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  1. African American Composer William Grant Still is Born
    date May 11, 1895map WILKINSON, Mississippitags African-Americans, Arts/Leisure

    William Grant Still was born on May 11, 1895 in Woodville, Mississippi. His father passed away when Still was only three months old, and he and his mother moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where she soon remarried. As a boy, Still learned to play the oboe and cello and took violin lessons. He soon developed an interest in African American, jazz, popular, opera, and classical genres. Still attended...

  2. Mary Church Terrell is First Black Woman to Serve on Washington, D.C. Board of Education
    date April 5, 1895 to December 31, 1900map WASHINGTON, Virginiatags African-Americans, Education, Race-Relations

    Mary Church Terrell, a writer, lecturer, and educator, was the first African American to serve on the Washington, D.C. Board of Education. She took office in the spring of 1895 and stayed until 1901. She later returned to the Board from 1906-1911. In a Washington Post article on April 6, 1895, Terrell is specifically mentioned as “a colored woman' whose appointment “will suit a large number...

  3. Birth of Blues Singer, Lyricist, and Actress Alberta Hunter
    date April 1, 1895map SHELBY, Tennesseetags African-Americans, Arts/Leisure

    Alberta Hunter was born on April 1, 1895 in Memphis, Tennessee. Both of her parents were former slaves. At age 15, Hunter left home for Chicago, Illinois, where she launched her singing career, performing with King Oliver's legendary Creole Jazz Band. She came of age as a singer when female musicians received little respect. Her career pinnacled twice: in the 1920s and 1930s, she was one of the...