On March 2, 1807, the U.S. Congress passes an act to “prohibit
the importation of slaves into any port or place within the
jurisdiction of the United States…from any foreign kingdom,
place, or country.” It would go into effect at the start of the
following year.
On February 29, 1940, Gone with the Wind is honored with eight
Oscars by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and
Sciences. An epic Southern romance set during the hard times
of the Civil War, the movie swept the prestigious Best Picture,
Director, Screenplay, Cinematography, Art Direction, Film Editing,
and Actress categories.
However, the most momentous award that night undoubtedly
went to Hattie McDaniel for her portrayal of “Mammy,” the
housemaid and former enslaved woman.
McDaniel, who won the Best Supporting Actress Academy Award,
was the first African American actress or actor ever to be honored
with an Oscar.
Born in Wichita, Kansas, in 1895, McDaniel demonstrated her
talents as a singer and actress while growing up in Denver,
Colorado.
She left school while a teenager to become a performer in several traveling minstrel groups and in 1924 became one of the first
African American women to sing on U.S. radio. In 1952 McDaniel
died of breast cancer at the age of 57.
Hiram Rhodes Revels, a Republican from Natchez, Mississippi,
was sworn into the U.S. Senate, becoming the first African
American ever to sit in Congress.
During the Civil War, Revels, a college-educated minister,
helped form African American army regiments for the Union
cause, started a school for freed men, and served as a
chaplain for the Union army.
Hiram Rhodes Revels (
September 27, 1827 – January 16, 1901)
Hiram Rhodes Revels bust by Edmond’s Bob Willis.
On February 19, 1992, 24-year-old recent film school graduate
John Singleton became the youngest and first Black film
director nominated for an Academy Award for his movie,
Boyz n the Hood.
The poignant coming-of-age drama set in gang-ridden South
Central Los Angeles brought inner-city realities to the screen
in a way not seen in Hollywood before. Its success created
opportunities for a generation of Black filmmakers to tell their
stories.
On April 17, 2019, Singleton suffered a stroke and was placed
under intensive care.
On April 25, it was reported that he was in a coma, and was
was removed from life support and he died on April 28 at the
age of 51 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Dozens of actors
and musicians paid tribute to him.
On February 13, 1923, the New York Renaissance, the first
all-Black professional basketball team, was organized.
The Renaissance, commonly called the Rens, become one
of the dominant teams of the 1920s and 1930s.
Robert L. Douglas (1882 – 1979)
Nicknamed the "Father of Black
Professional Basketball", Douglas
owned and coached the Rens from
1923 to 1949, guiding them to a
2,318-381 record.
