March 11, 1917 Robert Lee Carter, civil rights activist and judge, was born in Careyville, Florida, but raised in Newark, New Jersey. Carter earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Lincoln University in 1937, his Bachelor of Laws degree from Howard University School of Law in 1940, and his Master of Laws […]
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March 9th in African American History – Floyd Bixler McKissick
March 9, 1922 Floyd Bixler McKissick, lawyer and civil rights leader, was born in Asheville, North Carolina. McKissick earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from North Carolina College and in 1951 became the first African American to earn his Bachelor of Laws degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Law School.
March 7th in African American History – Clarence Eugene Sasser
March 7, 1969 Clarence Eugene Sasser received the Medal of Honor, America’s highest military decoration, from President Richard M. Nixon. Sasser was born September 12, 1947 in Chenanago, Texas. He was drafted into the United States Army in 1967 and by January 10, 1968 was serving as a private first class combat medic in Headquarters […]
March 5th in African American History – Charles Henry Fuller, Jr.
March 5, 1939 Charles Henry Fuller, Jr., playwright and novelist, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Fuller attended Villanova University before serving in the United States Army from 1959 to 1962. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from La Salle College in 1967 and was a co-founder of the Afro-American Arts Theater in Philadelphia that […]
March 2nd in African American History – Frank E. Petersen, Jr.
March 2, 1932 Frank E. Petersen, Jr., the first African American Marine Corps aviator and the first African American Marine Corps general, was born in Topeka, Kansas. Petersen enlisted in the United States Navy in 1950 as a seaman apprentice.
March 1st in African American History – Emmett Littleton Ashford
March 1, 1980 Emmett Littleton Ashford, the first African American umpire in major league baseball, died. Ashford was born November 23, 1914 in Los Angeles, California.
February 28th in African American History – James Anderson, Jr.
February 28, 1967 James Anderson, Jr., the first African American United States Marine recipient of the Medal of Honor, died in action. Anderson was born January 22, 1947 in Los Angeles, California. He enlisted in the marines in 1966. He was promoted to private first class after graduating from recruit training and sent to Vietnam […]