Achievers of Color Historical Profiles, Past and Present

January is a great month, for people of color. Some of our most notable achievers were born in this month, and some great accomplishments transpired. This year our country will make history installing the first man of color as the 44^th President of the United States, Barack Hussein Obama. Just think, 146 years ago, January 1, 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln signed that most notable document, the Emancipation Proclamation, which declared that rebelling slaves could forever be free, the thought of such a notion as running for any political office placed a black manÕs life in jeopardy, although there were a few men of color who managed to be elected to some House seats.  On January 2, 1990, David Dinkins became the first African American mayor of AmericaÕs largest city (at that time), New York City. On January 3, 1985, Leontyne Price became the first African American to gain international fame with her farewell performance at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Some thirty years before Price, on January 7, 1955, Marian Anderson appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. This concert marked the first time an African American performed at the opera house.

January 5 is honored as George Washington Carver Day. Carver became remembered as one of the worldÕs greatest scientist, discovering 88 ways to use a sweet potato and 300 ways to use the peanut. He died on this day, 1943.

Some famous people of color born in January include Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., born January 15, 1929; Morris Chestnut, born January 1, 1969, Taye Diggs, born January 2, 1972 and Cuba Gooding, Jr., born January 2, 1968, each become accomplished Black actors. Dennis Wayne Archer, born January 1, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, becomes mayor of the city of Detroit; in 1993 and L. Douglas Wilder, born January 17, 1931, in Richmond, Virginia becomes Virginia's first Black governor. Willye B. White, born January 1, 1940, in Money, Mississippi, becomes the first Black female to compete in five Olympian Games. Bridget Pettis, born January 1, 1971, in East Chicago, Indiana, becomes a WNBA professional basketball player for the Indiana Fever and   

Cheryl Miller, born January 3, 1964, in Riverside, California, becomes a pro basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Cheryl Miller and basketballs' Reggie Miller are siblings. William Theodore Ribbs, Jr., born January 3, 1956, in San Jose, California, becomes the first African American pioneer in auto racing to compete in the Indianapolis 500. Mohammad Ali born January 17, 1942, Floyd Patterson born January 4, 1935, George Foreman, born January 10, 1949, and Joe Frazier born, January 17, 1944, all four become boxers, each having held boxing heavyweight champion title of the world during their fighting careers. James Earl Jones born January 17, 1931, becomes an actor. Abram Hannibal, once reigning prince of Lagano Ethiopia, born on January 3, 1697-1762, becomes a major general and military engineer, in Russia. Captured at the age of eight as a slave, and taken to Turkey, and then kidnapped and taken to Moscow, he became the property of the Czar, Peter the Great, who became fond of him because of his intelligence. For ten years, he went everywhere with Peter the Great, completing his education in 1716. Mathematics and engineering came natural to Hannibal. The Czar sent him to Paris to study engineering. Hannibal's skills and intelligence added many contributions to Russia. He married a German woman who gave him eleven children. Get more information from African American Registry.(From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

Jamie Henderson, born January 1, 1979, in Carrolton, Georgia, becomes a professional football player for the New York Jets. (From: www.espn.com , an Internet sports source)

Kevin Mitchell, born January 1, 1971, in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, becomes a professional football player for the Washington Redskins. (From: www. si.com , an Internet sports source)

 "Grandmaster Flash," born Joseph Saddler, January 1, 1958, in Bridgetown, Barbados, becomes one of the pioneers of hip-hop. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced they would induct Grandmaster Flash along with his group the Furious Five into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on January 8, 2007. From: www.wikipedia.org and www.allmusic.com

Jennie R. Patrick, born January 1, 1949, in Gadsden, Alabama, becomes a chemical engineer, educator, and lecturer. She became the first African American female to earn a Ph.D. in chemical engineering, in the United States. (From: Notable Black American Women, Book 2)

Claude Mason Steele, born January 1, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, becomes a social psychologist and educator. He is the twin brother of Shelby Steel, author of ÒContent of Our Character." From: http://galenet.galegroup.com and Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 13

Shelby Steele, born January 1, 1946, in Chicago, Illinois, becomes a famous author. He wrote the "Content of Our Character." In 1990, the book receives the National Book Critics Circle Award. (From: Timelines of African American History, 500 Years of Black Achievement, page 330)

Dennis Wayne Archer, born January 1, 1942, in Detroit, Michigan, becomes mayor of the city of Detroit; in 1993, (some sources indicate the year was 1994.) He served two terms as mayor, 1994-2001. In 1984, Ebony Magazine named him one of the 100 Most Influential Black Americans. He received a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Detroit Branch of the NAACP, plus other honors and awards. (From: http://africanpubs.com/Apps/bios/0138ArcherDennis , an Internet source and Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 7)

