September 2, 1941, John R. Thompson, Jr., the first African American head coach to win a NCAA Division I championship, was born in Washington, D. C. Thompson played college basketball at Providence College, where he led them to the 1963 NIT Championship and was a 1964 All-American. At the time of his graduation, he was [...]
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September 1st in African American History – Samuel Coleridge-Taylor
September 1, 1912 Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, composer and musician, died. Coleridge-Taylor was born August 15, 1875 in Holborn, London. He studied violin at the Royal College of Music and by 1896 had earned a reputation as a composer. In 1898, he completed his most well known piece, the cantata “Hiawatha’s Wedding-feast”. Coleridge-Taylor was greatly appreciated by [...]
August 31st in African American History – Edwin Corley Moses
August 31, 1955 Edwin Corley Moses, former track and field athlete, was born in Dayton, Ohio. Moses attended Morehouse College on an academic scholarship and earned his B. S. degree in 1976. While at Morehouse, Moses essentially trained himself. Between 1977 and 1987, Moses won 122 consecutive 400 meter hurdles races. He won Gold Medals [...]
August 31st in African American History – Frank Robinson
August 31, 1935 Frank Robinson, Hall of Fame baseball player, was born in Beaumont, Texas. In his rookie year, 1956, he tied the record of 38 home runs by a rookie and was named the National League Rookie of the Year. Over his 21 season career, Robinson was a 14-time All-Star, a 1958 Gold Glove [...]
August 29th in African American History – Charles “Bird” Parker, Jr
August 29, 1920 Charles “Bird” Parker, Jr., jazz saxophonist and composer, was born in Kansas City, Kansas. Parker began playing the saxophone at age 11 and by 1938 was touring nightclubs and other venues in the southwest. In 1939, Parker moved to New York City where on November 26, 1945 he led a recording session [...]