September 12, 1913 James Cleveland “Jesse” Owens, Olympic track and field athlete, was born in Oakville, Alabama. Owens first came to national attention while in high school in Cleveland, Ohio when he equaled the world record of 9.4 seconds in the 100 yard dash and long jumped 24 feet 9 ½ inches at the 1933 […]
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September 11th in African American History – Loletha Elaine Lola Falana
September 11, 1942 Loletha Elaine “Lola” Falana, dancer, singer and actress, was born in Camden, New Jersey. Falana was dancing by the age of 3, singing in the church choir at 5, and dancing in nightclubs while she was still in junior high school. She made her Broadway debut in the 1964 musical “Golden Boy” […]
September 11th in African American History – Christopher Brian Bridges (Ludacris)
September 11, 1977 Christopher Brian Bridges (Ludacris), rapper, songwriter and actor, was born in Champaign, Illinois. Ludacris moved to Atlanta, Georgia at a young age and wrote his first rap song at the age of 9. He recorded his debut album, “Back for the First Time”, in 2000. This was followed by seven other albums, […]
September 10th in African American History – Robert Jerry Lanier, Jr.
September 10, 1948 Robert Jerry Lanier, Jr., hall of fame basketball player, was born in Buffalo, New York. Lanier played college basketball at St. Bonaventure University and was a three-time All-American. He graduated from St. Bonaventure with a B. A. degree in Business Administration in 1970. Lanier was selected number one overall by the Detroit […]
September 10th in African American History – Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown
September 10, 2005 Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, blues musician, died. Brown was born April 18, 1924 in Vinton, Louisiana. He began his professional career in 1945 and had his recording debut in 1949 with “Mary is Fine” and “My Time is Expensive”. During the 1960s, Brown made several appearances on the television show “Hee Haw” and […]
September 9th in African American History – Warith Deen Mohammed
September 9, 2008 Warith Deen Mohammed, Muslim leader and author, died. Mohammed was born Wallace Delaney Muhammad on October 30, 1933 in Hamtramck, Michigan. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Mohammed served as a minister under his father, Elijah Muhammad, in Philadelphia before being excommunicated for denying the divinity of Wallace Ford Muhammad. In […]
September 9th in African American History – Elvin Ray Jones
September 9, 1927 Elvin Ray Jones, jazz drummer, was born in Pontiac, Michigan. By the age of two, Jones had a fascination with drums and in high school he joined the marching band. Jones served in the United States Army from 1946 to 1949 and after his discharge began his professional career. Jones moved to […]