Facts
1865: The 13th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which abolished slavery, was adopted by the 38th Congress. Ratification was completed December 6, 1865.
Etta Moten sings for President Roosevelt at a White House Dinner. It is the first time an African American actress performs at the White House in 1934.
Harlem Globetrotters formed in 1927. They are the only sports team to have a star on “Hollywood’s Walk of Fame” and have won more than 22,500 games.
American television personality, Oprah Winfrey, whose syndicated daily talk show is among the most popular was born in Kosciusko, Miss in 1954.
In 1970, Arthur Ashe, first Black male to win Wimbledon, is denied entry to South African Open due to Ashe’s sentiments on S.Africa’s racial policies.
Ralph Ellison’s powerful novel, Invisible Man, wins the National Book Award of 1952.
1948- President Harry Truman signs Executive Order 9981, ending segregation in US Armed Forces.
Black Entertainment Television {BET} – First black owned company to be listed on the NYSE, begins broadcasting from Washington, DC.
Legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.
ABC-TV begins televising the Roots mini-series in 1977 (which would go on to be the most watched mini-series in history), based on Alex Haley’s book.
<div>Singer Sam Cooke, the son of a minister and believed by many to be the first father of soul music, was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1931.</div>
On January 20, 2001, Colin Luther Powell is sworn in by President George W. Bush as Secretary of State. He is the first black secretary of state in U.S. history.
