from Wilberforce University in 1938 and enlisted in the WAAC in 1942.
January 13th in African American History – Theodore DeReese “Teddy” Pendergrass
January 13, 2010 Theodore DeReese “Teddy” Pendergrass, singer and songwriter, died. Pendergrass was born March 26, 1950 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He began his career as a drummer with The Cadillacs, who soon merged with Harold Melvin & The Blue Notes. With Pendergrass singing lead vocals, the group had such hits as “If You Don’t Know […]
January 12th in African American History – Jacques Dominique Wilkins
January 12, 1960 Jacques Dominique Wilkins, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Paris, France where his father was stationed in the United States Air Force. Wilkins led his high school basketball team to consecutive Class 3-A State Championships and entered the University of Georgia in 1979. He was named the SEC Men’s Basketball […]
January 12th in African American History – Lorraine Hansberry
January 12, 1965 Lorraine Hansberry, African-American playwright and author, died. Hansberry was born May 19, 1930 in Chicago, Illinois. She moved to New York City in 1950 to pursue a career as a writer. In 1959, her play, “A Raisin in the Sun” debuted on Broadway. It was the first play written by an African […]
January 11th in African American History – Vernon Ferdinand Dahmer, Sr.
January 11, 1966 Vernon Ferdinand Dahmer, Sr., civil rights leader, died from injuries received the prior day when his home was firebombed. Dahmer was born March 10, 1908 in Forrest County, Mississippi. A successful businessman, Dahmer owned a store, a sawmill, and a 200 acre farm. He served several terms as president of the Forrest […]
January 11th in African American History – Mary Jane Blige
January 11, 1971 Mary Jane Blige, singer, record producer and “Queen of Hip Hop Soul,” was born in The Bronx, New York. Blige spent her early years in Savannah, Georgia where she sang in a church choir. In 1989, she was signed by Uptown Records, becoming the label’s youngest and first female artist. In 1991, […]