January 10, 1957 The Southern Christian Leadership Conference was founded to coordinate and support nonviolent direct action as a method to end all forms of segregation. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. was the first president and Ella Baker was the first staff person. During the first few years, SCLC focused on education, voter registration, and […]
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Jerome Heartwell “Brud” Holland – January 9th in African American History
January 9, 1916 Jerome Heartwell “Brud” Holland, education administrator and diplomat, was born in Auburn, New York. Holland graduated from Cornell University, where he was the first African American to play on the football team and an All-American in 1937, 1938, and 1939. Despite his athletic abilities, the National Football League ignored him because of […]
Rayford Whittingham Logan – January 7th in African American History
January 7, 1897 Rayford Whittingham Logan, historian and Pan-African activist, was born in Washington, D. C. Logan earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Williams College in 1917 and enlisted in the United States Army. In 1919, he requested and was granted a discharge because of his dissatisfaction with the treatment of African Americans. For […]
Ruppert Leon Sargent – January 6th in African American History
January 6, 1938 Ruppert Leon Sargent, Medal of Honor recipient, was born in Hampton, Virginia. Sargent joined the United States Army and by March 15, 1967 was serving as a first lieutenant in Company B, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division during the Vietnam War. On that day, while in Hau Nghia Province […]
Alexander English – January 5th in African American History
January 5, 1954 Alexander English, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Columbia, South Carolina. English played collegiate basketball at the University of South Carolina where he was a two-time All-American and graduated in 1976. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the 1976 NBA Draft. English spent the majority of his 16 […]
January 4th in African American History – Charlotte E. Ray
January 4, 1911 Charlotte E. Ray, the first black woman lawyer, died. Ray was born January 13, 1850 in New York City. After graduating from the Institution for the Education of Colored Youth, she attended Howard University where she was a student and teacher. In 1872, Ray graduated from Howard University School of Law with […]
January 3rd in African American History – William “Willy” Theodore Ribbs, Jr.
January 3, 1955 William “Willy” Theodore Ribbs, Jr., former race car driver, was born in San Jose, California. Following his graduation from high school in 1975, Ribbs moved to Europe to compete in the Formula Ford Series. He won the Dunlop Championship in his first year of competition and then returned to the United States. […]