People, Locations, Episodes

James Perkins Jr., Politician born

*James Perkins Jr. is celebrated on this date in 1952.  He is a Black businessman, teacher, and politician.  James Perkins Jr. grew up in Selma, where his parents were elementary school principals and nurses.  He graduated in 1971 in the first racially integrated class at Selma High School; he organized an unsuccessful effort to use […]

Pamela Alexander, Lawyer, and Judge born

*Pamela G. Alexander was born on this date in 1952. She is an African American Judge, lawyer, administrator and community activist.

From Minneapolis, she is one of 5 children born to Robert and Francis Alexander. She has said that at the age of 12, her courtroom testimony in the rape of a friend was instrumental in her law career pursuit. After graduating from Minneapolis Central High School, she received her BA from Augsburg College in 1974. That same year she became a Law Clerk at the Neighborhood Justice Center and the Legal Rights Center.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, Diplomat born

*Linda Thomas-Greenfield was born on this date in 1952. She is a Black educator, administrator, and diplomat. Thomas-Greenfield was born in Baker, Louisiana. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Louisiana State University in 1974 and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 1975. Thomas-Greenfield taught political science at Bucknell […]

Charles Ogletree, Lawyer and Author born.

*Charles Ogletree was born on this date in 1952. He was a Black legal scholar and author of books on legal topics. Charles James Ogletree Jr. was born in Merced, California, to parents who were farm workers. He earned his B.A. (1974, and MA (1975) in political science from Stanford University and his J.D. from […]

Jean-Bertrand Aristide, Politician born

*Jean-Bertrand Aristide was born on this date in 1953.  He is a former Black priest and politician.  Jean-Bertrand Aristide was born into poverty in Port-Salut, Sud, Haiti.  His father died three months after he was born, and he later moved to Port-au-Prince with his mother. At age five, Aristide started school with priests of the Salesian […]

The Central African Federation is Established

*On this date in 1953, the Central African Federation, CAF, was established. This was a colonial federation that consisted of three southern African territories. For ten years, the self-governing British colony of Southern Rhodesia and the British protectorates of Northern Rhodesia and Nyasaland. The Federation was established with a Governor-General as the British Queen’s representative […]

Lloyd Austin, Military Officer born

Lloyd Austin was born on this date in 1953.  He is a Black retired Army officer, a four-star general.  Lloyd James Austin III was born in Mobile, Alabama, and raised in Thomasville, Georgia.  He graduated from the United States Military Academy (West Point) with a Bachelor of Science in 1975.  He later earned a Master […]

Karen Bass, Politician born

*Karen Bass was born on this date in 1953. She is a Black politician and social worker. Karen Ruth Bass was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of Wilhelmina (née Duckett) and DeWitt Talmadge Bass. Her father was a postal letter carrier, and her mother was a homemaker. She was raised in the Venice […]

Mike Espy, Lawyer, and Administrator born

*Michael Espy was born on this date in 1953.  He is a Black lawyer and politician.    Alphonso Michael Espy was born in Yazoo City, Mississippi.  He is the grandson of Thomas J. Huddleston Sr., founder of the Afro-American Sons and Daughters. This fraternal society operated the Afro-American Hospital, a leading healthcare provider for Blacks […]

The First Major American City Office is Held by a Black Man

On this date in 1953, one of the first African American to hold a major city elective post was sworn in.

Hulan Jack was voted in as Manhattan Borough president.

Amos v. Prom is Decided

*On this date in 1954, Amos v. Prom, Inc. was decided. this case involved a Black citizen being denied access to a public business based on race. The plaintiff was George Dunn and William Pappas, citizens and residents of the State of Iowa. The defendant is a corporation organized under the laws of the State […]

Brown v. B.O.E. is Decided

Brown vs. Board of Education of Topeka was ruled on this date in 1954.

Bolling v. Sharpe is Decided

*On this date in 1954, Bolling v. Sharpe was decided. This was a landmark United States Supreme Court case in which the Court held that the Constitution prohibits segregated public schools in the District of Columbia. Originally argued on December 10–11, 1952, a year before Brown v. Board of Education, Bolling was reargued on December 8–9, 1953, and was unanimously decided on May […]

David Paterson, Politician born

*David Paterson was born on this date in 1954. He is an African American politician. David Alexander Paterson was born in Brooklyn, NY to Portia and Basil Paterson.

Patrice Johnson, Policy Activist born

*Patrice Johnson was born on this date in 1954. She was an African American Lawyer, Political Chief of Staff and community activist.