* Today in Black History - May 21 *
1833 - Oberlin College is founded in Ohio "to train teachers and other
Christian leaders for the boundless most desolate fields in the
West." After almost going bankrupt in 1835, Oberlin will become
the first college in the United States to admit African Americans.
Arthur and Lewis Tappan, wealthy New York merchants and
abolitionists, will insist that Oberlin admit students regardless
of their color, as a condition of their financial support. As a
result of this decision, by 1900, nearly half of all the African
American college graduates in the United States -- 128 to be exact
-- will be graduated from Oberlin.
1862 - Mary Jane Patterson becomes the first African American woman to earn
an B.A degree from the four-year gentleman's course at Oberlin
College in Ohio.
1904 - Thomas "Fats" Waller, is born in New York City. He will become a
celebrated jazz pianist, organist, and composer. Early in the
1920s, Waller will become the protege of the famous pianist James
P. Johnson and later will accompany such important vocalists as
Florence Mills and Bessie Smith. His hundreds of recordings,
including some early piano rolls, encompass ragtime, boogie woogie,
dixieland, and swing, although in his hands these styles are deftly
recomposed into a unique Waller sound that will influence most of
the jazz pianists of the following generation. His appearances on
radio and in several motion pictures (notably "Stormy Weather,"
1943) will bring Waller's talents to a wide audience. A major jazz
creator, he will write complete scores for such all-African-
American shows as "Keep Shufflin'" (1928) and "Hot Chocolates"
(1929) as well as many single pieces, especially the now-classic
"Honeysuckle Rose," "Ain't Misbehavin'," and "Black and Blue."
1921 - Christopher Perry, who founded the Philadelphia Tribune in 1884,
joins the ancestors in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, at the age of 65.
1941 - Ronald Isley is born in Cincinnati, Ohio. He will become a singer
and with his brothers O'Kelly, Rudolph and Vernon Isley will form
the group, The Isley Brothers. They will leave Cincinnati in 1956
and go to New York City to pursue their musical career. Ronald and
his brothers will obtain fame and success nationally and
internationally earning numerous platinum and gold albums which
contain such classic hits as "Shout," "Twist and Shout," "It's Your
Thing," "Who's That Lady," "Fight the Power," "For the Love of
You," "Harvest For The World," "Live It Up," "Footsteps in the
Dark," "Work to Do," "Don't Say Good Night" and many others.
1955 - After being introduced to Leonard Chess, by bluesman Muddy Waters,
Chuck Berry goes into a recording session for Chess Records,
performing a restyled version of his song "Ida Red". What comes
out of that hot session will be Ida Red's new name and Chuck
Berry's first hit, "Maybellene". "Maybellene" will top the Rhythm
& Blues charts at #1, and the pop charts at #5.
1961 - Freedom Riders are attacked in Montgomery, Alabama. The third city
in which the CORE-sponsored group is attacked, the incident prompts
Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy to send U.S. marshals to keep
the peace while Governor Patterson of Alabama declares martial law
and dispatches the National Guard to the troubled area.
1964 - Elder Garnet Hawkins is elected by the 176th General Assembly and
becomes the first African American moderator of the United
Presbyterian Church. Born in New York City on June 13, 1908, he
received his bachelor's degree in 1935 at Bloomfield College in
Bloomfield, New Jersey and his Bachelor of Divinity degree from
Union Theological Seminary in 1938. He built his church from nine
African American members to an integrated congregation of more than
1,000. He also became the first moderator of the Presbyterian
Church to visit the Roman Catholic Pope.
1969 - Police and National Guardsmen fire on demonstrators at North Carolina
A&T College. One student is killed and five policemen are injured.
1970 - The National Guard is mobilized to stop widespread demonstrations and
violence at Ohio State University. The interracial student
demonstrators demand an end to ROTC programs and greater admissions
for African-American students.
1971 - Riots in Chattanooga, Tennessee, result in one death and 400 arrests
as National Guard troops are called to put down the racially
motivated disturbances.
1973 - The sensual, "Pillow Talk", by Sylvia (Sylvia Vanderpool), earns a
gold record. The artist first recorded with Hot Lips Page for
Columbia Records back in 1950 and was known as Little Sylvia. She
was also half of the singing duo Mickey & Sylvia, who recorded
"Love Is Strange" in 1957. "Pillow Talk" is her only solo major
hit and will make it to number three on the pop music charts.
1975 - Lowell W. Perry is confirmed as chairman of the Equal Opportunity
Commission (EEOC).
1985 - Marvin Gaye's last album is released. "Dream of a Lifetime" features
songs that critics consider too offensive such as the
controversial, pop version of "The Lord's Prayer". Three of the
songs from the album are completed after Gaye's joins the
ancestors. Marvin Gaye will be inducted into the Rock and Roll
Hall of Fame in 1987.
______________________________________________________________
Munirah Chronicle is edited by Brother Mosi Hoj
"The TRUTH shall make you free"
E-mail: <[log in to unmask]>
Archives: <http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/Munirah.html>
______________________________________________________________
To SUBSCRIBE send E-mail to: <[log in to unmask]>
In the E-mail body place: Subscribe Munirah Your FULL Name
______________________________________________________________
Munirah(TM) is a trademark of Information Man. Copyright 2002,
All Rights Reserved by the Information Man in association with
CODE One Communications.
|
