January 31, 1904 Henry Johnson, Medal of Honor recipient, died. Johnson was born June 11, 1850 in Boydton, Virginia. The Negro Cavalries were nicknamed “Buffalo Soliders” by the Native Americans that they fought. In 1866, Congress named six all African American Army regiments. The 9th and 10th Cavalries and the 38th, 39th, 40th, and 41st infantry. These […]
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Margaret Bush Wilson – January 30th in African American History
January 30, 1919 Margaret Bush Wilson, lawyer and activist, was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Wilson earned her Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Talladega College in 1939 and her law degree from the Lincoln University of Missouri School of Law. After passing the bar, she was the second woman of color admitted to […]
Richard (Dick) “Night Train” Lane – January 29th in African American History
January 29, 2002 Richard (Dick) “Night Train” Lane, hall of fame football player, died. Lane was born April 16, 1928 in Austin, Texas. He made his professional football debut with the Los Angeles Rams as a defensive back in 1952. In his rookie season, he set the NFL single season record for interceptions with 14 […]
William DeKova White – January 28th in African American History
January 28, 1934 William DeKova White, retired professional baseball player, sportscaster, and executive, was born in Lakewood, Florida. White made his major league debut in 1956 and during his 13 season professional career was a five-time All-Star and seven-time Gold Glove Award winner. After retiring as a player in 1969, White had an 18-year career […]
Angela Yvonne Davis – January 26th in African American History
January 26, 1944 Angela Yvonne Davis, political activist and retired professor, was born in Birmingham, Alabama. Davis was awarded a scholarship to Brandeis University and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree magna cum laude and a member of Phi Beta Kappa in 1965. She earned her Master of Arts degree from the University of California […]
Nora Douglas Holt – January 25th in African American History
January 25, 1974 Nora Douglas Holt, singer, composer and music critic, died. Holt was born Lena Douglas on May 26, 1885 in Kansas City, Kansas. She earned her Bachelor of Music degree in 1917 from Western University and her Master of Music degree in 1918 from Chicago Musical College, the first African American woman to […]
Martin Robinson Delany – January 24th in African American History
January 24, 1885 Martin Robinson Delany, abolitionist and the first African American field officer in the United States Army, died. Delany was born May 6, 1812 in Charles Town, West Virginia. Because it was illegal to teach black people to read or write, he and his siblings taught themselves. In 1835, Delany became more actively […]