*		    Today in Black History - May 8		 *

1771 - Phillis Wheatley sails for England. Two years later, her 
	book of poetry, "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and 
	Moral," will be published in London.

1858 - John Brown holds an antislavery convention, which is 
	attended by twelve whites and thirty-four African 
	Americans, in Chatham, Canada. 

1858 - "The Escape," first play by an African American, is 
	published by William Wells Brown.

1910 - Mary Elfrieda Scruggs is born in Atlanta, Georgia. She will 
	become a professional piano player at the age of 6 in 
	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After marrying musician and band 
	leader, John Williams, she will perform as Mary Lou 
	Williams.  She will become an accomplished arranger and 
	composer and be a music educator in her later years. In 
	1957, she will form Mary Records, becoming the first
	woman to establish a record company.  She will join the 
	ancestors on May 28, 1981 in Durham, North Carolina.

1911 - Robert Leroy Johnson is born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi. He 
	will become a legendary blues musician while remaining 
	relatively obscure during his short lifetime. Recordings of 
	Johnson, made by by Columbia Records between 1936 and 1937, 
	will be the foundation for his reputation after he joins 
	the ancestors on August 16, 1938.  The songs he recorded will 
	influence the bluesmen of the 1960's during the revival of 
	the blues. He will be inducted into the Rock and Roll
	Hall of Fame in 1986.

1915 - Henry McNeal Turner joins the ancestors in Windsor, Canada. 
	He was an influential minister in the AME Church and was 
	appointed the first African American chaplain in the U.S. 
	Army.

1917 - An African American, Jesse Washington, is burned alive in a 
	public square in Waco, Texas.  Fifteen thousand will look 
	on in the incident known later as the "Waco Horror."

1925 - A. Philip Randolph organizes the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car 
	Porters after failing to integrate the American Federation 
	of Labor.

1932 - Charles (Sonny) Liston is born in St. Frances County, 
	Arkansas. After spending time as juvenile delinquent, he 
	will be convicted of armed robbery in 1950 and sentenced to 
	prison.  While in prison, he will develop an interest in 
	boxing.  He will win the 1953 Golden Gloves championship, 
	after serving his sentence.  He will become a professional 
	boxer and will win the World Heavyweight Boxing crown
	in 1962 and defend it until he is defeated by Cassius Clay 
	(later named Muhammad Ali) in 1964. He will join the 
	ancestors on December 30, 1970 and be inducted into the 
	International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1991. 

1951 - Philip Bailey is born in Denver, Colorado. He will become a 
	Rhythm and Blues singer and will enjoy his first fame with 
	the group Earth, Wind and Fire, which he joins in 1972. He 
	will develop his unique four-octave voice into a trademark 
	sound and will be the hallmark of the group's hits such as 
	"Reasons," "Shining Star," "All 'N' All," and "After The 
	Love Has Gone." In 1983, he will start his solo career and
	will enjoy success in both Rhythm and Blues and Gospel 
	venues. On March 6, 2000 he will appear with Earth, Wind 
	and Fire when they are inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall 
	of Fame.

1958 - President Eisenhower orders federalized National Guard 
	troops removed from Central High School in Little Rock, 
	Arkansas.

1965 - The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians is 
	founded by Muhal Richard Abrams.

1967 - Muhammad Ali is indicted for refusing induction in the U.S. 
	Army.

2003 - Sam Lacy joins the ancestors at the age of 99, after 
	succumbing to esophageal disorder.  He had been one of the 
	nation's first African American sportswriters and was a 
	chronicler of sports integration.

______________________________________________________________
           Munirah Chronicle is edited by Rene' A. Perry
              "The TRUTH shall make you free"

   E-mail:   <[log in to unmask]>
   Archives: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/Munirah.html
             http://blackagenda.com/cybercolonies/index.htm
   _____________________________________________________________
   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 1997 - 2010,
   All Rights Reserved by the Information Man in association with
   The Black Agenda.