November 14, 1916 Mabel Fairbanks, figure skater and coach, was born in New York City. Fairbanks fell in love with figure skating in the 1930s. Despite her ability, she was not allowed to join skating clubs because of her race. She was often told, “we don’t have Negroes in ice shows.” She eventually left the […]
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November 13th in African American History – Benny Andrews
November 13, 1930 Benny Andrews, painter, printmaker, and educator, was born in Plainview, Georgia. After serving in the United States Air Force as a staff sergeant from 1950 to 1954, Andrews earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. He had his first New York City solo […]
November 13th in African American History – Hansberry v. Lee
November 13, 1940 The United States Supreme Court ruled in Hansberry v. Lee The ruling states that whites could not bar African Americans from white neighborhoods, but did not rule that restrictive covenants based on race were void. It ruled for Hansberry on a legal technicality that Lee did not represent the entire class because […]
November 12th in African American History – Samuel Peralta Sosa
November 12, 1968 Samuel Peralta Sosa, retired Major League Baseball player, was born in San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic. Sosa made his major league debut in 1989 and over his 18 year professional career hit 609 home runs, was a seven time All-Star selection, and in 1998 was the National League Most Valuable Player.
November 12th in African American History – Chester Bomar Himes
November 12, 1984 Chester Bomar Himes, writer, died. Hines was born July 29, 1909 in Jefferson City, Missouri. In 1928, Himes was sent to prison for armed robbery. In prison, he wrote short stories and had them published in national magazines. His first stories were published in Esquire Magazine in 1934. Himes was released from […]
November 11th in African American History – The Civil Rights Memorial
November 11, 1989 The Civil Rights Memorial in Montgomery, Alabama was dedicated. The memorial is sponsored by the Southern Poverty Law Center and is dedicated to 40 people who died in the struggle for equal rights between 1954 and 1968. The memorial represents the aspirations of the American Civil Rights Movement against racism.
November 11th in African American History – Rodney Milburn, Jr.
November 11, 1997 Rodney Milburn, Jr., hall of fame track and field athlete, died. Milburn was born May 18, 1950 in Opelousas, Louisiana. He attended Southern University and during the early 1970s dominated the 110 meter hurdles, tying the world record three times. In 1971, he was unbeaten in 28 races and was named the […]