Willye B. White, born January 1, 1940 or 1939, in Money, Mississippi, becomes the first Black female to compete in five Olympian games. She confronted both racist and sexist stereotypes, to ensure that all female athletes get the opportunity and inspiration to compete successfully and to develop and prepare for leadership roles. White becomes the first Black inducted into the Mississippi Hall of Fame, in 1982. (From: Black Firsts, Second Edition, page 703)

Lou Stoval, born January 1, 1937 in Athens, Georgia, becomes an artist and printmaker, who through his ÒWorkshop, Inc.", founded in 1968, made a unique effort to build a community of artists in Washington, D.C. and to encourage, by his own example, service in the community. Among his special commissions he designed the Independence Day invitation for the White House in 1982 at the request of Mrs. Ronald Reagan. In 1986, at the request of Mayor Marion Barry, he made the print American Beauty Rose for the Washington, D.C. Area Host Committee 1988 Democratic National Convention. In 1996 he designed and made the print Breathing Hope to Honor, Howard University's incoming president H. Patrick Swygert. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

Raymond Hood, born January 1, 1936-2002, in Detroit, Michigan, becomes a politician and lawmaker, serving in the United States House of Representatives, representing the 7^th District of Detroit, from 1964 to 1982 From: www.detnews.com/2002/obituaries/0204/01/c02-450643.htm

Christopher Edley, born January 1, 1928-2003, Charleston, West Virginia, becomes an attorney, advocate for education and a fund-raiser. He once served as president and CEO of the United Negro College Fund. He once said in an article for Jet Magazine, ÒAll of my life has been heavily laden with the things and the kind of work that would advance Black Life. (From: Contemporary Black Biography, Volume ?, page 58)

Milt Jackson, born January 1, 1923-1999, in Detroit, Michigan, becomes the first most influential vibes player of the modern jazz era. He began playing the vibraphones professionally at the age of 16. (From African American Registry, an Internet source and Timelines of African American History, page 164)

John H. Clark, born January 1, 1915-1998, in Union Springs, Alabama, becomes a noted historian and educator. He became the first licensed teacher of African and Afro-American history in New York State, and later an associate professor of Black and Puerto Rican studies at Hunter College in New York City. Clarke became a founding member of the Black Academy of Arts and Letters. (From African American Registry, an Internet source, and Encyclopedia of Black America, page 273)

Muriel M. Petioni, born January 1, 1914, in Port of Spain, Trinidad, becomes a physician, pioneering in the treatment of drug addiction. (From African American Registry, an Internet source)

Jesse Jackson, born January 1, 1908-1983, in Columbus, Ohio, becomes one of the first authors to write books for young African American adults and adolescents. In 1974, he published a book on the biography on achiever of color; Mahalia Jackson entitled "Make a Joyful Noise unto The Lord," for which he received the Carter G. Woodson Book Award. (From: The Essential Black Literature Guide, page 190)

Oscar ÒPapa" Celestin, born January 1, 1884-1954, in Napoleonville, New Orleans, Louisiana, becomes a Louisiana jazz bandleader, trumpeter, and singer. From: www.wikipedia.org

Samuel Ferguson, born January 1, 1842-1916, in Charleston, South Carolina, becomes a priest and first Black member of the House of Bishops, until his death. He founded Cuttington College in Cape Palmas, Liberia. (From African American Registry, an Internet source)

W. Q. Atwood, born January 1, 1839- (year of death not found,) on the Shell Creek Plantation in Prairie Bluff, along the Alabama River, in Wilcox County, Alabama, becomes a lumber merchant, capitalist and orator. Having been born in slavery, it is said he never felt the curse of slavery only until he wanted education. His father was his master and after his death, Atwood traveled north. His lumbering made him a wealthy businessman for his time. He held stocks, notes and mortgages. He owned property in Saginaw, Michigan worth $25,000. (From: Men of Mark, page 450)

Francis L. Cardoza, born January 1, 1837-1903 (some sources indicate his birth date to be February 1), in Charleston, South Carolina becomes the first Black Republican South Carolinian secretary of state. He served four years, being elected for 2-two year terms. He also served as the secretary of the treasury. (From: Men of Mark, page 281)

Marcus Wilkins, born January 2, 1980, in Austin, Texas, becomes a professional football player for the Green Bay Packers. (From: www.espn.com , an Internet source)

Madre Hill, born January 2, 1976, in Malvern, Arkansas, becomes a professional football player for the Cleveland Browns. (From: www.espn.com , an Internet sports source)

Cletidus Hunt, born January 2, 1976, in Memphis, Tennessee, becomes a professional football player for the Green Bay Packers. (From: www.espn.com , an Internet sports source)

Ratcliff Thomas, born January 2, 1974, in Alexandria, Virginia, becomes a professional football player for the Indianapolis Colts and the New England Patriots.(From: www.espn.com , an Internet sports source)

