Hiram R. Revels

Hiram R. Revels was born on September 27, 1827 in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Revels came the first African American United States senator. Revels resigned from the Senate after a year to accept the presidency of Alcorn Agricultural and Mechanical College. He later died on January 16, 1901.

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Kwame Nkrumah

Kwame Nkrumah was born on September 21, 1909 in Nkroful, Ghana. Kwame Nkrumah was a leader who led the Gold Coasts struggle for independence against Great Britain. He then became the president of Ghana. Nkrumah published Africa must Unite in 1963. He passed on April 27, 1972.

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Charles Mingusx5

Charles Mingus was a virtuoso bass player, a pianist band leader and composer. He was born in Nogales, Arizona but raised in Watts, California. Mingusx5 was Charles Mingus last album. It was also the most productive and significant time of his career and life. The album was recorded on September 20, 1963. Eric Dolphy, and Jaki Byard both featured in this album.

Erroll Garner

Erroll Louis Garner was a Jazz Pianist born on June 15, 1921. He was born it Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He was credited one of the best selling albums in the history of Jazz. Erroll Garner most famous record was 'Concert By The Sea'. He died on January 2, 1977 in Los Angeles, California.

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B.B King

B.B King was born on September 16, 1925. He died on May 14, 2015 age 89. He was influenced by a preacher, who saw him sing and perform the guitar whenever he went to church. received an Honorary Doctorate of Music from Yale University, Berklee College of music, Rhodes College and Tougaloo College.He later then made a big break. He played live on a radio station (KWEM) hosted by Sonny Boy Williamson. He then was given his own radio show. In 1952 he went on his first tour.  Lucille is the name of the guitar he almost lost during a fire.

Constance Baker Motley

She rose to become a champion for victims of discrimination and oppression and worked diligently to remove obstacles to education for all Americans. A brilliant lawyer, Motley played a pivotal role in numerous Civil Rights cases during the two decades following World War II. She battled in the courts of the Deep South at a time and place where racial tensions burned white hot, often putting her own life in danger for the sake of the cause.

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Alain Leroy Locke Mini Biography

Alain Leroy Locke was an American writer, philosopher, educator, and patron of the arts. Distinguished as the first African American Rhodes Scholar in 1907, Locke was the philosophical architect--- the acknowledged in the Harlem Renaissance. He was born in Philadelphia on this day in 1885.

Mae Jemison

Mae Carrol Jemison is an American  and NASA astronaut. She became the first African American woman to travel in space when she went into orbit aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on September 12, 1992.

Althea Gibson: Tennis Great

Trailblazing athlete Althea Gibson became the first great African American player in women’s tennis. Raised primarily in Harlem, New York City. She won a string of American Tennis Association titles on the African American circuit. After being allowed entry to the major tournaments, she became the first black player to win Wimbledon and the French and U.S open Titles. She won the U.S open on this day in 1957.

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Sonia Sanchez (Wilsonia Benita Driver)

Sonia Sanchez born Wilsonia Benita Driver was born on this day in 1934 Birmingham, Alabama. She is a founder of the Black Arts Movement of the 1960 and the author of numerous books including, Homecoming, We a Baddddd People, and A Blues Book for Blue Black Magic Women. Sanchez currently lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.  

  Carter G Woodson

The father of Black history, Carter G Woodson, founds the Association for the study of Negro like and history, on this day in 1915