Arts
176 facts
Toni Morrison Wins Nobel Prize
Toni Morrison became the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
W.E.B. Du Bois Born
W.E.B. Du Bois, pioneering sociologist, historian, and civil rights activist who co-founded the NAACP, was born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts.
Sidney Poitier Wins Academy Award
Sidney Poitier became the first Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for his role in Lilies of the Field.
Duke Ellington Born
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington, one of the most important composers in American music history, was born in Washington, D.C.
Maya Angelou Born
Maya Angelou, poet, memoirist, and civil rights activist, was born in St. Louis, Missouri.
W.E.B. Du Bois Publishes The Souls of Black Folk
W.E.B. Du Bois published "The Souls of Black Folk," one of the most influential works in African American literature.
Louis Armstrong Born
Louis Armstrong, legendary jazz trumpeter and vocalist who transformed American music, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Marian Anderson Sings at Lincoln Memorial
Marian Anderson performed a legendary concert at the Lincoln Memorial after being denied permission to sing at Constitution Hall.
Miles Davis Born
Miles Davis, trumpeter who transformed jazz music multiple times, was born in Alton, Illinois.
Phillis Wheatley Publishes Poems
Phillis Wheatley became the first African American and one of the first women to publish a book of poetry in America.
Aretha Franklin Born
Aretha Franklin, the "Queen of Soul," was born in Memphis, Tennessee.
Sidney Poitier Wins Best Actor Oscar
Sidney Poitier became the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, for "Lilies of the Field."
Chuck Berry Born
Chuck Berry, the "Father of Rock and Roll," was born in St. Louis, Missouri.
Smithsonian National Museum of African American History Opens
The Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture opened on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Toni Morrison Dies
Toni Morrison, Nobel Prize-winning novelist and one of the most important American writers, died at age 88.
Marian Anderson Born
Marian Anderson, the groundbreaking contralto who broke racial barriers in classical music, was born in Philadelphia.
Ella Fitzgerald Born
Ella Fitzgerald, the "First Lady of Song" and one of the most influential jazz vocalists in history, was born in Newport News, Virginia.
Paul Robeson Born
Paul Robeson, athlete, singer, actor, and political activist, was born in Princeton, New Jersey.
Billie Holiday Born
Billie Holiday, one of the most influential jazz singers in history, was born Eleanora Fagan in Philadelphia.
Oprah Winfrey Born
Oprah Winfrey, media mogul and philanthropist, was born in Kosciusko, Mississippi.
Leontyne Price Debuts at the Met
Soprano Leontyne Price made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, becoming one of the first African American prima donnas.
Alice Walker Wins Pulitzer Prize
Alice Walker became the first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for "The Color Purple."
Jimi Hendrix Dies
Jimi Hendrix, widely regarded as the greatest electric guitarist in history, died in London at age 27.
Ray Charles Born
Ray Charles, the "Genius" who pioneered soul music, was born in Albany, Georgia.
Richard Wright Born
Richard Wright, whose novels exposed the brutality of racism in America, was born near Natchez, Mississippi.
Prince Born
Prince Rogers Nelson, pioneering musician and cultural icon, was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
John Coltrane Born
John Coltrane, one of the most influential jazz saxophonists in history, was born in Hamlet, North Carolina.
Harlem Renaissance Begins
The publication of Claude McKay's poem "If We Must Die" marked a key moment in the Harlem Renaissance.
Harriet Beecher Stowe Publishes Uncle Tom's Cabin
Harriet Beecher Stowe published "Uncle Tom's Cabin," a novel that galvanized anti-slavery sentiment in the North.
Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun Opens
Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" became the first play by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway.
Sam Cooke Born
Sam Cooke, the "King of Soul" whose music bridged gospel and pop, was born in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
Alex Haley's Roots Premieres
The television miniseries "Roots," based on Alex Haley's novel, premiered and became one of the most-watched programs in American television history.
Stevie Wonder Born
Stevie Wonder, musician and songwriter who became one of the most successful artists of the 20th century, was born in Saginaw, Michigan.
Berry Gordy Founds Motown Records
Berry Gordy Jr. founded Motown Records in Detroit, Michigan, creating the most successful Black-owned record label in history.
Dizzy Gillespie Born
Dizzy Gillespie, trumpet virtuoso who pioneered bebop jazz, was born in Cheraw, South Carolina.
Thelonious Monk Born
Thelonious Monk, innovative jazz pianist and composer, was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina.