Taye Diggs, born January 2, 1972, in Rochester, New York, becomes an accomplished actor. (From: www.blackflix.com  and www.imdb.com , both Internet sources)

Horace Copeland, born January 2, 1971, in Orlando, Florida, becomes a professional football player for the Oakland Raiders. (From: www.BUCPOWER.com , an Internet sports source)

Cuba Gooding, Jr., born January 2, 1968, in South Bronx, New York, becomes an accomplished actor, receiving an Oscar for one of his acting performances, in "Jerry McGuire," in 1996. His mother and father both became professional singers; his mother served as a member of the back up group for achiever of color, Jackie Wilson, called "The Sweethearts," and his father, Cuba Gooding, Sr., served as the lead singer in the R&B group called "The Main Ingredient." His brother, Omar, became an actor also.(From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

Pernell Whitaker, born January 2, 1964, in Norfolk, Virginia, becomes a professional boxer and a 1984 Summer Olympics gold medalist, in the lightweight boxing competition.(From: Black Olympian Medalists, page 121)

Wayman E. Hancock, Jr., born January 2, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, becomes a marketing representative for a major computer software company. Musician and bandleader, Herbie Hancock and Wayman Hancock, are brothers.

Arthur Prysock, born January 2, 1929-1997, in Spartanburg, South Carolina, becomes an R&B singer from the 1950s through the 1970s. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

Juanita Jackson Mitchell, born January 2, 1913-1992, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, becomes a lawyer, administrator, and activist. She traveled extensively throughout the United States for the Bureau of Negro Work and the Methodist Church. She also served as special assistant to Walter White, an achiever of color, who served as NAACP Executive Secretary. Mitchell became the first Black woman to practice law in the state of Maryland, in 1950. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

St. Clair Drake, born January 2, 1911-1990, in Suffolk, Virginia, becomes an anthropologist and educator. Drake became one of the first Black faculty members of Roosevelt University, where he taught twenty-three years. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source))

Elmer Simms Campbell, born January 2, 1906-1971, in St. Louis, Missouri, becomes the first Black cartoonist to work for national publications. Campbell created "Esky," who appeared on the cover of Esquire magazine. During the years of 1933 and 1958, his work appeared in Cosmopolitan, Redbook, the New Yorker, Opportunity, and syndicated in 145 newspapers. (From: Black Firsts, Second Edition, pages 4 and 5 and African American Registry, an Internet source))

Sadie Tanner M. Alexander, born January 2, 1898-1989, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, becomes the granddaughter of famous achiever of color, Benjamin Tucker Tanner, a noted bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church. Her uncle, achiever of color, Henry Ossawa Tanner, became a noted artist and painter. Sadie and her husband, judge Raymond Pace Alexander were among the founders of the National Bar Association, the professional organization for African American lawyers, in 1925. She became a lawyer and a civil rights activist, serving as the first woman to serve as president of the Philadelphia Bar Foundation. She practiced law until she the age of eighty-five. Alexander became the first Black woman to earn a PhD in economics. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source)
Oscar Micheaux, born January 2, 1884-1951, in Metropolis, Illinois, becomes a novelist, businessperson and pioneer in filmmaking. He produced his first film entitled "The Homesteader," in 1919, based on his autobiography. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source, Timelines of African American History, page 157 and Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 7)

David Tyree, born January 3, 1980, in Livingston, New Jersey, becomes a professional football player for the New York Giants. (From: www.espn.com , an Internet source)

Mike Gandy, born January 3, 1979, in Rockford, Illinois, becomes a professional football player for the Chicago Bears. (From: www.espn.com , an Internet source)

Chris Rogers, born January 3, 1977, in Largo, Maryland, becomes a professional football player for the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks. (From: www.nfl.com , an Internet source)

James Cannida, born January 3, 1975, in Savannah, Georgia, becomes a professional football player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Washington Redskins.  (From: www.espn.com , an Internet source)

Arnold Miller, born January 3, 1975, in New Orleans, Louisiana, becomes a professional football player for the Cleveland Browns and the Carolina Panthers. (From: www.espn.com, an Internet source)

Charles Johnson, born January 3, 1972, in San Bernardino, California, becomes a professional football player for the Philadelphia Eagles and the Buffalo Bills.     (From: http://games.espn.go.com/cgi/ffl/players/profile? an Internet source)

Cheryl Miller, born January 3, 1964, in Riverside, California, becomes a pro basketball Hall of Fame inductee. Cheryl Miller and basketballs' Reggie Miller are siblings. (From: NBA Hall of Fame, an Internet source)

William Theodore Ribbs, Jr., born January 3, 1956, in San Jose, California, becomes a pioneer in auto racing; the first African American to compete in the Indianapolis 500.(From: www. thehistorymaker.com, an Internet source)

On Katie Cannon, born January 3, 1950, in Kannapolis, North Carolina, became the first Black woman ordained as a Presbyterian minister.

