Today In Black History

1878*

Tap dancer Luther Robinson, best known as Bill "Bojangles" Robinson was born in Richmond, Virginia.

1919*

Madame C.J. Walker dies at the age of 52. The countries first female millionaire. Wealthy cosmetics and hair manufacturer, at "Irvington-on-the-Hudson", New York.

1926*

Miles Davis, U.S. jazz trumpeter and composer, born.

1935*

 James Cleveland Owens, On this day, while competing for Ohio State University (Columbus) in a Western Conference (Big Ten) track-and-field meet at the University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), Broke the world record for the 100-yard dash (9.4 s) and broke the world records for the 220-yard dash (20.3 s), the 220-yard low hurdles (22.6 s), and the running broad jump (8.13 m [26 feet 8 1/4 inches]).

1943*

Henrietta Bradberry invented the "Bed Rack", Patent No. 2,320,027 on May 25, 1943, to attach to the bed frame and allow the bed clothes to hang on it while allowing the bed to air out.

1943*

Singer Leslie Uggams, who made her singing debut with the Lawrence Welk Band, was born in New York city.

1943*

Riot at Mobile, Alabama shipyard over the upgrading of twelve Black workers.

1949*

Novelist and essayist Jamaica Kincaid was born on this day in Antigua. Ms. Kincaid pened novels such as "Annie John" and "Lucy".

1971*

Young Black woman, Jo Etha Collier, killed in Drew, Miss., by bullet fired from passing car. Three whites were arrested on May 26 and charged with the unprovoked attack.

1986*

30 million people worldwide joined in pop singer Bob Geldof's "Race Against Time" to raise money for the starving in Africa.