Hattie McDaniel Wins Oscar
Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to win an Academy Award, for her role in "Gone with the Wind."
Marvin Gaye Born
Marvin Gaye, singer and songwriter whose album "What's Going On" addressed social issues facing Black America, was born in Washington, D.C.
James Weldon Johnson Born
James Weldon Johnson, author, diplomat, and civil rights leader who wrote "Lift Every Voice and Sing," was born in Jacksonville, Florida.
Charlie Parker Born
Charlie Parker, saxophone genius who co-created bebop jazz, was born in Kansas City, Kansas.
Nina Simone Born
Nina Simone, singer, pianist, and civil rights activist known as the "High Priestess of Soul," was born in Tryon, North Carolina.
Wole Soyinka Wins Nobel Prize
Nigerian playwright Wole Soyinka became the first African to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Robert Johnson Born
Robert Johnson, the legendary Delta blues musician, was born in Hazlehurst, Mississippi.
Muddy Waters Born
Muddy Waters, the "Father of Modern Chicago Blues," was born in Issaquena County, Mississippi.
B.B. King Born
B.B. King, the "King of the Blues" and one of the most influential guitarists in history, was born near Itta Bena, Mississippi.
Chinua Achebe Born
Chinua Achebe, author of "Things Fall Apart" and father of modern African literature, was born in Ogidi, Nigeria.
John H. Johnson Founded Johnson Publishing
John H. Johnson founded Johnson Publishing Company, publisher of Ebony and Jet magazines.
Mahalia Jackson Born
Mahalia Jackson, the "Queen of Gospel," was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Little Richard Born
Little Richard, founding father of rock and roll, was born in Macon, Georgia.
Tina Turner Born
Tina Turner, the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll," was born in Brownsville, Tennessee.
Whitney Houston Born
Whitney Houston, one of the best-selling music artists of all time, was born in Newark, New Jersey.
Berry Gordy Born
Berry Gordy Jr., founder of Motown Records, was born in Detroit, Michigan.
Ralph Ellison Publishes Invisible Man
Ralph Ellison published "Invisible Man," which won the National Book Award and became a cornerstone of American literature.
Lorraine Hansberry Born
Lorraine Hansberry, playwright of "A Raisin in the Sun," the first play by an African American woman produced on Broadway, was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Alice Walker Born
Alice Walker, author of "The Color Purple" and first African American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, was born in Eatonton, Georgia.
Elizabeth Taylor Challenges AIDS Stigma
Marian Anderson performed at the Metropolitan Opera, becoming the first African American to sing a lead role there.
James Weldon Johnson Writes Lift Every Voice
James Weldon Johnson and his brother J. Rosamond Johnson debuted "Lift Every Voice and Sing" in Jacksonville, Florida.
James Baldwin Dies
James Baldwin, one of the most important writers of the 20th century, died in Saint-Paul-de-Vence, France.
Russwurm and Cornish Publish Freedom's Journal
Freedom's Journal, the first African American-owned newspaper, published its inaugural issue in New York City.
Langston Hughes Dies
Langston Hughes, Harlem Renaissance poet and author, died in New York City at age 65.
Voltaire and Frederick Douglass
The North Star, Frederick Douglass's abolitionist newspaper, published its first issue in Rochester, New York.
Sam Cooke Shot and Killed
Sam Cooke, the "King of Soul," was shot and killed in Los Angeles at age 33.
Amanda Gorman Reads at Presidential Inauguration
Amanda Gorman became the youngest inaugural poet in U.S. history, reciting "The Hill We Climb" at President Biden's inauguration.
Chadwick Boseman Dies
Chadwick Boseman, star of "Black Panther," died of colon cancer at age 43.
Nikole Hannah-Jones Wins Pulitzer for 1619 Project
Nikole Hannah-Jones won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for her work on The 1619 Project.
Beyoncé's Lemonade Released
Beyoncé released her visual album "Lemonade," a groundbreaking exploration of Black womanhood, infidelity, and resilience.
Ta-Nehisi Coates Publishes Between the World and Me
Ta-Nehisi Coates published "Between the World and Me," a landmark letter to his son about being Black in America.
Black Panther Film Released
Marvel's "Black Panther" premiered, becoming the first major Black superhero film in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
Kendrick Lamar Wins Pulitzer Prize for Music
Kendrick Lamar won the Pulitzer Prize for Music for his album "DAMN.," the first non-classical or jazz artist to receive the honor.
Alvin Ailey Born
Modern dance pioneer Alvin Ailey was born in Rogers, Texas.
