Birth of William H. Johnson
Artist William H. Johnson was born on March 18, 1901, in Florence, South Carolina. He was one of the leading African American artists of the 20th century, best known for his bright folk style paintings.
Black Heritage
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Happy Birthday to Richard Allen
Minister, writer, and educator Richard Allen was born on February 14, 1760, in the Colony of Delaware. He went on to found the first independent black church in the United States, the African Methodist Episcopal Church.
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Happy Birthday Langston Hughes
James Mercer Langston Hughes was born on February 1, 1901, in Joplin, Missouri.
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First Observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day
On January 20, 1986, Martin Luther King Jr. Day was first observed as a federal holiday after a decades-long battle.
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Death of James P. Johnson
Noted pianist and jazz artist James Price Johnson died on November 17, 1955.
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Happy Birthday to Sonny Terry
Musician Saunders Terrell, later known as Sonny Terry, was born on October 24, 1911, in Greensboro, Georgia.
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Death of Sojourner Truth
Abolitionist and women’s rights activist Sojourner Truth died on November 26, 1883, in Battle Creek, Michigan.
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Birth of Benjamin Banneker
Benjamin Banneker was born on November 9, 1731, in Baltimore County, Maryland.
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Opening of National Museum of African American History and Culture
On September 24, 2016, the National Museum of African American History and Culture opened in Washington, DC.
