B H This Day in Black History

March 17

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March 17, 1912

Bayard Rustin Born

Born March 17, 1912, Bayard Rustin was the strategic genius behind the March on Washington. He mentored Martin Luther King Jr. in nonviolent tactics. Despite being marginalized due to his sexuality, he was one of the most important architects of the civil rights movement.

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People: Bayard Rustin
Sources
1. Bayard Rustin - The HistoryMakers2. Bayard Rustin - National Park Service
March 17, 1956

Nat King Cole Show Premieres

On March 17, 1956, The Nat King Cole Show premiered on NBC, making Cole the first African American to host a network television variety show. Despite critical acclaim, the show struggled to find national sponsors due to racial prejudice and was canceled after one season.

televisionentertainmentfirstarts
People: Nat King Cole
Sources
1. Nat King Cole: The First African American to Host a National Television Show - History.com2. Nat King Cole - American Experience - PBS3. Nat King Cole Show - Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture

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August 28, 1963
March on Washington
Over 250,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, where Dr. King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech.
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January 11, 1947
Bayard Rustin Organizes Journey of Reconciliation
Bayard Rustin and other civil rights activists began the Journey of Reconciliation, a precursor to the Freedom Rides.
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March 16, 1919
Nat King Cole Born
Nat King Cole, singer and television pioneer, was born in Montgomery, Alabama.
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March 6, 1857
Dred Scott v. Sandford Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that African Americans, whether free or enslaved, were not citizens and had no standing to sue in federal court.
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