* 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.
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