November 12, 2000 Eugene Antonio Marino, the first African American archbishop in the United States, died. Marino was born May 29, 1934 in Biloxi, Mississippi. He was ordained as a priest at St. Joseph’s Seminary in 1962 and in 1967 graduated from Fordham University. Following his graduation, he was spiritual director at St. Joseph’s Seminary […]
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November 12th in African American History – Wilma Glodean Rudolph
November 12, 1994 Wilma Glodean Rudolph, the first American woman to win three gold medals in track and field during a single Olympic Games, died. Rudolph was born prematurely on June 23, 1940 in Clarksville, Tennessee. Despite a childhood filled with medical problems, she became an accomplished athlete by high school. In high school, she […]
November 11th in African American History – Channing E. Phillips
November 11, 1987 Channing E. Phillips, minister, social activist and the first African American placed in nomination for President of the United States by a major party, died. Phillips was born March 23, 1928 in Brooklyn, New York. He was a founding member of the Coalition of Conscience, a conglomeration of local organizations working to […]
November 11th in African American History – Delores LaVern Baker
November 11, 1929 Delores LaVern Baker, rhythm and blues singer, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Baker began performing around Chicago under various names before settling on LaVern Baker in 1952. Her first hit recording came in 1955 with “Tweedlee Dee”, which reached number 4 on the R&B charts.
November 10th in African American History – Miriam Makeba
November 10, 2008 Miriam Makeba, singer and civil rights activist, died. Makeba was born on March 4, 1932 in Johannesburg, South Africa. She began her professional singing career in the 1950s with the Manhattan Brothers before she formed her own group, The Skylarks, singing a blend of jazz and traditional South African melodies.
November 10th in African American History – Augustus Freeman Hawkins
November 10, 2007 Augustus Freeman Hawkins, the first African American to represent California in Congress, died. Hawkins was born August 31, 1907 in Shreveport, Louisiana. He earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of California in 1931. In 1935, he was elected to the California State Assembly, where he served until 1963.
November 9th in African American History – Pack Robert Bob Gibson
November 9, 1935 Pack Robert “Bob” Gibson, baseball Hall of Fame pitcher, was born in Omaha, Nebraska. Despite a childhood filled with medical problems, Gibson was active in sports and won a basketball scholarship to Creighton University.