People, Locations, Episodes

The African American Museum and Library of Oakland (CA) Opens

*This date in 1946 celebrates the opening of the African American Museum and Library at Oakland (AAMLO). Located on 14th Street in Downtown Oakland, this museum and the non-circulating library are dedicated to preserving African American history, experiences, and culture. It contains an extensive archival collection of such artifacts as diaries, correspondence, photos, and periodicals.  […]

Ronald Crutcher, Classical Musician, and Administrator born

*Ronald Crutcher was born on this date in 1947. He is a Black classical musician and academic administrator. Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Ronald Andrew Crutcher graduated from Woodward High School. He received his B.A. from the University of Miami in Music Performance and Music History. In 1972, Crutcher received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Musical […]

Avery Clayton, Historian, and Collector born

*Avery Clayton was born on this date in 1947. He was an African American Educator, Artist, Entrepreneur and Historian.

Clayton was born in Los Angeles, CA to Mayme and Andrew Clayton. His mother was a librarian and his father owned a barbershop. He attended Los Angeles area schools and had two brothers, Renai and Lloyd Clayton. After serving in the Vietnam War, he returned to Los Angeles where he studied art at Los Angeles City College and the UCLA School of Fine Arts.

LeRoy Gardner Jr., Community Activist born

*LeRoy Gardner Jr. was born on May 11, 1947. He was an African American educator, counselor and activist.

He was one of three children of Reverend LeRoy Gardner Sr. and Katherine Gardner, he had a sister, Sharon; a brother, Gordon. As young man, Gardner Jr. was a playground basketball legend. As the community lore goes that as a 14 year old, he Ralph Mitchell (19) and Tommy Miller (19) beat (then) University of Minnesota basketball players Lou Hudson, Don Yates and Archie Clark in a pickup game at St. Paul’s Oxford Park.

Ronald Davis, Businessman born

*On this date in 1947, Ronald Davis was born. He was an African American teacher, businessman and community activist.

Michael Lomax, Administrative Activist born

*Michael Lomax was born on this date in 1947.  He is a Black educator, college professor, administrator, and activist.  Born in Los Angeles, California, Michael Lucius Lomax is the son of Lucius W. Lomax, Jr., a Los Angeles attorney, and Hallie Almena Davis Lomax, a journalist.  Lomax was the brother of Los Angeles civil rights […]

Glenn Loury, Economist born

*Glenn Loury was born on this date in 1948.  He is a Black economist, academic, and author.   Glenn Cartman Loury was born in Chicago, Illinois.  A teenage father of two children, in 1972, he received his bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Northwestern University. He received his Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology […]

Southwestern Christian College is Founded

*Southwestern Christian College (SwCC) started classes on this date in 1948.  It is among over 100 Historically Black Colleges and Universities HBCUs in America.   SwCC was founded by the educator and minister G. P. Bowser under Southern Bible Institute in Fort Worth, Texas. The initial class consisted of 45 students.  School officials intended to buy property in Fort Worth to erect a permanent […]

Theresa Venable, Librarian and Administrator born.

*Theresa Venable was born on this date in 1948.  She is a Black educator, historian, and retired librarian. From Knoxville, TN, Theresa Evans Venable earned a B.S. in Elementary Education and an M.S. in Information Sciences from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN. For thirty years, she was an elementary and middle school reading and […]

Qintard Taulor Jr., Author and Historian born

*Quintard Taylor Jr. was born on this date in 1948.  He is a Black historian, author, and professor. He was born in Brownsville, Tennessee, to Quintard Taylor and Grace Taylor. He graduated from Carver High School in Brownsville. He received his B.A. degree in American history in 1969 from St. Augustine’s College in Raleigh, North Carolina, and […]

Algeania Freeman, Educator, and Administrator born

*On this date in 1949, Algeania Freeman was born. She is a Black educator, administrator, author, consultant, and community activist. Algeania Marie Warren Freeman, a native of Benson, North Carolina, was born in Betsy Johnson Memorial Hospital in Dunn, North Carolina, to Ms. Ada Mae Warren and Mr. Al Woodard, Jr. Until seven years old, […]

The First Black Student Graduates From Annapolis

On this date in 1949, the first Black man graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis.

Webb v. School District No. 90 is decided

*On this date in 1949, Webb v. School District No. 90 was decided. This Supreme Court case involved 39 Black students fighting for educational rights. Background Population growth after World War II prompted the construction of a new $90,000—South Park Elementary School near Merriam, Kansas. The district school board had unlawfully established Walker School for […]

Beverley Bryan, Cultural Educator born

*Beverley Bryan was born on this date in 1949.  She is a retired Jamaican academic and professor.  Bryan was born in the district of Fairy Hill in Portland, Jamaica. In 1950, her uncle migrated to London. Her parents followed in 1953, settling in Battersea, while Bryan and her siblings remained in Jamaica.  Her London neighborhood […]

Lani Guinier, Lawyer, and Educator born

Lani Guinier was born on this date in 1950.