black history month

1965 - Constance Baker Motley elected Manhattan Borough president, the highest elective office held by a Black woman in a major American city. Constance Baker Motley (September 14, 1921 – September 28, 2005) was an African American civil rights activist, lawyer, judge, state senator, and President of Manhattan, New York City...

February 22, 1989, DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince win the first rap Grammy for the hit single "Parents Just Don't Understand."  DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince is a hip hop group from West Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Vocalist Will Smith (The Fresh Prince) met Jeff Townes (DJ Jazzy Jeff) while trying to make a name for himself in West Philadelphia's local hip hop scene. Af... Rea

An institution was founded at Augusta, Georgia which was later to become Morehouse College, following its relocation to Atlanta. Morehouse College is one of the most prestigious black colleges in the nation. Morehouse College is a private, all-male, historically black college located in Atlanta, Georgia...

1970 - Joe Frazier knocked out Jimmy Ellis in the second round of their New York fight and became the world heavyweight boxing champion.   Joseph William "Joe" Frazier, known as Smokin' Joe, born January 12, 1944, is a former Olympic and World Heavyweight boxing champion, whose professional career lasted from 1965 to 1976, with a brief comeback in 1981...

1964: Louis Armstrong’s “Hello Dolly” recording becomes his first and only number one record. Louis Armstrong was the first vital jazz soloist to attain world wide influence as trumpeter, entertainer, and show business personality...

10 February 1937, Asheville, North Carolina, USA. Born into a musical family, Flack graduated from Howard University with a BA in music. She was discovered singing and playing jazz in a Washington nightclub by pianist Les McCann, who recommended her talents to Atlantic Records...

In 1992, Dr. Mae Jemison became the first African-American woman to go to space.  While aboard the Endeavor for eight days, she worked with American and Japanese researchers. Also, on this date in 1995 Bernard Harris, African-American astronaut, takes space walk...

1865: The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery, was adopted by the 38th Congress. Ratification was completed December 6, 1865.