Mohammed M. Aman, born January 3, 1940, in Cairo, Egypt, becomes an educator and an author. Some sources say his birthplace is Alexandria, Egypt. He established the African American Academic Staff Council. He chairs the Black Faculty Council at UWM. He also co-found the Milwaukee Arab-Jewish Dialogue. Dean Aman is an active member of many other international committees and organizations. His contributions to the community and to the field of education are countless, and his modest admission of those contributions offers insight into the inspiring nature of this remarkable man. (From: http://www.uwm.edu/People/aman , an Internet source)

Marpessa Dawn, born January 3, 1934, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, becomes an actress and the model featured on Black Orpheus posters. (From: www.csac.buffalo.edu/blackorpheusho.rt f, an Internet source)

Mary Magdalena L. Tate, born January 3, 1871-1930, in Dickson, Tennessee, becomes a minister and administrator. In 1903, she along with her two sons, Curtis and Feliz Early Lewis, established "The Church of the Living God, the Pillar and the Ground of Truth Without Controversy," (House of God). She preached her first sermon in Brooklyn, Illinois. In Alabama, she converted over 900 persons through her ministry. In 1914, Mother Tate organized the first Church of God, in Ocala, Florida. By 1916, under her leadership, the Church of God became chartered members in more than twenty states and Washington, D.C. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

 Alonso Jacob Ransier, born January 3, 1834-1882, in Charleston, South Carolina, becomes a politician, serving in 1868, as presidential elector for President Ulysses S. Grant, and two years after, nominated as lieutenant governor, serving from 1873 to 1875. Ransier defended the record of Black soldiers who fought for the Union during the Civil War, recalling their support for the reelection of President Grant in 1872. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

 Abram Hanniabl, reigning prince of Lagano Ethiopia, born on January 3, 1697-1762, becomes a major general and military engineer, in Russia. Captured at the age of eight as a slave, and taken to Turkey, and then kidnapped and taken to Moscow, he became the property of the Czar, Peter the Great, who became fond of him because of his intelligence. For ten years, he went everywhere with Peter the Great, completing his education in 1716. Mathematics and engineering came natural to Hannibal. The Czar sent him to Paris to study engineering. Hannibal's skills and intelligence added many contributions to Russia. He married a German woman who gave him eleven children. Get more information from African American Registry. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

William Tucker, born January 3, 1624, in Jamestown, Virginia, became the first African American child born in the Americas recorded. His parents who were called Anthony and Isabella arrived in Jamestown in 1619, were married and gave birth. Today, the population of Black people born in America reaches over 35, 000,000. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

Jimmy Wilkerson, born January 4, 1981, in Omaha, Texas, becomes a professional football player for the Kansas City Chiefs. (From: www.espn.com , an Internet source)

Brandon Manumaleuna, born January 4, 1980, in Torrance, California, becomes a professional football player for the Seattle Seahawks and the St. Louis Rams.     (From: www.espn.com , an Internet source)

Eddie Freeman, born January 4, 1978, in Mobile, Alabama, becomes a professional football player for the Kansas City Chiefs. (From: www.espn.com , an Internet source)

Johnny Rutledge, born January 4, 1977, in Belle Glades, Florida, becomes a professional football player for the Arizona Cardinals and the Denver Broncos. (From: www.espn.com , an Internet source)

Germaine Stringer, born January 4, 1976, in Atlanta, Georgia, becomes a professional football player for the Florida State Seminoles.

Carl Powell, born January 4, 1974, in Detroit, Michigan, becomes a professional football player for the Cincinnati Bengals. (From: www.espn.com , an Internet source)

Ray Mickens, born January 4, 1973, in Frankfurt, Germany, becomes a professional football player for the New York Jets. (From: www.nfl.com , an Internet source)

Garrison Hearst, born January 4, 1971, in Lincolnton, Georgia, becomes a professional football player for the San Francisco 49ers. (From: www.nfl.com , an Internet source)

Corie (Corey) Blunt, born January 4, 1969, in Monrovia, California, becomes a professional basketball player for the Chicago Bulls. (From: www.nba.com , an Internet source)

Jackie Harris, born January 4, 1968, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, becomes a professional football player for the Dallas Cowboys. (From: www.si.com , an Internet source)

John Jackson, born January 4, 1965, in Camp Kwe, Japan, becomes a professional football player for the Cincinnati Bengals. (From: www.si.com , an Internet source)

