Tag Archives: Today in History

On May 9, 1975, Tamia was born. Tamia is a singer and songwriter. Tamia is known for hit songs like “So Into You” and “Stranger in My House.”

On May 7, 1946, Thelma Houston was born in 1946. Thelma Houston is a GRAMMY award-winning singer.

On May 4, 1959, Ella Fitzgerald became the first African American woman to win a GRAMMY award. 

On May 3, 1968, the Black Student Sit-In took place at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. In 1968, black students at Northwestern University took control of Bursar’s Office and orchestrated a monumental sit-in.

On May 1, 1950, Gwendolyn Brooks became the first African American to receive a Pulitzer Prize for Poetry.  

On April 30, 1926, Bessie Coleman died at the age of 34. In 1926, Bessie Coleman died in a plane crash during a test flight. Many African American leaders attended her funeral including Ida B. Wells. 

On April 29, 2019, John Singleton died at the age of 51. John Singleton was a famous director and screenwriter known for his work in several popular films and tv shows.

On April 26, 1972, Margaret Bonds died. Margaret Bonds was a famous composer and pianist, most known for her collaborations with Langston Hughes. Margaret Bonds was the first African American to perform with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. 

On April 25, 1950, Charles “Chuck” Cooper became the first African American selected in a NBA draft. 

On April 23, 2007, Barbara Hillary became the first African American woman to reach the North Pole.