June 11, 1930 Johnny D. Bright, hall of fame Canadian Football League player, was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Bright played college football at Drake University where he led the nation in total offense in 1949 and 1950. On October 20, 1951 in a game against Oklahoma State University, Bright was violently assaulted by white […]
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June 10th in African American History – John Arthur “Jack” Johnson
June 10, 1946 John Arthur “Jack” Johnson, the first black World Heavyweight Champion, died in a car crash. Johnson was born March 31, 1878 in Galveston, Texas. By 1902, he had won at least 50 fights against white and black opponents and in 1903 he won the World Colored Heavyweight Championship. Johnson finally won the […]
June 10th in African American History – Ray Charles
June 10, 2004 Ray Charles, pioneering R&B, gospel, blues and country musician, died. Born Ray Charles Robinson on September 23, 1930 in Albany, Georgia, Charles began to lose his sight at the age of five and was completely blind by the age of seven. In 1943, he began to perform around Tallahassee and Jacksonville, Florida. […]
June 9th in African American History – Jacob Lawrence
June 9, 2000 Jacob Lawrence, painter, and educator, died. Lawrence was born September 7, 1919 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. He attended classes at the Harlem Art Workshop and earned a scholarship to the American Artists School. Throughout his artistic career, Lawrence concentrated on depicting the history and struggles of African Americans.
June 9th in African American History – Ousmane Sembene
June 9, 2007 Ousmane Sembene, writer and “Father of African film,” died. Sembene was born January 1, 1923 in Casamance, Senegal. In 1944, he was drafted into the French army to fight in World War II. In 1947, he moved to France where he discovered writers such as Claude McKay and Jacques Roumain. His first […]
June 8th in African American History – Kanye Omari West
June 8, 1977 Kanye Omari West, rapper and record producer, was born in Atlanta, Georgia. West attended the American Academy of Art and Chicago State University but dropped out to focus on his music career. He first gained recognition for producing hit singles for artists such as Jay-Z, Common, Alicia Keys, and John Legend. In […]
June 8th in African American History – Leroy Robert “Satchel” Paige
June 8, 1982 Leroy Robert “Satchel” Paige, Negro League and Major League pitcher, died. Paige was born July 7, 1906 in Mobile, Alabama. At the age of 12, he was committed to the Industrial School for Negro Children where he developed his pitching skills. In 1926, Paige was signed by the Chattanooga White Sox of […]