Grace Bumbry, born January 4, 1937, in St. Louis, Missouri, becomes an opera singer. In 1961, she became the first Black woman to sing the role of Venus, in Richard Wagner's Tannahauser, at the Wagner Bayreuth Festival. Bumbry won critical acclaim for her lieder and other art songs. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source and Black First, Second Edition, page 48)

Floyd Patterson born, January 4, 1935, in Waco, North Carolina, becomes a professional boxer. In 1952, he became an Olympic middleweight boxing champion. From 1956 to 1959, and again from 1960 to 1962, he held the world heavyweight boxing championship belt.  (From: www.infoplease.com , an Internet source)

Slim Gaillard, born January 4, 1911-1991, in Detroit, Michigan, becomes a singer, composer and musician; playing the vibraphone, guitar, piano, and tenor saxophone. He became one-half of the famous team of "Slim and Slam" tap dancing and variety act, from 1938 to 1943. He did some acting, appearing in the films, "Hellzapoppin and Star Spangled Rhythm," both in 1942. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

Blanche General Ely, born January 4, 1904-1993, in Reddick, Florida, becomes an educator, principal and advocate for education. The Blanche Ely High School formerly Pompano Negro Grammar School aka Pompano Colored School becomes Blanche Ely High School: PlessyÕs Separate-But-Equal, 1896: The Florida State Constitution, State Department of Public Instruction and the Broward County District legally closed the school yearly for African American children to go to farm corps. ElyÕs era of administration lasted between 1923 and 1970. Her philosophy: Always Ð ÒKnowledge Is Power." Education, like music, is a universal principle. Learn the principles for yourself: basic truth, moral standard, reasoning and essential element. Ly became a civil rights activist in the pursuit of equal educational opportunities for African American children. African American students could not enroll in the white State colleges or Universities. She seemingly fought Òbattles" forever: personal liberty, racism ÒJim Crow" segregation, sexism, endured destruction of the school in 1926 and 1928 hurricanes and the Great Depression.(From: http://www.broward.k12.fl.us/elyhigh/blancheely.html )

C.L.R. James, born January 4, 1901-1989, on the Caribbean Island of Trinidad, in Port of Spain, becomes a historian, critic, Marxist and pan African. His works helped to shape the independence movements in Africa and the West Indies. Some people remember James as a leading thinker on the relationship between socialism and race. In his most famous work, The Black Jacobins, he studied the Haitian revolution led by Toussaint L'Ouverture (an achiever of color who worked with Napoleon Bonaparte). The Haitian revolution took place in 1791, but received much less attention than the American and French revolutions of that period. James called the Haitian revolution "the only successful slave revolt," and his analysis suggested that revolution would not have to begin in Europe, and that a specially trained group of vanguard leaders might not be necessary. (From: http://democratic-socialists.uchicago.edu/sotm , an Internet source)

Selena Sloan Butler, born January 4, 1872-1964, in Thomasville, Georgia, becomes an avid community leader and welfare activist. Not much information exists about her early life, only that she owes her life to an African mother and white father. She graduated from school at the age of sixteen, and taught in the schools of Atlanta, Georgia and Florida. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

Artose Pinner, born January 5, 1980, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, becomes a professional football player for the Detroit Lions. (From: www.espn.com , an Internet source)

Derek Ross, born January 5, 1980, in Rock Hill, South Carolina, becomes a professional football player for the Atlanta Falcons. (From: www.si.com , an Internet source)

Ron Israel, born January 5, 1979, in Voorhees, New Jersey, becomes a professional football player for the Denver Broncos. (From: www.si.com , and www.espn.com , both Internet sources)

Leonard Henry, born January 5, 1978, in Clinton, South Carolina, becomes a professional football player for the Miami Dolphins. (From: www.miamidolphins.com/lockerroom , an Internet source)

Michael Wiley, born January 5, 1978, in San Diego, California, becomes a professional football player for the Dallas Cowboys. (From: www.espn.com , an Internet source)

Jason Brookins, born January 5, 1976, in Mexico, Missouri, becomes a professional football player for the Baltimore Ravens and the Green Bay Packers. (From: www.si.com , an Internet source)

Warrick Dunn, born, January 5, 1975, in Baton Rogue, Louisiana, becomes a professional football player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Atlanta Falcons. (From: www.nfl.com , an Internet source)

Calvin Collins, born January 5, 1974, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, becomes a professional football player for the Atlanta Falcons, Denver Broncos, and Pittsburgh Steelers.   (From: www.si.com , an Internet source)

Chris Cummings, born January 5, 1974, in Dothan, Alabama, becomes a professional football player for the Detroit Lions, and Frankfurt Galaxy Team, in Europe.                      (From: www.nfleurope.com/new s, an Internet source)

Hillary Butler, born January 5, 1971, in San Francisco, California, becomes a professional football player for the Denver Broncos and the Seattle Seahawks.From: http://www.databasefootball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=BUTLEHIL01

Felton Spencer, born January 5, 1968, in Louisville, Kentucky, becomes a professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic and the New York Knicks. (From: Basketball Almanac, 1996-97, page 261 and www.espn.com , an Internet source)

Ray Crockett, born January 5, 1967, in Dallas, Texas, becomes a professional football player for the Denver Broncos. (From: www.nfl.com , an Internet source)

Alexander English, born January 5, 1954, in Columbia, South Carolina, becomes a professional basketball player for the Denver Nuggets. (From: NBA Hall of Fame, an Internet source)

Erika Huggins, born January 5, 1948, in Washington, D.C., becomes a school founder and the first Black person to serve on the School Board of Education in Oakland, California.

