Browse or search our African American History timeline. Events on the timeline include key moments in specific HistoryMaker's lives as well as important historical dates.
Reverend Jesse Jackson becomes the first African American to address a joint session of the United States Senate and House of Representatives this century.
<a class="contenthref" href="http://www.thehistorymakers.com/historymakers/glossary/glossarytext.asp?... Kennedy "Duke" Ellington</A>, one of America’s most well-recognized and innovative musicians, dies in New York at age seventy-four. Ellington composed more than a thousand works of varied genres, including opera, cinematic scores, ballets, and tone poems, in addition to the popular jazz pieces for which he is best known.
Community activist Carrie Davis is born in Chicago, Illinois.
Miledgeville Mayor Floyd Griffin is born in Miledgeville, Georgia.
R&B singer Patti LaBelle was born on this date in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. LaBelle became well-known with her girl group LaBelle. She went solo and scored hits with songs like <I>Stir It Up</I>, <I>New Attitude</I>, and <I>On My Own</I>.