Celebrating Black History Month: Jimmie Lee Jackson, murdered civil rights activist

 

Jimmie Lee Jackson, a peaceful, unarmed demonstrator, died February 26, 1965, eight days after being beaten and shot by Alabama State Troopers. Jackson was an African American civil rights activist, born December 16, 1938 in Marion, Alabama, and a deacon in the Baptist church.

On February 18, 1965, about 500 people conducted a peaceful walk from Zion United Methodist Church to the Perry County jail, about half a block away.  The demonstration was organized by the Southern Christian Leadership Conference from Selma, Alabama, to protest the arrest of a civil rights worker James Orange was being held.

The police stated they believed the crowd was going to attempt a jail break and began beating the demonstrators.  Jackson and his family, including his 82-year-old grandfather, fled to a cafe for safety, but the police pursued them there.  They began to beat the family, and when Jackson tried to protect them, he was shot twice in the abdomen by Officer James Fowler. 

Despite his injuries, he managed to flee, but was beaten further by the police.  He finally collapsed, and was taken to the hospital. He died eight days later.  

Martin Luther King spoke at one of two funerals held for Jackson.  Jackson's death inspired the first march from Selma to Montgomery.

The officer who shot Jackson, Jim Fowler, was not brought up on charges at the time, claiming self-defense.  However, in 2010, Fowler admitted to shooting Jackson and plead guilty to manslaughter.  He was sentenced to six months in prison. 

Seriously?

He served only five months before being released due to health reasons.  

The Murder of Jimmie Lee Jackson

Celebrating Black History Month: Margaret Bailey, first African American Nurse Corps colonel

 

Margaret Bailey, born December 25, 1915 in Selma, Alabama, graduated from nursing school in 1938 and worked at Mercy Hospital in st. Petersburg, Florida, the only primary care facility for the black community. A year later, resigned her position and went to work at Seaview Hospital on Staten Island, New York, which specialized in tuberculosis treatment and was also non-segregated.

She joined the US Army Nurse Corps in June 1944 and was assigned to the "all-Negro unit" in the corps. She completed basic training at Fort Huachuca in Arizona and was commissioned second lieutenant. She was assigned to Florence, Arizona to care for German POWs.

After WWII, Bailey served in domestic and international facilities, such as France, Germany, and Japan.  she faced racism, but she advanced through the ranks.  She was promoted to captain in 1950 after completing a six-month psychiatric nursing course at Brooke Army Medical Center.

In July 1964, she was promoted to lieutenant colonel, becoming the first black nurse to achieve the rank. She was transferred to the 130th General Hospital in Chinon, France.  In 1966, she became the first chief nurse of the unit and the first black nurse to lead a non-segregated unit.

Bailey received the Army Commendation Medal in February 1969 and in January 1970, she became the first African American person to achieve the rank of colonel, the highest military rank possible within the United States Army Nurse Corps.

She retired from the Army in 1971 or 1972, and worked as a Consultant to the Surgeon General with a special responsibility to promote increased participation of minorities in the Army Nurse Corps. Throughout her lifetime, she was awarded the World War II Victory Medal, the American Campaign Medal, National Defense Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, and the Legion of Merit, the second hightest non-combat military award.

Bailey passed away in August 2014 in Washington DC, at the age of 98. 

Speech by Col. Margaret Bailey

Celebrating Black History Month: Harriet Pickens and Frances Wills, first African American women commissioned in the US Navy

 

Harriet Ida Pickens, born March 17, 1909 in Talladega, Alabama, and Frances Wills, born July 12, 1910 in Philadelphia, Pennyslvania, were the first two African American female officers to be commissioned by the US Navy.

The WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service) was established in 1942 during WWII, and many African American women wanted to enlist.  Then-Secretary of the US Navy Frank Knox refused their admission, following his death in April 1944, President Franklin Roosevelt authorized their inclusion in the WAVES.  Pickens and Wills were the first African American women chosen as recruits. They were enlisted on November 13, 1944.

Pickens passed away in 1969 in New York City after a stroke.  Wills died in January 1998 in New York City. 

Harriet Pickens and Frances Wills

Celebrating Pride Month: Laverne Cox, first transgender nominated for Primetime acting award

Laverne Cox, born May 29, 1972 in Mobile, Alabama, is the first transgender person to be nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in an acting category.  She was nominated for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for her performance in Orange Is The New Black. She was the first transgender person to win a Daytime Emmy Award in Outstanding Special Class Special for her work as executive producer for Laverne Cox Presents: The T Word.