Ngugi wa Thiong'o, born January 5, 1938, in Kenya, Africa, becomes a novelist, dramatist and critic. Some people regard him as one of the most significant writers in East Africa. Kenyan teacher, novelist, essayist, and playwright, whose works function as an important link between the pioneers of African writing and the younger generation of postcolonial writers. After imprisonment, in 1978, Ngugi abandoned using English as the primary language of his work in favor of Gikuyu, his native tongue. The transition from colonialism to post-colonialist and the crisis of modernity has been a central issue in a great deal of Ngugi's writings. (From: http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/ngugiw.htm , an Internet source)

Alvin Ailey, Jr., born January 5, 1936-1989, (some sources say 1931or 1938), in Rogers, Texas, grows up to become a noted dance instructor and owner of the Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre. (From: www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/alvinailey/html/artists.htm l, an Internet source and Contemporary Black Biography, Volume 8)

Frederick C. Tillis, born January 5, 1930, in Galveston, Texas, becomes a professor of Afro-American music.

Elizabeth Cotten, born January 5, 1892 or 1895-1987 in Chapel Hill, Carrboro, North Carolina, becomes an author, musician and folk legend. She performed throughout the United States and Canada. In 1984, she received a Grammy Award for "Elizabeth Cotten Live."(From: www.wikipedia.org) 

Sissieretta "Black Patti" Jones born Matilda Sissieretta Joyner (Joiner), January 5, 1869-1933, in Portsmouth, Virginia, becomes a noted concert and opera singer. She sang at the Chicago World Fair in 1893, as well as Madison Square Garden and for several Presidents of the United States. She retired in 1916 and began taking in homeless children and selling mementos from her days of glory to pay her living expenses. Classical music is full of issues of race and gender. Every now and then through a standard music history textbook, where the usual names revealed are those such as Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Joseph Haydn, Henry Purcell, Richard Wagner, and Franz Schubert (all white men), often, those who were not white or male were largely ignored. However, Sissieretta Jones became one exception. African American Registry gives her birth date as February 26, 1869, and the Encyclopedia Britannica and Timelines of African American History, page 96, list her date of birth as January 5, 1869.

(From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

Gilbert Arenas, born January 6, 1982, in Miami, Florida, becomes a professional basketball player for the Golden State Warriors and the Washington Wizards. He holds a list of nicknames that include The Hibachi, Gil, The Black President, G.A., Stealth, East Coast Assassin, Agent Zero, Black Jesus, and the Boy Wonder. His career high of 60 points on December 17, 2006, when he played against the Los Angeles Lakers, broke Earl Monroe's franchise record of 56 on February 13, 1968). (From: www.wikipedia.org )

Asante Samuel, born January 6, 1981, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, becomes a professional football player for the New England Patriots. 

Bubba Franks, born January 6, 1978, in Riverside, California, becomes a professional football player for the Green Bay Packers. 

James Farrior, born January 6, 1975, in Richmond, Virginia, becomes a professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Keenan McCardell, born January 6, 1970, in Houston, Texas, becomes a professional football player for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the San Diego Chargers.From: http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=2014  

Paula D. Alexander Burnett, born January 6, 1951, in Las Vegas, Calfirnia, becomes a writer and an Assistant Director of Education, in Washington, D.C. 

Arnold R. Pinkney, born January 6, 1931, in Youngstown, Ohio becomes a business executive. He served as president and owner of Arnold R. Pinkney Consulting Services. In 1970, Cleveland's mayor Carl B. Stokes appointed him his executive assistant. 

Leah Chase, born January 6, 1923, in New Orleans, Louisiana, becomes a master chef. Some sources claim her birth place to be Madisonville, Louisiana. (From: History Makers, an Internet source) 

Jerome Holland, born January 6, 1916-1985, in Auburn, New York, becomes an educator, a diplomat, and the first Black man to play college football player at Cornell University. He served as president of Delaware State College. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source) 

Mary Oglesby, born January 6, 1915, in Portsmouth, Virginia, becomes a swimming, track, volleyball, and basketball coach, (and most notably) an airplane pilot. She and her husband founded a training school in Plainfield, Indiana. For more than 40 years, she flew a Cessna 150, on search and rescue missions. She taught flight classes for more than 48 years. 

