* Today in Black History - November 7 * 1775 - Lord Dunmore, the British governor of the colony of Virginia, issues a proclamation granting freedom to any slave who is willing to join the British army in its fight against the American revolutionaries. The offer applies only to slaves owned by "rebels". About 800 slaves will eventually accept the offer. 1876 - Edward Bouchet, is the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from a college in the United States (Yale University). 1876 - Edward Bannister, the first African American artist to win wide critical acclaim, is awarded a prize at the Philadelphia Centennial Exposition for his work, "Under the Oak". 1915 - Meharry Medical College is incorporated as a separate entity in Nashville, Tennessee. 1916 - The NAACP's Spingarn Medal is awarded to Col. Charles Young, U.S. Army, for organizing the Liberian constabulary and establishing order on the frontiers of Liberia. 1934 - Arthur L. Mitchell, becomes the first African American Democratic congressman (Illinois), after defeating Republican Oscar Depriest in a Chicago election. 1938 - Delecta Clark is born in Blythesville, Arkansas. He will become a rhythm and blues singer better known as "Dee" Clark. He will move to Chicago as a child and be in the Hambone Kids with Sammy McGrier and Ronny Strong. They will recorded for Okeh Records in 1952 - the next year Clark will sing with the Goldentones. This group will later become the Kool Gents. Clark will go solo in 1957 and in 1958 enjoyed his first smash with "Nobody for You," an Abner release that will reach number three Rhythm & Blues and just miss the Top 20 on the pop charts. He will continue a string of R&B winners with "Just Keep It Up," "Hey Little Girl," and "How About That" for Abner in 1959 and 1960. Clark will team with guitarist Phil Upchurch to write "Raindrops" in 1961, which will become his signature song. Raindrops will peak at number three Rhythm & Blues and number two pop, and will be his last major hit. He will join the ancestors in 1990. 1950 - Alexa Canady is born in Lansing, Michigan. She will become, at age 30, the first African American female neurosurgeon in the United States. She will be first in her class at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. She will become one of the finest neurosurgeons in the country, and be highly esteemed for her outstanding ability as a pediatric surgeon and researcher. Canady will become the director of neurosurgery at Children's Hospital in Detroit and a clinical professor at Wayne State University. 1955 - In reviewing a Baltimore, Maryland case, the U.S. Supreme Court bans segregation in public recreational areas. 1963 - Elston Howard, of the New York Yankees, becomes the first African American to win the American League MVP award. 1967 - Carl Stokes of Cleveland, Ohio, and Richard Hatcher of Gary, Indiana, become the first African American mayors of these major United States cities. 1967 - The NAACP's Spingarn Medal is presented to Edward W. Brooke for his public service as the first African American U.S. senator since Reconstruction. 1967 - A report of the Senate Permanent Investigating Committee says there were seventy-five major riots in 1967, compared with twenty-one major riots in 1966. The committee reports that eight-three persons were killed in 1967 riots, compared with eleven in 1966 and thirty-six in 1965. 1970 - A racially motivated civil disturbance occurs in Daytona Beach, Florida. 1972 - Reverend Andrew Young of Atlanta, Georgia and Barbara Jordan of Houston, Texas become the first southern African Americans elected to Congress since Reconstruction. Also elected for the first time was Yvonne Brathwaite Burke (California). Republican Senator Edward W. Brooke of Massachusetts was overwhelmingly endorsed for a second term. 1978 - Five African Americans are elected to Congress: William Gray III (Pennsylvania), Bennett Stewart (Illinois), Melvin Evans (Virgin Islands), Julian Dixon (California) and George "Mickey" Leland (Texas). 1989 - David Dinkins is the first African American elected mayor of New York City. 1989 - L. Douglas Wilder is elected as the first African American governor (D-Virginia) in the United States since Reconstruction. 1990 - The National Football League withdraws its plans to hold the 1993 Super Bowl in Phoenix due to Arizona's refusal to honor Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. 1991 - Los Angeles Lakers' superstar Magic Johnson announces his retirement from professional basketball after learning he has tested positive for the AIDS virus. 1999 - Tiger Woods becomes the first golfer since Ben Hogan in 1953, to win four straight tournaments. 1999 - Kenya's Joseph Chebet wins the New York City Marathon. ______________________________________________________________ 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. 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