Celebrating Black History Month – Today In Black History

Gary Soup, Flickr

Also on this day in black history:

February 1

• 1990 – Ida B. Wells was discussed with the United States Post Office for stamp creation.
• 1978 – The U.S. Postal Service’s Black Heritage USA series honored abolitionist Harriet Tubman, who is best known for her role with the Underground Railroad.
• 1974 – Famous television show “Good Times” first aired on CBS
• 1997 – BET holdings, and Encore Media Group formed the first ever all-black 24 hour movie channel? BET/Starz movie channel

February 2

• 1915 – Biologist Ernest E. Just receives the Spingarn medal for his pioneering in cell division and fertilization.
• 1897 – A. L. Cralle patented his ice cream! Ice-Cream Mold Feb. 02, 1897 Patent No.576,395
• 1862 District of Columbia abolishes slavery
• 1839 – Inventor Edmond Berger patented the spark plug

February 3

• 1989 – Tennis professional Lori McNeil defeated Chris Evert in the Pan Pacific Open in Tokyo.
• 1989 – Former Saint Louis Cardinals first baseman Bill White is named president of the National League. He is the first African American to head a major sports league.
• 1965 – Geraldine McCullough, sculptor, wins the Widener Gold Medal award.

February 4

• 1986 – The U.S. Postal Service reveals stamp honoring Sojouner Truth
• 1913 – Rosa Park was born in Tuskegee, Alabama
• 1794 – France completely abolishes slavery

February 5

• 1934 – “Homerun King” Henry “Hank” Aaron was born
• 1958 – Clifton R. Wharton was the first black to head a U.S. Embassy in Europe
• 1990 – Barack Obama becomes first black President of Harvard Law Review

February 6

• 1945 – Jamaican Reggae star, Bob Marley was born
• 1870 – Jonathan Jasper Wright elected to the South Carolina Supreme Court
• 1972 – Coach / founder of the Rens, Robert Lewis is inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame

February 7

• 1967 – Comedian Chris Rock born in South Carolina
• 1926 – National Negro week created by Carter G. Woodson (In 1976 becomes black history month)
• 1945 – Irwin Molison elected U.S. Customs Court judge

February 8

• 1986 – The Oprah Winfrey show was televised – Oprah was the first black female syndicated television show
• 1944 – Harry S. McAlphin was the first credited African American to attend the White house Press Conference
• 1978 – Leon Spinks defeated Muhammad Ali for heavyweight championship title
• 1986 – Debi Thomas is first black woman to win U.S. Women’s singles championship

February 9

• 1952 – Invisible Man, novel, written by Ralph Ellison wins Nation Book Award
• 1971 – Leon Satchel Paige inducted into Baseball Hall of Fame
• 1995 – Bernard Harris, Black astronaut takes walk on moon

February 10

• 1927 -  Ronald Brown was elected national chairman of the Democratic Party and became the first Black to hold the post.
• 1992 – World renowned writer, activist, Alex Haley, best known for his biopic of Roots, passes away
• 1940 – R&B singer Roberta Flack born in North Carolina

February 11

• 1990 – Nelson Mandela released from prison
• 1961 – Robert Weaver sworn in as administrator of the Housing and Home Finance Agency

February 12

• 1909 – NAACP founded
• 1956 – King of late night talk was born, Arsenio Hall

February 13

• 1970 – Joseph Searles is first black member of the NYSE (New York Stock Exchange)
• 1957 – Souther Christian Leadership Confrence founded

February 14

• 1867 – Morehouse College in Augusta, Geaorgia founded. The school was later moved to Atlanta, Georgia
• 1936 – National Negro congress founded in Chicago
• 1817 – The likely birthday for abolitionist Fredrick Douglass

Check back here daily for more “Today In Black History” updates.