On this date in Black History- February 19th:
-2002 (11 years ago): Vonetta Flowers became the first black gold medalist in the history of the Winter Olympic Games; both she and partner Jull Brakken won the inagural women's two-person bobsled event on this day.
-1996 (17 years ago): Concert singer and founder of the Harlem School Of The Arts, Dorothy Maynor dies on this day.
-1992 (21 years ago): John Singleton, the first African-American director to be nominated for the Academy Award, is nominated for best director and best screenplay for his first film Boyz N the Hood.
-1942 (71 years ago): The Army Air Corps' all African-American 100th Pursuit Squadron (later designated a fighter squadron), was activated at Tuskegee Institute in Tuskegee, AL on this day. The squadron served honorably in England and in other regions of the European continent during World War II.
-1940 (73 years ago): Soul singer and record producer William "Smokey" Robinson, Jr. was born in Detroit, MI on this day. Robinson's first singing group was the Miracles which he formed in 1955 while still in high school. The group's first success came in 1960 with the hit, Shop Around.
-1919 (94 years ago): Pan-African Congress (organized by W.E.B. Du Bois), met a Grand Hotel in Paris, France on this day. There were fifty-seven delegates sixteen from the United States and fourteen from Africa form sixteen countries and colonies. Blaise Diagne of Senegal was elected president and Du Bois was named secretary.
-1864 (149 years ago): The Knights of Pythias was established on this day. Confederate troops defeated three Black and six White regiments at Battle of Olustee, FL (fifty miles from Jacksonville, FL).
Well family, now you have the 4-1-1 on what happened today in Black History; Remember, for more African-American history artifacts, go to www.blackfacts.com and get yourself educated right now! Until we trek again, Peace & Blessings!!
