Skip to content
- The rhythm and blues singer who recorded “Say It Loud, I’m Black and I’m Proud” was James Brown. Known as the “Godfather Of Soul”, he encouraged young blacks to have pride in themselves.
- Samuel L. Gravely, Jr. paved the way for black Americans to rise in rank in the US Navy by becoming the first black commander of a Navy Ship, and in 1971 became the first black rear admiral.
- Dr. Louis T. Wright became famous for his research in cancer and founded the Cancer Research Center in Harlem Hospital in NYC.
- The TALLEST mountain in Africa is Mt. Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Its central cone, Kibo, rises to 19,341 feet.
- The literary figure who came to be called the poet laureate of the Negro race was Langston Hughes. His first book of poems entitled The Weary Blues was published in 1926.
- The court case of Margaret vs. Commonwealth of Virginia resulted in desegregation of interstate bus travel in 1946.
- In the 1800’s, rodeo rider Bill Pickett perfected the technique of bulldogging which involved wrestling a steer to the ground and reputedly biting its lip.
- The first African American to serve in the Texas Senate since 1883 was Barbara Jordan in 1966. In 1972, she was elected to represent Texas in the US Congress.
- In the 19th centruy, Granville T. Woods became known as the Black Edison for his work in electrical engineering. His induction telegraph system allowed communication between train engineers.
- The choreographer from Texas who formed a world famous dance theater troupe in New York City was Alvin Ailey. His troupe was featured at the opening of the John F. Kennedy Center for the performing arts in 1972.
Scroll back to top