On June 9, 2014, Cox became the first transgender person to appear on the cover of Time magazine.  She is the first transgender person to have a wax figure in Madame Tussauds.

 

Celebrating Black History Month: Percy Lavon Julian, African American chemist

Percy Lavon Julian, born April 11, 1899 in Montgomery, Alabama, was a research chemist and a pioneer in synthesizing medicinal drugs from plants.  His work paved the way for the steroid drug industry's production of cortisone, and artificial hormones that led to birth controls.

He attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Indiana, which only accepted a few African-Americans.  He was not allowed to live in the dormitory, and at first, stayed in a boarding home, which refused to serve him meals.  He was allowed to live in a fraternity house, in their attic (or basement, according to which source), and do servant work.  He graduated from DePauw in 1920 as valedictorian.

In 1929, he received a Rockefeller Foundation to continue his education at the University of Vienna, where he earned his PhD. In Europe, he didn't have the racial prejudices that had stifled his opportunities in the states.  However, his freedoms and liberties in Europe would cause trouble in the future back in the US.  He admitted in letters about his dalliances with Viennese women, wine, dances, and also made some derisive remarks about members of Howard University's faculty, where he had been an instructor before he left for Vienna. The scandals led to his dismissal.

A former mentor offered him an organic chemistry teaching position at DePauw University in 1932, but he was denied a professorship in 1936 because of racism.  

W. J. O'Brien, a vice-president at Glidden Company, supplier of soybean oil products, offered him a position of director of research at Glidden's Soya Products Division in Chicago.  He discovered a way of producing large quantities of soy sterols on a daily basis.  The soy stigmasterol could be converted into commercial quantities of progesterone, the female hormone. The large production of these hormones, reduced the cost of treating hormonal deficiencies.  

Julian left Glidden in December 1953 after Glidden decided to leave the steroid business. He founded his own research firm, Julian Laboratories, Inc. in Chicago, and hired his best chemists including African Americans and women from Glidden. He continued his research and synthesis of hormones throughout his life  He sold his company in 1961 for $2.3M, making him one of the first black millionaires.

He passed away of liver cancer in April 1975 in Waukegan, Illinois.

Happy birthday, Star Trek actress Sonequa Martin-Green!

Sonequa Martin-Green, born March 21, 1985 in Russellville, Alabama, is currently appearing as Commander Michael Burnham on the series Star Trek: Discovery.  She previously appeared in the zombie series The Walking Dead.  She has won acting awards for both roles, including two Saturn Awards for her work on Star Trek: Discovery.

Happy birthday, astronaut James Voss!

Astronaut James Voss, born March 3, 1949 in Cordova, Alabama, is a veteran of 5 space shuttle flights. He graduated from Auburn University in 1972 with a Bachelor's Degree in Aerospace Engineering, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the US Army.  He attended the University of Colorado and graduated with a Master's Degree in Aerospace Engineering Sciences.

His first trip into space was aboard Atlantis (STS-44) as mission specialist in November-December 1991. The crew was scheduled for a ten-day mission but was scrubbed after only 6 days, due to failure of one of the three orbiter inertial measurement units.

His second trip was aboard Discovery (STS-53) as mission specialist in December 1992.  The payload was a classified by the US Department of Defense.  Voss and the crew spent over 7 days in space.

His third mission was aboard Endeavour (STS-69) as mission specialist in September 1995.  During the mission, Voss conducted an EVA with fellow astronaut Michael Gernhardt which lasted o6 hours 46 minutes.  The crew spent nearly 11 days in space.

Voss's fourth trip into space was aboard Atlantis (STS-101) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in May 2000.  During the mission, he conducted another EVA with fellow astronaut Jeffrey Williams which lasted 6 hours and 44 minutes. The crew spent nearly 10 days in space.

His fifth and final mission was aboard Discovery (STS-102) as mission specialist launched in March 2001 to the International Space Station.  Along with fellow astronauts Susan Helms (who celebrated her birthday last week) and cosmonaut Yuri Usachov, he participated in Expedition 2 aboard the ISS.  He and Voss conducted the longest EVA to date: 8 hours, 56 minutes. They returned to Earth in August 2001 aboard Discovery (STS-105).