Harry Herbert Pace, born January 6, 1884-1943, Covington, Georgia, becomes a music publisher and an insurance executive. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

Charles Sumner, born January 6, 1811-1874, in Boston, Massachusetts, becomes an abolitionist and politician. In 1851, the Democratic Party elected him to Congress. He became the leading opponent of slavery. In 1860-1861, he became the congressional leader of the Radical Republicans. (FROM: African American Registry, an Internet source)  

Lamar Gordon, born January 7, 1980, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, becomes a professional football player for the St. Louis Rams, the Miami Dolphins, and the Detroit Lions.(From: www.wikipedia.org )

Kevan Barlow, born January 7, 1979, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, becomes a professional football player for the San Francisco 49ers and the New York Jets. (From: www.espn.com

Todd F. Day, born January 7, 1970, in Decatur, Illinois, becomes a professional basketball player for the Boston Celtics and the Milwaukee Bucks. (From: Basketball Almanac, 1996-97, page 68)

Frederick Drew Gregory, born January 7, 1941, in Washington, D.C., becomes a NASA research test pilot who became an astronaut. He piloted the Challenger on Space-lab 3 mission. He is the nephew of Charles R. Drew, the achiever of color who became famous as a surgeon who pioneered the area of blood plasma.
Dorothy Brown, born January 7, 1919-June 13, 2004, in Troy, New York, becomes a humanitarian and a surgeon who became the first Black female to become a fellow of the American College of Surgeons. (From: African American Registry, an Internet source)

Zora Neale Hurston, born January 7, 1891-Jan. 28, 1960, in Eatonville, Florida, becomes a noted novelist and folklorist.

Mary Eleanor Delaney Brownlow McCoy, born January 7, 1846-1923, in an Underground Railroad station in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, becomes a leader in founding many clubs and so became remembered as "Mother of  Clubs." She also married famed inventor Elijah McCoy.

Khalek Kirkland, born January 8, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York, becomes an educator who. served as the proud principal of a school he describes as a good school on its way to greatness. He began his educational career as a Mathematics teacher in room 221 fresh out of Morehouse College. He went on to take on the roles as a Math Coach, Floor Coordinator and Assistant Principal, all at RELC. His prides himself on starting both the Historically Black College Tours and Ivy League Tours that allow students in grades 6-8 to begin thinking about college at a very early age. He has also overseen the establishment of regents classes in Earth Science, Math A and B (now Algebra), and US History on every sub-school. Recently he has established a new graphic arts lab on Fine Arts and Design and placed Smartboards in every ESAT classroom in an effort to have RELC students cross the digital divide. He is most proud of the first of many performances on APA to include all four disciplines (theatre, band, dance and vocal music) in one play Ð GROOVY. Kirkland understands that strong leadership although important is not the only thing necessary to achieve academic success through the arts for all RELC students. ÒIt will take 1/3 student, 1/3 teachers and 1/3 parent. When all of these parts are working together we will undoubtedly achieve academic success that will stand the test of time."

(From: http://www.relc113.com/user_profile_view.aspx?id=c6e683bd-a8e9-49a7-beff-c709fd38a973 )

Willie Anderson, born January 8, 1967, in Greenville, South Carolina, becomes a professional basketball player for the San Antonio Spurs, New York Knicks, and the Miami Heat. Anderson won a bronze medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics, where he played alongside future NBA players Hersey Hawkins (September 29, 1966), Stacey Augmon (August 1, 1968), Dan Majerle, Mitch Richmond (June 30, 1965), Charles D. Smith(July 16, 1965,) and future Spurs teammate, David Robinson (August 6, 1965.) (From: Basketball Almanac, 1996-97, page 13)

"Little Anthony" Gourdine, born January 8, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York, becomes the lead singer of a popular singing group of the fifties and sixties known as Little Anthony and the Imperials. One of their famous recordings was entitled, "Tears on My Pillow."

Henry E. Hampton, born January 8, 1940 in St. Louis, Missouri, becomes a documentary film-maker, who served as executive producer and founder of Blackside, Incorporated, (a film and TV production company).

Clarence B. Jones, born January 8, 1931, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, becomes a publishing executive, who served as editor and publisher of the New York Amsterdam News, once the nation's largest black weekly newspaper in New York City.

Sembene Ousmane , born January 8, 1923, in Senegal, Africa, becomes a novelist and screenwriter, whose novels and films address social wrongs in post-colonial Africa.

Timothy Drew, also known as Noble Drew Ali, born January 8, 1886- July 20, 1929, in rural North Carolina, becomes the founder of Moorish Science. He established his first temple in Newark, New Jersey, in 1913. The organization he founded became the forerunner for the organization the Nation of Islam.

