*               Today in Black History - May 15         *

1795 - John Morront becomes first African American missionary to work
        with Indians is ordained as a Methodist minister in London,
        England.

1891 - British Central African Protectorate (now Malawi) is established.

1918 - In a World War I incident that will later be known as "The
        Battle of Henry Johnson," the African American attacks
        advancing Germans, frees sentry Needham Roberts, and forces
        the retreat of the enemy troops.  Johnson and Roberts will be
        awarded the Croix de Guerre, France's highest military award.
        They are the first Americans ever to win the award.

1923 - "The Chip Woman's Fortune" by Willis Richardson opens at the
        Frazee Theatre on Broadway.  The play, staged by the Ethiopian
        Art Theatre of Chicago, is the first dramatic work by an
        African American playwright to be presented on Broadway.

1942 - The 93rd Infantry is activated at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. It is
        the first African American division formed during World War II
        and is assigned to combat duty in the South Pacific.

1946 - Camilla Williams appears in the title role of Madama Butterfly
        with the New York City Opera.  She is the first African
        American female concert singer to sign a contract with a major
        American opera company.

1953 - Former Heavyweight Champion, Jersey Joe Walcott, is knocked out by
        Rocky Marciano at Chicago Stadium at two minutes, 25 seconds of
        the first round.

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        The source for these facts are "Encyclopedia Britannica,
        "InfoBeat," "I, Too, Sing America - The African American
        Book of Days," "Before the Mayflower", "Black Firsts" and
        independent research by the Information Man.
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