Today in Black History 04/17/2010

*               Today in Black History - April 17             *

1758 - Frances Williams, the first African American to graduate
    from a college in the Western Hemisphere, publishes a
    collection of Latin poems.

1818 - For unknown reasons, Daniel Coker is expelled from the
    AME Church.  Coker had been a key organizer in the
    church's early history and was elected its first bishop,
    a position he declined possibly because of his fair
    complexion.

1947 - Jackie Robinson bunts safely for his 1st major league
    hit.

1978 - Thomas W. Turner, founder of the Federation of Colored
    Catholics, civil rights pioneer and charter member of
    the NAACP, joins the ancestors in Washington, DC, at
    the age of 101.

1980 - Zimbabwe, formerly known as Rhodesia, gains its
    independence. Reggae stars Bob Marley and the Wailers
    and others perform in the celebration festivities. 
    Robert Mugabe will be sworn in the following day as
    prime minister of the newly formed nation.

1987 - Julius Erving becomes the 3rd NBA player to score 30,000
    points.

1990 - Reverend Ralph Abernathy, civil rights activist, joins
    the ancestors at the age of 64 in Atlanta, Georgia.

1991 - African American and African leaders meet in Abidjan,
    Ivory Coast, in the first Summit Meeting of Africans
    and African Americans. The summit, organized by the
    Reverend Leon H. Sullivan, calls for closer ties
    between Africans and African Americans and urges
    Western governments to cancel Africa's foreign debt. 
    "Hold on, Africa!" the Rev. Sullivan says in his
    keynote speech.  "We are coming! Home of our heritage,
    land of our past, we can help.  We have 2 million
    college graduates in America.  We earn $300 billion a
    year.  Three centuries ago they took us away in a boat,
    but today we have come back in an airplane."

1993 - A federal jury in Los Angeles convicts two former police
    officers of violating the civil rights of beaten
    motorist Rodney King.  Two other officers are acquitted.

2003 - Earl King, Rhythm & Blues guitarist, joins the ancestors
    at age 69 after succumbing to complications of diabetes.
    His hits include the Mardi Gras favorite "Big Chief"
    and "Come On (Let the Good Times Roll."

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