January 7, 1941 Frederick Drew Gregory, the first African American to pilot a space shuttle, was born in Washington, D. C. Gregory earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the United States Air Force Academy in 1964 and was a decorated helicopter pilot during the Vietnam War.
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John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie – January 6th in African American History
January 6, 1993 John Birks “Dizzy” Gillespie, jazz trumpeter, bandleader, singer, and composer, died. Gillespie was born October 21, 1917 in Cheraw, South Carolina. By the age of four, he had started to play the piano. He also taught himself to play the trombone and the trumpet. His first professional job was with the Frank […]
Charles L. “Sonny” Liston – January 5th in African American History
January 5, 1971 Charles L. “Sonny” Liston, hall of fame boxer, died. Liston was born May 8, 1932 in Johnson Township, Arkansas. In 1950, he was sentenced to prison for taking part in a robbery and while in prison learned to box. Liston was paroled in 1952 and made his professional boxing debut in 1953. […]
Floyd Patterson – January 4th in African American History
January 4, 1935 Floyd Patterson, hall of fame boxer, was born in Waco, North Carolina. Patterson started boxing at the age of 14 and won the Gold medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympic Games as a middleweight. Following the Olympics, Patterson turned professional and on November 30, 1956 became the youngest world heavyweight champion in […]
Paul Douglas Freeman – January 2nd in African American History
January 2, 1936 Paul Douglas Freeman, conductor and music director, was born in Richmond, Virginia. Freeman started piano lessons at the age of five and soon after also started playing the clarinet. He earned his Bachelor of Music degree in 1956, his Master of Music degree in 1957, and his Ph. D. in 1963, all […]
Roland W. Hayes – January 1st in African American History
January 1, 1977 Roland W. Hayes, lyric tenor and the first African American male concert artist to receive international acclaim, died. Hayes was born June 3, 1887 in Curryville, Georgia. He began publicly performing with the Fisk Jubilee Singers in 1911. From 1916 to 1919, he toured throughout the United States, arranging his own recitals. […]
Jackie Robinson Remembered – January 31st in African American History
Jackie Robinson is one of the most influential players in professional baseball to ever put on the jersey. This is not only because of his skill as a player, but his grace as well. He was the first African American to ever make it to the big leagues, and although he faced discrimination at every […]