The first African American players in the National Basketball Association in the 20th Century all came into the League in 1950. They were Earl Francis Lloyd (Syracuse Nationals), Charles Henry Cooper (Boston Celtics), and Nathaniel Clifton (New York Knicks) They began their academic training at … Read MoreThe First Black Players in the NBA (1950)
Founded in Philadelphia in 1869, the Knights of Labor (KOL) was the largest, most important labor union in the 19th century United States. Unlike most unions (and predominantly White institutions), then, the KOL opened its membership to African Americans and women workers. Prior to the … Read MoreAfrican Americans and the Knights of Labor (1869-1949)
The USS PC-1264 was a PC-461- class submarine chaser built for the United States Navy. The vessel was one of two U.S. Navy ships operated primarily by an African American crew during World War II. The other ship was the escort destroyer, the USS Mason … Read MoreThe USS PC-1264 (1943-1946)
Jacob Vanderpool was the only person known to have been legally expelled from Oregon on the basis of its anti-Black exclusion laws. Born in the West Indies in 1820, Vanderpool was classified in court documents as “mulatto,” likely the descendant of a Dutch plantation owner … Read MoreJacob Vanderpool (1820-188?)
Physician, concert pianist, and conductor, Adele Darlene Allen was born March 19, 1953, in Brooklyn, New York, to Oscar Clement Allen, a physician from Baltimore, Maryland, and Hattie Lawson Allen, a registered nurse, high school administrator, author from Danville, Virginia. She has one sister, Carol … Read MoreAdele Darlene Allen (1953- )
Orville Richard Burrell, whose stage name is Shaggy, was born October 22, 1968 in Kingston, Jamaica. The Jamaican-American is a reggae musician, singer, DJ, and actor known for his hit songs “It Wasn’t Me,” “Boombastic,” “Oh Carolina,” and other singles. Nominated for seven Grammy Awards, … Read MoreShaggy/ Orville Richard Burrell (1968- )
R&B singer Oran “Juice” Jones was born on March 28, 1957, in Houston, Texas. However, he was reared in Harlem, New York. He is the father of seven children. Jones graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1981, receiving U.S. Marines Corps’ Scout Snipers, … Read MoreOran “Juice” Jones (1957- )
Lord Tariq and Peter Gunz was a hip-hop duo composed of rappers Sean “Lord Tariq” Hamilton and Peter “Peter Gunz” Pankey. The group is best known for their 1997 single “Déjà vu (Uptown Baby).” The duo was established in 1996 in New York City, New … Read MoreLord Tariq and Peter Gunz (1996-1999)
A cappella doo-wop, gospel sextet Take 6 was formed on the only Historically Black College and University (HBCU) Seventh Day Adventist campus of Oakwood University in 1980 in Huntsville, Alabama. The ensemble’s repertoire includes jazz, doo-wop, Contemporary R&B, Negro Spirituals, and Classical European genres of … Read MoreTake 6 (1980- )
Choreographer, dancer, artistic director and LGBTQ community activist Alexander Emanuel Simon was born on November 27, 1980, in Christiansted, United States Virgin Islands, to Rufus Emanuel Simon from Basseterre which is part of the Caribbean Island federation of Nevis St. Kitts, and Martha Maria Santiago … Read MoreAlexander Emanuel Simon (1980- )
