October 7
Toni Morrison Wins Nobel Prize
On October 7, 1993, the Swedish Academy announced that Toni Morrison had won the Nobel Prize in Literature, citing her as a writer "who in novels characterized by visionary force and poetic import, gives life to an essential aspect of American reality."
Elijah Muhammad Born
Born October 7, 1897, as Elijah Robert Poole, he became the leader of the Nation of Islam in 1934 and led the organization until his death in 1975, mentoring both Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali.
Amiri Baraka Born
Born October 7, 1934, Amiri Baraka was a leading figure in the Black Arts Movement. His play "Dutchman" (1964) won an Obie Award. He co-founded the Black Arts Repertory Theatre and helped define a new Black aesthetic in American literature.
Ava DuVernay's 13th Released on Netflix
On October 7, 2016, Ava DuVernay's documentary "13th" was released on Netflix. The film examined how the 13th Amendment's exception for those convicted of crimes led to mass incarceration of Black Americans. It was nominated for an Academy Award and became one of the most influential documentaries of the decade.