(Photo By Flickr User Sidewalks TV)
Black History Today: February 28th:
1990- Philip Emeagwali awarded the Gordon Bell Prize (computing's Nobel Prize), for solving one of the twenty most difficult problems in the computing field. Also on this day, The Coasters lead singer and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Cornell Gunter, was fatally shot in Las Vegas, NV.
1984- Musician and entertainer Michael Jackson, wins eight Grammy Awards. His album, "Thriller," broke all sales records to-date, and remains one of the top-grossing albums of all time.
1981- NBA Hall of Famer Calvin Murphy (Houston), sets NBA record with 78 consecutive free throws.
1977- Death of comedian Eddie ("Rochester") Anderson (71).
1976- Natalie Cole took home Grammy Awards for "Best New Artist" and "Best R&B Vocal Performance, Female" for the song "This Will Be" on this day at the 18th Annual Grammy Awards Show. Also, Rapper, singer, and actor Jeffery "Ja Rule" Atkins, was born in Queens, NY ( Atkins' Actual Birthday-2/29/76).
1975- Former NFL defensive end, Mike Rucker, was born on this day in St. Joseph, MO.
1971- Actress Tasha Smith was born on this day in Camden, NJ.
1967- NBA great Wilt Chamberlain sinks NBA record 35th consecutive field goal on this day.
1961- Actress Rae Dawn Chong was born in Edmonton, Canada on this day.
1959- NFL trade: The Chicago Cardinals traded Ollie Matson to LA Rams for 9 players. When he retired in 1966, his career all-purpose yards were second only to Jim Brown. Matson was inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1972.
1955- NBA Hall of Famer, Adrian Delano Dantley, was born in Washington, DC on this day. Also, Stand-up comedian, actor, and voice artist Gilbert Gottfried was born in Brooklyn, NY on this day.
1948- Sgt. Cornelius F. Adjetey, becomes the first martyr for national independence of Ghana.
1945- Former NFL player turned actor Charles Aaron "Bubba" Smith, was born in Orange, TX on this day. He passed away in 2011, aged 66.
1943- Porgy and Bess, opened on Broadway with Anne Brown and Todd Duncan in starring roles.
1940- Native Son by Richard Wright, was published on this day. Also, Actress Hattie McDaniel was the first African-American to win an Academy Award. She won the award for Best Supporting Actress for her role of Mammy in Gone with the Wind on this day (1940 was a leap year and the Academy Awards were held on February 29th).
1939- Tenor saxophonist and gifted baritone player, pianist, bass clarinetist, and viola player Charles Gayle, was born in Buffalo, NY.
1932- Richard Spikes invented the automatic gear shift
1879- Southern Blacks fled political and economic exploitation in "Exodus of 1879." Exodus continued for several years. One of the major leaders of the Exodus movement was a former slave, Benjamin ("Pap") Singleton.
1871- Second Enforcement Act gave federal officers and courts control of registration and voting in congressional elections.
1859- Arkansas legislature required free Blacks to choose between exile and enslavement.
1708- Slave revolt, Newton, Long Island, NY. Seven whites killed. Two Black male slaves and an Indian slave were hanged, and a Black woman was burned alive.
That's all of our trekking back to African-American History for now, family. Check back with us on the website from time to time to see what's the 4-1-1 in the "Saluting" file.
In the mean time & in between time, log on to www.blackfacts.com to get more Black History artifacts.
May God Bless You & Yours until we meet again!
