* Today in Black History - March 18 * 1895 - 200 African Americans leave Savannah, Georgia for Liberia. 1901 - William Henry Johnson is born in Florence, South Carolina. He will leave his home for New York and Europe, where he will develop a deliberate and controversial primitive painting style. Among his more famous works will be "Chain Gang," "Calvary," and "Descent from the Cross." He will join the ancestors on January 1, 1970. 1939 - Charley Frank Pride is born in Sledge, Mississippi. Intent on a career in baseball, he will begin his country music career in 1960, singing between innings at a company- sponsored baseball game where he is a player. A recording contract will follow in 1964 and a debut with the "Grand Ole Opry" in 1967. Pride will become the first African American to become a successful country music star. His awards will include a 1972 Grammy. 1941 - Wilson Pickett is born in Prattville, Alabama. He will become Rhythm & Blues singer and will begin his career as the lead tenor with The Falcons ("I Found a Love" - 1962). He will become a solo artist and release the hits, "Funky Broadway," "In the Midnight Hour," "Land of 1000 Dances," "Mustang Sally," "It's Too Late," and "Don't Knock My Love." He will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1991. He will join the ancestors on January 19, 2006. 1943 - William Hastie wins the NAACP's Spingarn Medal. A former federal judge and law school dean, Hastie, a civilian aide to Secretary of War Henry L. Stimson, had resigned his position earlier in the year over the armed forces' discriminatory practices. 1959 - Irene Cara is born in New York City. She will become an actress, singer, and songwriter. She will receive an Academy Award, two Grammy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, plus numerous other awards emanating from every aspect of the industry. Her performance in the ground breaking 1980's picture Fame (1980) will catapult her into world wide stardom and motivate a generation of young people to become involved in the performing arts. 1963 - Vanessa L. Williams is born in Millwood, New York (Westchester County). She will become the first African American Miss America. She will later become a popular singer, major recording star, and movie actress. She will star in the Tony Award-winning musical "Kiss of the Spider Woman," the mini-series "Odyssey," and the movies "Eraser," "Hoodlum," "Soul Food," and "Shut Up and Dance." 1972 - The USS Jesse L. Brown, the first U.S. naval ship to be named after an African American naval officer, is launched at Westwego, Louisiana. Brown was the first African American pilot in the U.S. Naval Reserve and was the first African American pilot killed in the Korean War (1950). Editor's Note: This was not the first naval vessel named after an African American. The USS Harmon was named after an enlisted man, Leonard Roy Harmon, during World War II (1944). 1982 - Singer Teddy Pendergrass is paralyzed as a result of an automobile accident. 1991 - The Philadelphia '76ers retire Wilt Chamberlain's #13 jersey. 1991 - Reggie Miller, of the Indiana Pacers ends his NBA free throw streak of 52 games. 1992 - Donna Summers gets a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. ______________________________________________________________ Munirah Chronicle is edited by Mr. 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 - 2016, All Rights Reserved by the Information Man in association with The Black Agenda.