Mathematician and educator David Blackwell is born

On April 24, 1919, David Blackwell was born in 1919. David Blackwell was the first African American inducted into the National Academy of Sciences. He was also the first African American to receive a Ph.D. in Mathematics from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the seventh African American to receive a Ph.D. in Mathematics. 

Charles Hamilton Houston dies at the age of 54

On April 22, 1950, Charles Hamilton Houston died in 1950 at the age of 54. Charles Hamilton Houston was an influential lawyer and civil rights activist. Throughout his life, Charles Hamilton Houston used his law and ethical skills to contribute to the civil rights movement. His contributions include architecting the Brown vs. Board of Education ruling in 1954, serving as the dean of Howard University Law School and mentoring Thurgood Marshall.