1785
David Walker is born free in Wilmington, North Carolina.
He will become an outspoken African American abolitionist
and anti-slavery activist. In 1829, while living in Boston,
Massachusetts, he will publish “An Appeal to the Coloured
Citizens of the World,” a call for black unity and self-
help in the fight against oppression and injustice. The
work will bring attention to the abuses and inequities of
slavery and the role of individuals to act responsibly for
racial equality, according to religious and political
tenets. At the time, some people will be outraged and
fearful of the reaction that the pamphlet would have. Many
abolitionists will believe the views are extreme. Historians
and liberation theologians cite the Appeal as an influential
political and social document of the 19th century. He will
exert a radicalizing influence on the abolitionist movements
of his day and inspire future black leaders and activists.
He will join the ancestors on August 6, 1830 in Boston,
Massachusetts. Editor’s Note: Historians disagree on David
Walker’s date of birth. We choose to use the date of birth
cited by the Cape Fear Historical Institute in Wilmington,
North Carolina.
1829
“Walker’s Appeal (To the Coloured Citizens of the World),”
a racial antislavery pamphlet, is published in Boston,
Massachusetts, by David Walker.
1833
Lemuel Haynes, Revolutionary War veteran and first African
American to be ordained by the Congregational Church, joins
the ancestors at the age of 80.
1912
W.C. Handy’s ground-breaking “Memphis Blues” is published
in Memphis, Tennessee. The composition was originally
entitled “Mr. Crump” and was written for the 1909
political campaign of Edward H. “Boss” Crump.
1938
Benjamin Earl “Ben E.” King is born in Henderson, North
Carolina. He will become a rhythm and blues singer and
perhaps best known as the singer and co-composer of
“Stand by Me” – a US Top 10 hit, both in 1961 and later in
1986 (when it was used as the theme to the film of the same
name), a number one hit in the United Kingdom in 1987, and
no. 25 on the RIAA’s list of Songs of the Century – and as
one of the principal lead singers of the Rhythm & Blues
vocal group, the Drifters, notably singing the lead vocals
of one of their biggest global hit singles (and only U.S.
#1 hit) “Save the Last Dance for Me”. He will be inducted
into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a Drifter. He will be
inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2009.
He will join the ancestors on April 30, 2015.
1941
Charles Robert “Charley” Taylor is born in Grand Prairie,
Texas. He will become a wide receiver in the National
Football League for fourteen seasons, all with the Washington
Redskins. He will retire in June 1978 as the NFL’s all-time
leading receiver with 649 receptions, for 9,110 yards and 79
touchdowns. With 1,488 yards rushing and some kick return
yardage, he will total 10,803 combined net yards. With 11
rushing touchdowns and 79 on receptions, he will score 540
points in his career. He will earn first or second team All-
NFL honors six times and be selected to play in eight Pro
Bowls. He will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame
in 1984. He will be selected as one of the 70 Greatest Redskins
of all time. In 1999, he will be ranked number 85 on The
Sporting News’ list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.
1945
Todd Duncan debuts with the New York City Opera as Tonio
in Il Pagliacci. He is the first African American to
sing a leading role with a major American company, almost
ten years before Marian Anderson sings with the
Metropolitan Opera.
1961
Ossie Davis’s “Purlie Victorious” opens on Broadway. The
play stars Davis, Ruby Dee, Godfrey Cambridge, Alan Alda,
and Beah Richards.
1961
Atlanta’s segregated restaurants and other public facilities
are peacefully integrated, part of a plan adopted by city
officials earlier in the year.
1967
Walter Washington takes office as the first mayor of the
District of Columbia.
1972
The Secretary of the Army repeals the dishonorable
discharges of 167 soldiers involved in the Brownsville
(Texas) Raid (August 12-13, 1906). The soldiers, members
of the 25th Infantry who were involved in a riot with the
city’s police and merchants, were dishonorably discharged
by President Theodore Roosevelt without a trial. Although
commanders said the soldiers had been in the barracks all
night, evidence had been planted against them. A renewed
investigation in the early 1972 will exonerate the
discharged black troops. The government will pardon them
and restore their records to show honorable discharges but
did not provide retroactive compensation.
1976
Muhammad Ali retains the heavyweight boxing championship
in a close 15-round decision over Ken Norton at Yankee
Stadium.
1979
Larry Holmes retains the heavyweight boxing championship
by knocking out Ernie Shavers in 11 rounds.
1981
Joseph Paul Franklin, avowed racist, is sentenced to life
in prison for killing 2 African American joggers in Salt
Lake City, Utah.
1987
The National Museum of African Art, now a part of the
Smithsonian Institution, opens on the National Mall in
Washington, DC. Founded by Warren M. Robbins in 1964 as
a private educational institution, it is the only museum
in the United States devoted exclusively to the
collection, study, and exhibition of the art of sub-
Saharan Africa.
1990 – Marvin Gaye gets a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame.
1991 – Miles Davis, jazz musician, joins the ancestors at the age
of 65 from pneumonia.
2003 – Althea Gibson, pioneering tennis player, joins the ancestors
at the age of 76 after succumbing to respiratory failure. She
was the first African American woman to win the Wimbledon
championship and was also a professional golfer.