People, Locations, Episodes

Jesse Jackson, Activist born

On this date in 1941, Jesse Jackson was born in Greenville, SC. He is an African American civil rights leader, politician, and television journalist.

Melba Joy Patillo Beals, Journalist, and Activist born.

*Melba Joy Patillo Beals was born on this date in 1941. She is a Black journalist, educator, and member of the Little Rock Nine. Born in Little Rock, Ark., Patillo grew up in a family prioritizing education. Her mother, Lois Marie Pattillo, was one of the first black graduates of the University of Arkansas in 1954 […]

Muhammad Ali, Boxer, Humanitarian, and Activist born

*On this dates Registry we mark the birth of Muhammad Ali in 1942. He was an African American professional boxer, the first boxer to win the heavyweight championship three separate times.

Huey Newton, Black Panther Activist, born

*Huey Newton was born on this date in 1942. He was an African American activist, founder and leader of the Black Panther Party.

The Congress Of Racial Equality (C.O.R.E.) is Founded

The Congress Of Racial Equality (CORE) was founded on this date in 1942. CORE is an American interracial voluntary organization established by James Farmer to undertake direct-action projects to improve race relations and end discriminatory policies.

Rubye Smith, Activist born

Rubye Smith was born on this date in 1942. She was an African American civil rights activist.

David Hillard, Activist, and Educator born

*David Hilliard was born on this date in 1942. He is a Black activist, educator, and former member of the Black Panther Party.    David Hilliard was born to Lela and Lee Hilliard in Rockville, Alabama. David had six brothers and five sisters: Theodore, Allen, Nathaniel, Van, Roosevelt, Arthur, Rose Lee, Sweetie, Dorty Mae, Vera Lee, and […]

Doris Castle, Activist born

*Doris Castle was born on this date in 1942.  She was a Black civil rights activist.  Doris Jean Castle was from Oakland, Tennessee. Both sides of her ancestors were farmers, one landowner, and the others sharecroppers. Her father, John Castle, was a longshoreman, while her mother, Virgie Castle, was a barmaid for Leah and Dooky Chase restaurants. Castle […]

Peter Norman, Olympic Athlete, and Activist born

*Peter Norman was born on this date in 1942. He was a white Australian track athlete. He won the silver medal in the 200 meters at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico City. He was a five-time Australian 200 meter champion. He is also known for his support of African Americans John Carlos and Tommie Smith when they made their famous raised-fist gesture at the 1968 Olympics medal ceremony.

Vivian Malone, Activist born

*Vivian Malone was born on this date in 1942. She was a research analyst and civil rights activist.   Vivian Juanita Malone Jones was born in Monroe County, Mobile, Alabama, the fourth of eight children. Her parents worked at Brookley Air Force Base; her father served in maintenance, and her mother worked as a domestic servant.  Her parents emphasized […]

Claire O’Connor, Activist born

*Claire O’Connor was born on this date in 1942.  She is a white-American educator, artist, and civil rights, activist.   From St. Paul, Minnesota, her mother was Justine Claire O’Connor, part of the Foot lineage, and her father was (Joseph) Paul O’Connor, born in Dingle peninsula, Ireland.  Both of her parents were early settlers in Red Wing, Minnesota.  After high […]

Roy Herdine Williams, Activist, and Soldier born

*Roy Herdine Williams was born on this date in 1942. He is a Black author and activist. He was from Longview, Texas, the son of John Williams and Dorothy Mae (Abron) Williams. When Roy was young, his father abandoned the family, and his mother later married Charley Bell Long. He had two younger half-sisters, and […]

Walter Hall Lively, Philadelphia Activist born

*Walter Hall Lively was born on this date in 1942. He was an African American Civil Rights Activist & Black Liberationist.

Jefferson Thomas, Activist, and Accountant born

*Jefferson Thomas was born on this date in1942. He was an African American accountant and activist.

From Little Rock, Arkansas he was the youngest of seven children to Mr. and Mrs. Ellis Thomas. Thomas was a track athlete at all-Black Horace Mann High School in Little Rock (Pulaski County) when he chose to volunteer to integrate all-white Central High School in 1957 as a sophomore.

Wendell Gunn, Corporate Executive born

*Wendell Gunn was born on this date in 1942.  He is a retired Black corporate executive and Administrator.  Wendell Wilkie Gunn was born on Decatur Street in Tuscumbia, Alabama.   The midwife reported his birth two days late, which he only discovered when he met his future wife and discovered they shared the same birthday.  One of four children, his father was […]