Ralph Ellison Born
Author of "Invisible Man" Ralph Ellison was born in Oklahoma City.
Nat King Cole Show Premieres
Nat King Cole became the first African American to host a national TV show.
Spike Lee Born
Filmmaker Spike Lee, a groundbreaking voice in Black cinema, was born in Atlanta.
Kwanzaa First Celebrated
Dr. Maulana Karenga and his organization Us celebrated the first Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration of African American heritage.
Sammy Davis Jr. Born
Sammy Davis Jr., legendary entertainer who broke racial barriers in show business, was born in Harlem, New York.
Otis Redding Dies in Plane Crash
Soul singer Otis Redding died in a plane crash in Wisconsin at age 26.
Oscar Micheaux Releases First Film
Oscar Micheaux released "The Homesteader," making him the first African American feature filmmaker.
Claude McKay Born
Poet Claude McKay, a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance, was born in Jamaica.
W.C. Handy Born
W.C. Handy, the "Father of the Blues," was born in Florence, Alabama.
Gordon Parks Born
Gordon Parks, groundbreaking photographer, filmmaker, and writer, was born in Fort Scott, Kansas.
Scott Joplin Born
Scott Joplin, the "King of Ragtime," was born near Texarkana, Texas.
Fisk Jubilee Singers First Performance
The Fisk Jubilee Singers performed for the first time, preserving and popularizing African American spirituals.
Kwanzaa Created
Maulana Karenga created Kwanzaa, a week-long celebration of African American culture and heritage.
Beyoncé Born
Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, singer, songwriter, and cultural icon, was born in Houston, Texas.
Cab Calloway Born
Cab Calloway, bandleader, singer, and entertainer known for "Minnie the Moocher," was born in Rochester, New York.
Misty Copeland Becomes Principal Ballerina
Misty Copeland was promoted to principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre, the first African American woman in the company's 75-year history.
Dorothy Dandridge Born
Dorothy Dandridge, the first African American to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
Lena Horne Born
Lena Horne, singer, actress, and civil rights activist, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
James Earl Jones Born
James Earl Jones, legendary actor known for his iconic voice and powerful stage and screen performances, was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi.
Octavia Butler Born
Octavia Butler, groundbreaking science fiction author, was born in Pasadena, California.
Ruby Dee Born
Ruby Dee, actress and civil rights activist, was born in Cleveland, Ohio.
Phillis Wheatley Dies
Poet Phillis Wheatley, the first African American to publish a book of poetry, died in Boston at approximately age 31.
Augusta Savage Born
Augusta Savage, sculptor and arts educator who shaped the Harlem Renaissance, was born in Green Cove Springs, Florida.
Jacob Lawrence Born
Jacob Lawrence, painter known for his Migration Series depicting the Great Migration, was born in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Oscar Peterson Born
Oscar Peterson, one of the greatest jazz pianists of all time, was born in Montreal, Canada.
Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Founded
Alvin Ailey established his dance company, which became a cultural ambassador of African American heritage.
Robert Abbott Founds the Chicago Defender
Robert Abbott founded the Chicago Defender, which became the most influential Black newspaper in the nation.
Arthur Mitchell Founds Dance Theatre of Harlem
Arthur Mitchell founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the first major Black classical ballet company.
Amiri Baraka Born
Amiri Baraka, poet, playwright, and Black Arts Movement leader, was born as LeRoi Jones in Newark, New Jersey.
Claudia Jones Born
Claudia Jones, Trinidadian-born activist who founded the Notting Hill Carnival, was born in Belmont, Trinidad.
Ossie Davis Born
Ossie Davis, actor, director, playwright, and civil rights activist, was born in Cogdell, Georgia.
Romare Bearden Born
Romare Bearden, artist known for his vivid collages of African American life, was born in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Denzel Washington Born
Denzel Washington, two-time Academy Award-winning actor, was born in Mount Vernon, New York.
Fats Domino Born
Fats Domino, rock and roll pioneer whose hits included "Blueberry Hill," was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Sidney Bechet Born
Sidney Bechet, pioneering jazz clarinetist and soprano saxophonist, was born in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Count Basie Born
Count Basie, bandleader whose orchestra defined the swing era, was born in Red Bank, New Jersey.
Sonia Sanchez Born
Sonia Sanchez, poet and leading figure of the Black Arts Movement, was born in Birmingham, Alabama.
Mary Lou Williams Born
Mary Lou Williams, jazz pianist and composer known as the "First Lady of Jazz," was born in Atlanta, Georgia.
