Today in Black History

1885*

Seventy-four Blacks reported lynched in 1885.

1895*

Sir Milton Margai. The first Prime Minister of Sierra Leone was born on this day

1941*

Novelist Richard Wright was presented the Spingarn Medal on this day, being "one of the most powerful of contemporary writer," for "his powerful depiction in his books, "Uncle Tom's Children", and "Native Son", of the effect of proscription, segregation and denial of opportunities to the American Negro."

1941*

Lester Granger named executive director of the National Urban League.

1941*

Dorie Miller of Waco, Texas, messman on USS Arizona, manned machine gun during Pearl Harbor attacks and downed four planes. He was awarded the Navy Cross.

1942*

Reginald F. Lewis was born on this day in Baltimore, Maryland. He received his law degree from Harvard Law School in 1968. He was a partner in Murphy, Thorpe & Lewis, the first Black law firm on Wall Street. In 1989 he became president and CEO of TLC Beatrice International Holding Inc. With TLC's leverage acquisition of Beatrice International Food Company, Lewis became the head of the largest Black-owned business in the United States. TLC Beatrice had revenues of $1.54 billion in 1992.

1972*

W. Sterling Cary elected president of the Nation Council of Churches.

1981*

John Jacobs is named president of the National Urban League

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