* Today in Black History - May 7 * 1867 - African American demonstrators stage a ride-in to protest segregation on New Orleans streetcars. Similar demonstrations occur in Mobile, Alabama, and other cities. 1878 - J.R. Winters receives a patent for the fire escape ladder. 1884 - Henrietta Vinton Davis performs scenes from Shakespeare with Powhatan Beaty at Ford's Opera House in Washington, DC, site of the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln. Vinton's career will span a total of 44 years and will include her involvement with Marcus Garvey's UNIA, including a vice- presidency of Garvey's Black Star Line. 1885 - Dr. John E. W. Thompson, a graduate of the Yale University Medical School, is named minister to Haiti. 1931 - Literary critic and editor Darwin Turner is born in Cincinnati, Ohio. His major works will include "Black American Literature: Essays, Poetry Fiction and Drama" (1969) and "Voices from the Black Experience: African and Afro-American Literature" (1972). 1939 - Jimmy Ruffin is born in Colinsville, Mississippi. The older brother of the Temptations' lead singer David Ruffin, he will become a singer on the Motown label and will best known for the hit "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted." He will also record "Hold on to My Love," "There Will Never be Another You," and "I'll Say Forever My Love." 1941 - "Natural Man," a play by Theodore Browne, premieres in New York City. It is a production of the American Negro Theatre, founded by Abram Hill and Frederick O'Neal. 1945 - Baseball owner Branch Rickey announces the organization of the United States Negro Baseball League, consisting of six teams. 1946 - William Hastie is inaugurated as the first African American governor of the U.S. Virgin Islands. 1959 - 93,103 fans pack the Los Angeles Coliseum for an exhibition game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the New York Yankees. It is "Roy Campanella Night." The star catcher for the Dodgers, paralyzed in an automobile accident, is honored for his contributions to the team for many years. "Campie" will continue to serve in various capacities with the Dodger organization for many years. ______________________________________________________________ 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 2003, All Rights Reserved by the Information Man in association with CODE One Communications.