Aimé Césaire Born
Aimé Césaire, poet and politician who co-founded the Négritude literary movement, was born in Basse-Pointe, Martinique.
Alain Locke Born
Alain Locke, philosopher, educator, and intellectual architect of the Harlem Renaissance, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Audre Lorde Born
Audre Lorde, poet, essayist, and activist who described herself as a "Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet," was born in New York City.
Colson Whitehead Born
Colson Whitehead, two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, was born in New York City.
Halle Berry Wins Best Actress Oscar
Halle Berry became the first African American woman to win the Academy Award for Best Actress, for "Monster's Ball."
Nikki Giovanni Born
Nikki Giovanni, poet, activist, and professor known as the "Princess of Black Poetry," was born in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Leontyne Price Born
Leontyne Price, legendary soprano and pioneer for Black opera singers, was born in Laurel, Mississippi.
First African American Oscar Nominee
Hattie McDaniel became the first African American to be nominated for an Academy Award, for "Gone with the Wind."
Ebony Magazine First Published
Ebony magazine, one of the most influential African American publications, published its first issue.
Tupac Shakur Born
Tupac Shakur, one of the most influential hip-hop artists of all time, was born in East Harlem, New York.
Notorious B.I.G. Born
The Notorious B.I.G. (Biggie Smalls), one of the greatest rappers in history, was born in Brooklyn, New York.
Nella Larsen Born
Nella Larsen, Harlem Renaissance novelist known for "Passing" and "Quicksand," was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Josephine Baker Refuses to Perform for Segregated Audiences
Josephine Baker refused to perform for segregated audiences during her U.S. tour, helping to desegregate several venues.
Ann Petry Born
Ann Petry, author of "The Street," the first novel by an African American woman to sell over a million copies, was born in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.
Robert Johnson Dies
Robert Johnson, the legendary Delta blues musician, died at age 27 near Greenwood, Mississippi.
Phillis Wheatley Arrives in Boston
A young girl from West Africa, later named Phillis Wheatley, arrived in Boston on a slave ship.
Nat King Cole Born
Nat King Cole, singer and television pioneer, was born in Montgomery, Alabama.
Diana Ross Born
Diana Ross, Motown legend and lead singer of The Supremes, was born in Detroit, Michigan.
T-Bone Walker Born
T-Bone Walker, pioneer of the electric blues guitar, was born in Linden, Texas.
Nate Parker Born
Max Robinson became the first African American network news anchor when he joined ABC World News Tonight.
Isaac Hayes Born
Isaac Hayes, singer, songwriter, and actor who composed the "Shaft" soundtrack, was born in Covington, Tennessee.
Eleanor Roosevelt Resigns from DAR
Eleanor Roosevelt resigned from the Daughters of the American Revolution after they refused to allow Marian Anderson to perform at Constitution Hall.
Whoopi Goldberg Born
Whoopi Goldberg, EGOT-winning entertainer and activist, was born in New York City.
Josephine Baker Dies
Josephine Baker, entertainer and civil rights activist, died in Paris at age 68.
The Wright Brothers and Paul Laurence Dunbar
Paul Laurence Dunbar, one of the first influential African American poets, died in Dayton, Ohio, at age 33.
Oscar Micheaux Born
Oscar Micheaux, the first major African American feature filmmaker, was born near Metropolis, Illinois.
Misty Copeland Named Principal Dancer at ABT
Misty Copeland became the first African American woman to be named a principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre.
Tyler Perry Opens Largest Film Studio in U.S.
Tyler Perry opened Tyler Perry Studios on a former Confederate army base in Atlanta, the largest film studio in the United States.
Ava DuVernay's 13th Released on Netflix
Ava DuVernay's documentary "13th," examining mass incarceration and its roots in slavery, premiered on Netflix.
Jordan Peele's Get Out Released
Jordan Peele's "Get Out" premiered, redefining horror through the lens of the Black American experience.
Viola Davis Achieves EGOT Status
Viola Davis won a Grammy Award, becoming the 18th person to achieve EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony).
Nipsey Hussle Murdered in Los Angeles
Nipsey Hussle, rapper and community activist, was fatally shot outside his clothing store in South Los Angeles.
Cicely Tyson Dies
Cicely Tyson, pioneering actress who broke barriers for Black women in Hollywood, died at age 96.
Virgil Abloh Named Artistic Director at Louis Vuitton
Virgil Abloh became the first African American artistic director of a major French fashion house when he joined Louis Vuitton.
