B H This Day in Black History

April 1

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1493

Askia Muhammad Expands Songhai Empire

Askia Muhammad I (Muhammad Ture) overthrew the son of Sunni Ali and took the throne of the Songhai Empire in 1493. Under his rule, the empire became the largest in African history, stretching across most of West Africa. He reorganized the government, expanded trade, and made Timbuktu a world-renowned center of Islamic learning and scholarship.

Sources
1. Songhai Empire - Encyclopaedia Britannica2. The Songhai Empire - National Park Service3. Askia Muhammad I - African Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania
April 1, 1905

Clara Hale Born

Born April 1, 1905, Clara Hale founded Hale House in Harlem in 1969 to care for children born addicted to drugs. Over her lifetime, she cared for more than 1,000 babies. President Reagan recognized her in his 1985 State of the Union address as a "true American hero."

People: Clara Hale
Sources
1. Clara Hale - National Women's Hall of Fame
April 1, 1959

Death of Dr. William Augustus Hinton

Dr. William Augustus Hinton, a pioneer in the study of syphilis, dies.

Sources
1. William Augustus Hinton - National Library of Medicine2. William Augustus Hinton - The HistoryMakers
April 1, 1970

Launch of the National Black MBA Association

The National Black MBA Association was launched to support Black professionals in business and technology.

Sources
1. National Black MBA Association History — National Black MBA Association2. The National Black MBA Association: A Legacy of Leadership — University of Chicago Booth School of Business
April 1, 2018

Publication of 'Algorithmic Bias Detecting and Mitigation: Best Practices and Policies'

The influential paper on algorithmic bias authored by Dr. Timnit Gebru and colleagues was published.

People: Timnit Gebru
Sources
1. Algorithmic Bias Detecting and Mitigation: Best Practices and Policies — ACM Digital Library2. Algorithmic Bias Detecting and Mitigation: Best Practices and Policies — Google AI
April 1, 1950

Death of Dr. Charles R. Drew

Dr. Charles R. Drew, known for his work in blood plasma, dies in a car accident.

Sources
1. Charles R. Drew — National Institutes of Health2. Charles R. Drew: Pioneer in Blood Transfusion — Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture
April 1, 1950

Death of Dr. Charles Drew

Dr. Charles Drew, a pioneer in blood transfusion and storage, dies in a car accident.

People: Charles Drew
Sources
1. Charles Drew — National Institutes of Health2. Charles Drew: The Father of Blood Banking — Smithsonian Magazine3. Marie Van Brittan Brown: The First Home Security System — Smithsonian Magazine4. Marie Van Brittan Brown: The Inventor of the Home Security System — PBS

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