* Today in Black History - March 13 * 1779 - Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable, an explorer of African descent, from Santo Domingo (Haiti), builds the first permanent settlement at the mouth of the river, just east of the present Michigan Avenue Bridge on the north bank, of what is now the city of Chicago, Illinois. 1861 - Jefferson Davis signs a bill authorizing the use of slaves as soldiers in the Confederate army. 1862 - Congress forbids Union officers and soldiers from aiding in the capture and return of fugitive slaves, ending what one historian called the "military slave hunt." 1869 - Arkansas legislature passes anti-Ku Klux Klan legislation. 1914 - James Reese Europe explains the significance of his Clef Club Symphony Orchestra, consisting of the best African American musicians in New York City: "... we colored people have our own music that is a part of us. It's the product of our souls; it's been created by the sufferings and miseries of our race." 1918 - John Rhoden is born in Birmingham, Alabama. An art student who will study with Richmond Barthe' and at Talledega College, Rhoden's sculptures will have strong romantic and classical elements. He will receive commissions for Harlem Hospital and Metropolitan Hospital in New York City, exhibit his work at the Atlanta University annuals, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Whitney Museum and be represented in museums in the United States and Europe. Among his major works will be "Safari," "Eve," and "Quarter Horse." 1930 - Richard Allen "Blue" Mitchell is born in Miami, Florida. The trumpeter will make his name as a member of Horace Silver's Quintet. From 1974, he will play as a soloist or as an accompanist for Tony Bennett and Lena Horne. 1932 - The "Atlanta World" becomes the first African American daily newspaper in modern times, when it begins daily publication. It was founded on August 3, 1928, by William A. Scott, III and became a bi-weekly in 1930. 1943 - Frank Dixon becomes the first great African American miler in track as he wins the Columbian Mile in New York City. Dixon runs the mile in the record time of 4 minutes, 9.6 seconds. 1946 - Colonel Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. becomes the first African American to command an United States Air Force base, when he assumes command of Lockbourne Air Force Base in Ohio. 1961 - Floyd Patterson knocks out Ingemar Johannson to retain the heavyweight boxing championship. 1984 - James L. Usry is elected the first African American mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey. He will serve as mayor until 1990. A former member of the Harlem Globetrotters, he became an educator before entering politics. 1999 - Evander Holyfield, the WBA and IBF champion, and Lennox Lewis, the WBC champion, keep their respective titles after fighting to a controversial draw in New York. ______________________________________________________________ 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. Copyright 2002, All Rights Reserved by the Information Man in association with CODE One Communications.