September 27, 1827 Hiram Rhodes Revels, the first African American to serve in the United States Senate, was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Revels was ordained an African Methodist Episcopal minister in 1845 and in 1846 he was given a pastorship in Natchez, Mississippi. Revels was elected an Alderman in Natchez in 1868 and elected […]
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September 27th in African American History – Earl Rudolph “Bud” Powell
September 27, 1924 Earl Rudolph “Bud” Powell, jazz pianist, was born in New York City. At an early age, Powell learned classical piano, but by eight became interested in jazz and by 15 was playing in his brother’s band. His debut recording was with Cootie Williams’ band in 1944. In 1947, he made his debut […]
September 26th in African American History – Martha Minerva Franklin
September 26, 1968 Martha Minerva Franklin, founder of the National Association of Colored Graduate Nurses, died. Franklin was born October 29, 1870 in New Milford, Connecticut. She graduated from the Women’s Hospital Training School in 1897, the only black graduate in her class, and in the early 1900s moved to New Haven, Connecticut. After two […]
September 26th in African American History – Bessie Smith
September 26, 1937 Bessie Smith, blues singer, died. Smith was born on April 15, 1894 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In 1912, she was hired as a dancer with the Moses Stokes troupe which included Ma Rainey. By the early 1920s, Smith had starred with Sidney Bechet in “How Come?,” a musical that made its way to […]
September 25th in African American History – Dennis Bell
September 25, 1953 Dennis Bell, Medal of Honor recipient, died. Bell was born December 28, 1866 in Washington, D. C. By June 30, 1898, Bell was serving as a private in Troop H of the 10th Cavalry Regiment, an all-black unit of the United States Army during the Spanish-American War. On that day, American forces […]
September 25th in African American History – Scottie Maurice Pippen
September 25, 1965 Scottie Maurice Pippen, hall of fame basketball player, was born in Hamburg, Arkansas. Pippen played college basketball at the University of Central Arkansas. He was selected by the Seattle Supersonics in the 1987 NBA Draft but is best known for his time with the Chicago Bulls. Over his 17 season professional career, […]
September 24th in African American History – Charles Edward “Mean Joe” Greene
September 24, 1946 Charles Edward “Mean Joe” Greene, hall of fame football player, was born in Temple, Texas. Greene played college football at North Texas State University and was a 1968 All-American. He was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1969 NFL Draft and over his 13 season professional career was the 1969 Defensive […]