Butterfly McQueen, born Thelma McQueen January 8, 1911-Dec. 22, 1995 (some sources give her birth date as January 7), in Tampa, Florida, becomes a popular actress, who played the role of Prissy in Gone With The Wind, which won her an award.

Tyrone "Muggsy" Bogues, born January 9, 1965, in Baltimore, Maryland, becomes a professional basketball player for the Charlotte Hornets. (From: Basketball Almanac, 1996-97, page 29)

Martin C. Jones, born January 9, 1964, in Columbus, Ohio, becomes an executive vice-president of United Image Entertainment and owner of i.o.u.1 Productions, which produces music videos for artists such as Ice Cube, Run DMC, N.W.A. and Eddie Murphy. Jones is a 1986 graduate of Denison University with a BA in Cinema. He plans to launch a home entertainment company and DVD label called Day for Night LLC. From 1997 until early 2004, Jones became the managing partner and General Manager with New Millennium Studios. He produced several feature films including his next release ÒWhy Men Cheat," ÒFor Real," ÒNothin' 2 Lose," and ÒAsunder." (From: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0428776/bio )

Earl G. Graves, born January 9, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, becomes an author, publisher, entrepreneur, and philanthropist who founded ÒBlack Enterprise" magazine.

Sekou Toure, born January 9, 1922, in the village of Faranah, Guinea, becomes President of the State of Guinea in October 1958 and served until March 1984.
Glenn ÒBig Dog" Robinson, born January 10, 1973, in Gary, Indiana, becomes a professional basketball player for the Milwaukee Bucks, from 1994 to 2002; the Atlanta Hawks, from 2002 to 2003; the Philadelpiha 76ers from 2003 to 2004 and the San Antonio Spurs in 2005. He became the 1994 USBWA College Player of the Year, and a two-time NBA All-Star.

(From: Basketball Almanac, 1996-97, page 232)

Chandra Cheeseborough, born January 10, 1959, in Jacksonville, Florida, becomes a three time Olympic champion athlete who broke onto the international track scene at age 16 by winning two gold medals at the 1975 Pan American Games, taking the 200m in an American record time of 22.77 seconds. In 1976, she set an American junior record of 11.13 seconds in winning the 100 meters at the national championships, and placed sixth in that event at the Montreal Olympics. Cheeseborough later became a coach and returned to Tennessee State. She became head coach of both men and women in 1999. She also has served as an assistant coach for the U.S. team at the 1999 Junior Pan-Am Championships. Announced in the week of March 18, 2007, Cheeseborough will be the assistant coach for the 2008 Olympic team. Cheeseborough will coach the sprints and hurdles for next year's Olympics which will take place in Beijing.

George Foreman, born January 10, 1949, in Marshall, Texas, becomes a professional boxer and heavy weight champion of the world, January 20, 1973. Foreman has 10 children, and each of his five sons is named George: George Jr., George III, George IV, George V, and George VI. They are also known by the nicknames "Monk", "Red", "Joe" "Big Wheel" and "Little George". His five daughters are Michi, Georgetta, Freda George, Natalie, and Leola.

 Max Roach, born January 10, 1925- August 17, 2007, in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, becomes a legendary jazz drummer, the first Black percussionist inducted into the Percussion Art Society. He became a founding member of Bebop. He pioneered in exploiting the drums melodic as well as rhythmic instruments.

Dean Charles Dixon, born January 10, 1915-November 3, 1976, in New York City, becomes the first Black to conduct the New York Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of 26, and he became the first Black recognized as a symphonic conductor to international stature.

George Washington Carver, born a slave near Diamond Grove, Missouri, January 10, 1864-Jan. 5, 1943 becomes known as one of the greatest inventors in American history. He became one of the greatest agricultural scientists of all time. In 1948, President Harry Truman authorized the postal service to honored Carver with a U.S. postage stamp. In 1973, he became inducted to the Hall of Fame of Great Americans.

 Floyd Flake, born January 30, 1945, one of thirteen children, in Los Angeles, California, becomes a respected minister and politician. He served as a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives representing the state of New York from 1987 to 1998. As a child, his parents, Robert Flake, Sr. and Rosie Lee Johnson-Flake influenced his Christian moral beliefs. After high school, he obtained his BA from Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, Ohio, thus becoming the first member of his family to graduate from college. He then served as a social worker and then worked for Xerox as a marketing analyst. Flake once directed the Martin Luther King, Jr. Afro-American Center in Boston University. In 1976, he took on the pastoral leadership of the Allen African Methodist Episcopal Church (now The Greater Allen Cathedral of New York). Under Flake's leadership, the church grew from having about 1,400 members to over 23,000 parishioners. From: www.wikipedia.org