* Today in Black History - December 16 *
1834 - George Lewis Ruffin is born in Richmond, Virginia. The
son of free African Americans, he and his wife, Josephine
St. Pierre Ruffin (1842–1924), will flee to England after
the Dred Scott decision (1857), and return soon to
Boston. While making his living as a barber, he will
speak out on matters concerning African Americans. He
will read the law in Boston and become the first Black
to graduate from Harvard Law School (1869). While
maintaining a thriving practice in Boston, he will serve
in the Massachusetts legislature (1869–71) and Boston
City Council (1876–8), and will be named a municipal
judge (1883). An active Baptist and able speaker, he will
attend national conventions of African Americans and
become a close friend of many prominent people of his
day, including Frederick Douglass. His wife was a partner
in his many efforts to improve the lot of fellow
African Americans. He will join the ancestors in 1886
1838 - The Zulu chieftain Dingaan is defeated by the Boers in
South Africa.
1859 - Shields Green and John Anthony Copeland, two of five
African American freedom fighters, are hanged for their
participation in John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry.
Copeland will be led to the gallows shouting "I am dying
for freedom. I could not die for a better cause. I had
rather die than be a slave."
1859 - The last slave ship, the Clothilde, landed a shipment of
slaves at Mobile Bay, Alabama.
1870 - The Colored Methodist Church of America is established at
Jackson, Tennessee. The organization will change its
name in 1954 to the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
The denomination will grow to include approximately 3,000
congregations.
1875 - Charles Caldwell, a militant African American militia
officer, joins the ancestors, after being assassinated in
Clinton, Mississippi.
1875 - Alabama A&M College, Knoxville College and Lane College are
established.
1875 - Governor Daniel H. Chamberlain, acting in concert with
white Democrats and conservatives, refuses to resign his
commission.
1875 - William J. Whippers is elected judge of the circuit court
of Charleston by the South Carolina General Assembly.
1895 - Andy Razafkerief(Razaf) is born in Washington, DC. He will
become an important lyricist and musical collaborator with
Eubie Blake and Fats Waller. His most famous songs will
include "Ain't Misbehavin'," "Honeysuckle Rose," and the
lyrics to "Stomping at the Savoy." He will be inducted
into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame in 1972.
1934 - John Edward Jacobs is born in Trout, Louisiana and will be
raised in Houston, Texas. Jacobs will serve the National
Urban League in many capacities and in 1982 will replace
Vernon E. Jordan, Jr. as its president.
1937 - Augusta Savage, sculptress, is commissioned to sculpt a
piece for the 1939 New York World's Fair. The sculpture
is to symbolize the African American contribution to the
field of music. It is the first such commission given to
an African American.
1946 - The first coining honoring an African American and designed
by an African American is issued. The fifty-cent piece
contains the bust of Booker T. Washington.
1962 - William "The Refrigerator" Perry, is born in Aiken, South
Carolina. He will become a NFL defensive lineman with the
Chicago Bears. He will be best known for his occasional
performance as a running back on short yardage situations.
1967 - Wilt Chamberlain, of the NBA Philadelphia 76ers, scores 68
points against the Chicago Bulls.
1973 - Jim Brown's single season rushing record in the NFL is
smashed by O.J. Simpson. Brown rushed for 1,863 yards,
while Simpson ran for 2,003 yards.
1976 - Rep. Andrew Young is appointed Ambassador and Chief
representative to the United Nations by President Jimmy
Carter.
1990 - Jean-Bertrand Aristide is elected president of Haiti in
the country's first democratic elections.
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