People, Locations, Episodes

Allan Crite, Artist born

*Allan Rohan Crite was born on this date in 1910. He was a Black painter.

From Plainfield, New Jersey, he moved to Boston as a child where he spent most of his life. Crite was one of the few African American artists to work for the Federal Arts Project (FAP). During the 1930s, he studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston, and Harvard University Extension School. In his later years, as a devout Episcopalian, Crite focused on religious themes, completing murals and other paintings for many churches.

Wilmer Jennings, Artist, and Printmaker born

*The birth of Wilmer Jennings is celebrated on this date in 1910. was a Black printmaker, artist, and jeweler. Wilmer Angier Jennings was born in Atlanta, Georgia. While attending Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, Jennings studied under the artist Hale Woodruff, who introduced him to the principles of modernism. Under the Graphic Arts Division of the Works Progress Association (WPA) in 1934, […]

Scatman Crothers, Actor born

Scatman Crothers, an African American actor and musician, was born on this date in 1910.

Born in Terre Haute, IN, Benjamin Sherman Crothers (his name at birth) was the son of a cobbler at the age of 14 he began to teach himself to play the drums and guitar. Soon he got a job entertaining customers at one of the local speakeasies, and at the age of 19, he and his brother, Louis, moved to Indianapolis to find work as entertainers.

Katherine Dunham, Choreographer, and Dancer born

Katherine Dunham was born on this date in 1910. She was an African American choreographer and dancer.

Ruth Attaway, Stage, Screen, and TV Actress born

Ruth Attaway was born on this date in 1910. She was an African American actress and volunteer.

Born in Greenville, MS, actress Ruth Attaway is best known for her work in theater. She debuted on Broadway in 1936 and went on to work on various stages, on and off Broadway, for over 40 years. Attaway was the first director in the New York Players Guild. She also had experience working in radio and on television. When not acting, she worked for the American Red Cross and for the state of New York.

The Howard Theatre (Washinton D.C.) Opens

*The Howard Theatre Opened on this date in 1910.  This is a historic theater located at 620 T Street, Northwest, Washington, D.C., Constructed in 1910; the theater was founded and owned by the National Amusement Company, a white-owned group.  When built, it had a capacity of more than 1,200.   Designed by J. Edward Storck, […]

The ‘Howard Players’ are Formed

*On this date in 1911, “The Howard Players” began.  They are the on-campus theatrical organization at Howard University.   Historically, their groundwork began years before that by Coralie Franklin Cook, who taught elocution at Howard in the 1890s. Such began the intensive study of public speaking and being a voice for the performing arts in […]

Kapo, Afro Caribbean Spiritual Artist born

*On this date in 1911, Kapo was born. He was an Afro Caribbean painter and sculptor.

From Byuloss in Saint Catherine parish in Jamaica, he was born Mallica Reynolds. Kapo was totally self-taught as an artist. His extremely intuitive art was an extension of his spiritual development, which led him into a life of service to the people of his homeland as a religious leader. Kapo’s first paintings were done in the mid-1940’s consisting of straightforward religious symbols.

Charles H. Coles, Dancer born

On this date in 1911 Charles “Honi” Coles, an African American tap dancer, was born.

Muriel Rahn, Vocalist born

*Muriel Rahn was born on this date in 1911.  She was a Black vocalist and actress.   Muriel Ellen Rahn was born in Boston in 1911, the daughter of Willie and Elizabeth “Bessie” Smith.  After her father died, she moved with her mother to New York City, where Bessie met and married Cornelius M. Battey, who […]

Portia White, Classical Vocalist born

Portia White, an African Canadian classical singer, was born on this date in 1911.

Portia May White was born in the town of Truro, Nova Scotia, Canada to the Reverend William Andrew White and Izie Dora White. She made her musical debut at the age of six in her father’s church choir. At the age of 17, while teaching school, she received her first break, winning a silver cup in the Nova Scotia Music Festival.

Romare Bearden, Artist born

On this date in 1911, Romare Bearden, African American and one of the 20th century’s most important artists, was born.

The Lafayette Theater Opens

*The Lafayette Theatre is celebrated on this date. In New York, this was one of the first stage houses in America where Black artist performed.

Philip Simmons, Artist born.

*Philip Simmons was born on this date in 1912. He was a Black artisan and blacksmith specializing in the craft of ironwork. Philip Simmons was born in Daniel Island, South Carolina. His grandparents raised him before being sent to Charleston in 1920 to live with his mother when he was 8. Simmons resided on Vernon Street and […]

Nina McKinney, Actress born

*Nina M. McKinney is remembered on this date, born in 1912. She was an African American actress and entertainer; she was one of the first Black actress’ to make her name in American cinema.