April in African American History

April 25, 1776 The Pennsylvania Magazine published a poem written by slave poet Phillis Wheatley in honor of Gen. George Washington. Wheatley was the first African American and the second woman to publish a volume of poetry in the U.S.

A round of applause for this woman, had it not been for her, black journalists like myself would not be where we are and where we’re going today!

The Hampton Roads Gazeti
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By Tiffani Addison

April in African American History

April 24, 1944 The United Negro College Fund was incorporated. Dr. Frederick Patterson, president of Tuskegee Institute, founded the UNCF to help raise funds for America's historically black colleges and universities, which were facing severe financial crises at the time.

The Hampton Roads Gazeti
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By Tiffani Addison

April in African American History

April 21, 1932 African American cowboy Bill Pickett died at 72 after being kicked while roping at bronco. Pickett invented and was the master of the rodeo event called “Bulldogging.” Called the “Dusky Demon,” Pickett was one of the most talented and loved cowboys of the 101 Ranch Wild West Show that toured throughout America and Europe.

The Hampton Roads Gazeti
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By Tiffani Addison

April in African American History

April 20, 1982 Opera star Leontyne Price performed a concert at the Daughters of the American Revolution convention at Constitution Hall in Washington D.C. in honor of Marian Anderson, who had been barred from performing at the same venue in 1939 by the DAR because of racist practices.

The Hampton Roads Gazeti
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By Tiffani Addison

April in African American History

April 16, 1862 President Lincoln signed an act abolishing slavery in the District of Columbia, a step toward full emancipaiton and enfranchisement for African Americans. This illustration from Harper’s Weekly depicts the fourth anniversary of the District’s Emancipation Act.

The Hampton Roads Gazeti
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By Tiffani Addison

April in African American History

April 8, 1974 At 9:07 p.m. on this day in 1974,in Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta Braves baseball player Hank Aaron sent a fastball served up by Al Downing of the Los Angeles Dodgers over the left field fence, hitting his 715th home run and breaking Babe Ruth's record. The ball game stopped while 53,775 fans showered "The Hammer" with a 15-minute ovation!

Hat's off to Hank Aaron!!

The Hampton Roads Gazeti
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By Tiffani Addison

April in African American History

April 11, 1899 The “Soybean Chemist” was born in 1899 in Montgomery, Alabama. Percy Lavon Julian, who received his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Vienna, used soya beans for several of his important discoveries.

Hampton Roads Gazeti
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By Tiffani Addison

April in African American History

April 2, 1939 Marvin Gaye, master soul-based rock, was born. He recorded many Motown hits and soul classic, such as "How Seet It Is to Be Loved By You," "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," (with Tammi Terrell), "I Heard It Through the Grapevine," and Billboard's number one hit for 1973, "Let's Get It on."

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By Tiffani Addison

April in African American History

April 6, 1909 Matthew Henson became the first man to reach the North Pole. Adm. Robert E. Peary, the expedition’s commander, arrived about 45 minutes after Henson. The temperature was -29 degrees when Henson planted the American flag at 90 degrees north-the only place on the planet where the only way you go is south!

Hampton Roads Gazeti www.hrgazeti.com

By Tiffani Addison

April in African American History

April 10, 1816 Richard Allen was elected first bishopof the African Methodist Epsicopal Church. The Church had broken away from the white-dominated Methodist Church earlier in the same year. Today, the AME is one of the largest African American religious organizations in America.

Hampton Roads Gazeti www.hrgazeti.com

By Tiffani Addison

April In African American History

April 4, 1986 Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated outside his room at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. King's assassination precipitated marches and rallies across America, and riots erupted in over 100 cities. Forty-six people were killed and 20,000 arrested. From April 5-11, 50,000 federal and state troops were called in to keep order. President Johnson declared April 7 an official day of mourning. Dr. King was 38 years old at the time of his death.

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By Tiffani Addison