Celebrate the Day!: August 30

Gabriel Prosser, a literate enslaved blacksmith, planned a large slave rebellion in the Richmond area for August 30, 1800. Information regarding the revolt was leaked prior to its execution, and he and twenty-five followers were taken captive and hanged in punishment on October 10. In reaction, Virginia and other state legislatures passed restrictions on free blacks, as well as prohibiting the education, assembly, and hiring out of slaves, to restrict their chances to learn and to plan similar rebellions.

Birthdays

Myra Lillian Davis Hemmings (August 30, 1895 - December 8,1968) was a founder of Delta Sigma Theta and first president of the Alpha Chapter at Howard. After graduation she returned to her native San Antonio where she taught English and drama for 51 years. She and her husband, former Broadway actor John Hemmings, founded the Phyllis Wheatley Dramatic Guild Players, and she also starred in three films. She was elected national Delta Sigma Theta vice president in 1933 and historian in 1938.

Roy Wilkins (August 30, 1901 - September 8, 1981) was NAACP Executive director from 1955 to 1977. He previously served as as assistant secretary under Walter White (1931-34) and editor of Crisis Magazine (1934-49). He participated in the March on Washington, the Selma to Montgomery Marches, and the March Against Fear. He felt civil rights could be gained through legislation and often testified at Congressional hearing, and he opposed militancy and the Black Power Movement.

Charles "Tarzan" Cooper (August 30, 1907 - December 19, 1980), a standout at Philadelphia's Central High School, excelled at the center position for twenty professional basketball seasons. From 1924 to 1929, Tarzan starred with the Philadelphia Panthers & Philadelphia Saints. In 1929, Cooper joined the legendary New York Renaissance. For the next eleven years, Cooper directed the Rens, an all-black team, to 1,303 wins in 1,506 games.

Xernona Clayton Brady (born August 30, 1930) is a civil rights leader and broadcasting executive. During the Civil Rights Movement, she worked for the National Urban League and Southern Christian Leadership Conference, where she became involved in the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Clayton then went into television, where she became the first Southern African-American to host a daily prime time talk show. She became corporate vice president for urban affairs for Turner Broadcasting.

Carrie Saxon Perry was the first black woman to be elected mayor of a major New England city – Hartford, Connecticut – in 1987. She served three terms before being defeated in 1993. She had previously served as a state representative, and was known for her distinctive broad-rimmed hats.

Luther "Snake Boy" Johnson (August 30, 1934 – March 18, 1976) was a Chicago blues and electric blues guitarist, singer and songwriter. He was also known as Luther "Snake" Johnson or Luther "Georgia Boy" Johnson, and was otherwise billed as both Luther King and Little Luther (under the latter he recorded for Chess Records in the 1960s).

Fred Hampton (August 30, 1948 – December 4, 1969) was deputy chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party (BPP). He was killed as he lay in bed in his apartment by a Illinois state tactical unit working in conjunction with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Hampton's death was chronicled in the 1971 documentary film The Murder of Fred Hampton, as well as an episode of the critically acclaimed documentary series Eyes on the Prize.

Robert Parish (born August 30, 1953) played in more games than any other player in NBA history. A 7-1 center who combined strength, agility and remarkable endurance, Parish won three NBA championships with the Boston Celtics in the 1980s and teamed with Larry Bird and Kevin McHale to form one of the greatest front lines in NBA history. He capped his career by winning yet another championship ring as a member of the 1996-97 Chicago Bulls.

Gerald Albright (born August 30, 1957) plays a number of instruments as well as saxophone. He has sold over a million albums and has a signature line of saxophones with Cannonball Musical Instruments. He holds a Business Management degree from the University of Redlands (California)and was one of ten saxophonists who played at President Bill Clinton's inauguration. He was also featured at the Presidential Summit, as well as several private functions for the President.

Events

The first African American magazine, Mirror of Freedom, began publication in New York City on August 30, 1838. Published by abolitionist David Ruggles (left), the magazine is regarded as the first created and published by an African-American. Ruggles was a passionate opponent of slavery, as seen through his other anti-slavery publications including Extinguisher, Extinguished (1834) and Abrogation of the Seventh Commandment by the American Churches (1835).

African Americans participated in a national political convention for the first time on August 30, 1843 at the Liberty party convention in Buffalo. Samuel R. Ward led the convention in prayer; Henry Highland Garnet (left) was a member of the nominating committee; and Charles R. Ray was one of the convention secretaries.

On August 30, 1861 Major General John C. Fremont issued a proclamation putting Missouri under martial law and freeing all enslaved people in the state. President Lincoln rescinded the order on September 11, and Fremont was removed from command of the Department of the West (from the Mississippi River to the Rockies) on October 22.

On August 30, 1944 Anna Lucasta premiered at the Mansfield Theater, the first Broadway drama with an all-black cast. It was an American Negro Theater production starring Hilda Simms, Canada Lee, Frederick O'Neal, Earl Hyman, and Alice Childress, with John Wildberg as producer and Henry Wagstaff Gibble as director. It ran for over 2 years with 957 performances before embarking on a 3-year tour of the U.S. and Europe, including a year-long run in London.

On August 30, 1961, James B. Parsons was confirmed by the United States Senate to a seat on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, and received his commission the same day. He was the first African American given a lifetime appointment on the Federal bench.

On August 30,1966 Constance Baker Motley was confirmed U.S. district judge, becoming the first African American woman on the federal bench. Prior to her appointment, Ms Motley worked as a law clerk for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund.

On August 30, 1967 the nomination of Thurgood Marshall to the U.S. Supreme Court was confirmed by the Senate. He had been nomination by President Johnson on June 13 and was officially sworn in as the first African American Supreme Court Justice on October 7.

On August 30, 1983 Guion "Guy" Bluford, Jr., engineer and astronaut, flew aboard the space shuttle Challenger, making history as the first African-American in space.

Photo Gallery

White Mob Stops School Desegregation In Mansfield,Texas on August 30, 1956

August 30, 1960: Welsh singer Shirley Bassey being fitted for a new dress
by designer Douglas Darnell. The sheath dress is covered
with 156,000 diamante stones and weighs 28 pounds.

Wattstax (1973) Documentary recorded August 30, 1972 at the concert organized by Memphis' Stax Records to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the Watts riots, held at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Performers include The Dramatics, Kim Weston, The Emotions, William Bell, The Bar-Kays, Albert King, Little Milton, Johnnie Taylor, Mel and Tim, Carla & Rufus Thomas, Luther Ingram, and Isaac Hayes.

Salt-N-Pepa, New York City, August 30th, 1993

On August 30, 2012 Lucimarian Roberts passed away at age 88.
She was the mother of Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts
and the first African American to head Mississippi’s board of education

Gabrielle Union wed on August 30, 2014

First lady Michelle Obama, daughters Sasha, left, and Malia, August 30, 2014
on their way to the wedding of the first family's longtime chef and friend. Chef Sam Kass