Facts

In 1970, Arthur Ashe, first Black male to win Wimbledon, is denied entry to South African Open due to Ashe’s sentiments on S.Africa’s racial policies.

Ralph Ellison’s powerful novel, Invisible Man, wins the National Book Award of 1952.

1948- President Harry Truman signs Executive Order 9981, ending segregation in US Armed Forces.

Black Entertainment Television {BET} – First black owned company to be listed on the NYSE, begins broadcasting from Washington, DC.

Legendary baseball player Jackie Robinson was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1962.

ABC-TV begins televising the Roots mini-series in 1977 (which would go on to be the most watched mini-series in history), based on Alex Haley’s book.

<div>Singer Sam Cooke, the son of a minister and believed by many to be the first father of soul music, was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1931.</div>

On January 20, 2001, Colin Luther Powell is sworn in by President George W. Bush as Secretary of State. He is the first black secretary of state in U.S. history.

On January 19, 1918 John H Johnson, publisher of “Ebony Magazine” and “Jet” was born. In 1982 he became the first African-American to appear on the Forbes 400.

On January 18, 1975, “The Jeffersons” premiered on television. It aired for 11 seasons, making it the longest-running series with a predominantly black cast.

On January 17, 1942 Boxing champion, Muhammad Ali was born in Louisville, Kentucky. He began boxing after his bike was stolen at age 12.