12 Years a Slave Wins Best Picture
12 Years a Slave won the Academy Award for Best Picture, making Steve McQueen the first Black filmmaker to win the award.
Selena Born
Selena Quintanilla, the "Queen of Tejano music" who broke barriers for Latino and Black artists, was born in Lake Jackson, Texas.
Shirley Temple Black and Bill Robinson Dance
Shirley Temple and Bill "Bojangles" Robinson performed their famous staircase dance in "The Little Colonel," the first interracial dance scene in a major Hollywood film.
Shirley Caesar Born
Shirley Caesar, the "First Lady of Gospel Music," was born in Durham, North Carolina.
Charles White Born
Charles White, painter and muralist known for his powerful depictions of African American life, was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Mavis Staples Born
Mavis Staples, gospel and soul singer who performed with the Staple Singers, was born in Chicago, Illinois.
Pearl Bailey Born
Pearl Bailey, singer and actress who won a Tony Award for "Hello, Dolly!," was born in Newport News, Virginia.
Erroll Garner Born
Erroll Garner, jazz pianist who composed "Misty," was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
André Leon Talley Born
André Leon Talley, influential fashion journalist and editor-at-large of Vogue, was born in Washington, D.C.
Bud Billiken Parade First Held
The Bud Billiken Parade, the largest African American parade in the United States, was first held in Chicago.
Alex Haley Begins Research for Roots
Alex Haley began his 12-year research journey that would become "Roots: The Saga of an American Family."
Phyllis Wheatley Meets George Washington
Phillis Wheatley visited General George Washington at his Cambridge headquarters after writing a poem in his honor.
Florence Mills Born
Florence Mills, a leading jazz and vaudeville performer of the Harlem Renaissance, was born in Washington, D.C.
Augusta Savage Commissioned for World's Fair
Sculptor Augusta Savage was commissioned to create a sculpture for the 1939 New York World's Fair.
John Henry's Contest
According to legend, steel-driver John Henry competed against a steam-powered drill at the Big Bend Tunnel in West Virginia.
Dorothy West Born
Dorothy West, novelist and the youngest member of the Harlem Renaissance, was born in Boston, Massachusetts.
Chester Himes Born
Chester Himes, crime novelist known for his Harlem Detective series, was born in Jefferson City, Missouri.
Claudia Rankine Born
Claudia Rankine, poet and author of "Citizen: An American Lyric," was born in Kingston, Jamaica.
Angelina Grimké Weld Born
Angelina Weld Grimké, poet and playwright of the Harlem Renaissance, was born in Boston, Massachusetts.
Elvis Presley Born
Elvis Presley, who drew heavily from African American blues and gospel traditions, was born in Tupelo, Mississippi.
Amiri Baraka Dies
Amiri Baraka, poet and Black Arts Movement leader, died at age 79 in Newark, New Jersey.
LeVar Burton Born
LeVar Burton, actor best known for "Roots" and "Reading Rainbow," was born in Landstuhl, West Germany.
Denzel Washington Wins Tony Award
Denzel Washington won the Tony Award for Best Actor for his role in "Fences" by August Wilson.
Pam Grier Born
Pam Grier, actress who became the first African American woman to headline an action film, was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Hazel Scott Born
Hazel Scott, jazz pianist and the first Black woman to host her own TV show, was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad.
Ed Bradley Born
Ed Bradley, pioneering journalist and longtime correspondent for "60 Minutes," was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Ethel Waters Born
Ethel Waters, singer and actress who was the second African American nominated for an Academy Award, was born in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Freedom's Journal Founded
Freedom's Journal ceased publication after two years, having established the tradition of the African American press.
Ruby Dee Dies
Ruby Dee, actress and civil rights activist, died at age 91 in New Rochelle, New York.
Rihanna Headlines Super Bowl Halftime Show
Rihanna performed the Super Bowl LVII halftime show, the most-watched musical performance in history, while pregnant.
Michael B. Jordan Directs Creed III
Michael B. Jordan made history as the director of "Creed III," the first film in the Rocky franchise directed by a Black filmmaker.
Jason Reynolds Named National Ambassador for Young People's Literature
Jason Reynolds was named the seventh National Ambassador for Young People's Literature by the Library of Congress.
Wanda Sykes Born
Wanda Sykes, comedian and actress known for her sharp political humor, was born in Portsmouth, Virginia.
Ludwig van Beethoven Born
Historian Margaret Washington studied records suggesting Beethoven may have had African ancestry through his mother's Moorish lineage.