Overall, Voss has spent over 202 days in space.

The Pointer Sisters win 3rd American Music Award 1986

My girls, Ruth, Anita, and June, won their third American Music Award at the annual ceremony January 27, 1986.  They took home the award for Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo Group Video Artist.

The same evening Pat Benatar won the Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist, her third AMA as well.

Alabama won their fourth and fifth AMAs that night for Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group and for Favorite Country Album for 40-Hour Week.

Pat Benatar wins American Music Award for Best Pop/Rock Female Artist 1982

My girl Pat Benatar won the American Music Award for Best Pop/Rock Female Artist at the 9th annual ceremony held January 25, 1982.  Her single Fire and Ice from her third album Precious Time helped her win the Grammy that year as well.  It would be the first of three AMAs for her.

Air Supply?  The Australian duo won Best Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group beating The Pointer Sisters?  Give me a break.  They even beat AC/DC as well.  Something's fishy there. Hmmm....

At least, the Oak Ridge Boys won the country version of the award, beating Alabama and the Statler Brothers. 

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: David Moniac, first Native American graduate of US Military Academy

David Moniac, born December 1802 in present-day Alabama, was the first Native American to graduate the US Military Academy at West Point, NY in 1822.  He was related to major Creek leaders on both sides of his family, and had some Scottish ancestry as well.  

After he graduated, he resigned his commission to manage his family's property in Alabama.  During the Second Seminole War in 1863, he was recalled into service twice.  He first served with the Alabama militia to suppress an uprising of displaced Creek.

In August of that year, Moniac was commissioned as captain of the Creek Mounted Volunteer Regiment, a volunteer unit of Creek warriors led by white officers.   He was promoted to major in November. During the Battle of Wahoo Swamp, he and his unit were to find and destroy a Seminole camp.  Deep water separated the camp from Moniac's force.  He ran into the water to encourage his men to follow, but was shot dead by the Seminoles.  

Remembering Alabama member Jeff Cook (1949-2022)

Jeffrey Alan Cook, born August 27, 1949 in Fort Payne, Alabama, passed away November 7, 2022.  He announced in 2017 that he had contracted Parkinson's disease.  He is one of the founding members of the country supergroup Alabama with his cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry. He provided guitar, backing vocals, keyboard and fiddle to the band's sound.

Cook was in ducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame and Museum in 2019.  While with the group, Cook won multiple Grammy Awards, Country Music Association Awards, and was inducted into Alabama Hall of Fame three times.

Happy birthday, Jeff Cook, founding member of Alabama!

Jeff Cook, born August 27, 1949 in Fort Payne, Alabama, is one of the founding members of the country super-group Alabama.  He founded the band with his cousins Randy Owen and Teddy Gentry in 1972. He was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2019.

He has released solo projects including a recording with William Shatner.  

In 2017, he disclosed he has Parkinson's disease.

Celebrating Black History Month: Lonnie Johnson, super genius inventor of the Super Soaker

Lonnie Johnson, born October 6, 1949 in Mobile, Alabama, is a NASA scientist and entrepreneur.  Although he owns a number of patents for his work developing a nuclear power source for the Galileo probe to Jupiter, and the stealth bomber program, he is more famous for inventing the Super Soaker.  The Super Soaker first appeared in 1990 and in November 2013, after months of litigation, he was awarded almost $73M from Hasbro.

The Pointer Sisters win two American Music Awards 1985

My girls the Pointer Sisters won two American Music Awards at the 12th annual ceremony held January 28, 1985.  They won Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group and for Favorite Soul/R&B Band/Duo/Group Video Artist.  The video of the ceremony shows the Pointer Sisters winning for Favorite Black Group, so maybe the record has been updated to remove racist overtones.  

Cyndi Lauper won two awards for Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist and Favorite Pop/Rock Female Video Artist.  Darryl Hall & John Oates won for Favorite Pop/Rock Band/Duo/Group.  Alabama won for Favorite Country Band/Duo/Group.

Alabama gets their star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 1998

Super-group Alabama, winner of countless country music awards, was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, October 6, 1998.  They have released almost two dozen albums and have over 40 #1 hits.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Kathryn Hire!

Kathryn "Kay" Hire, born August 29, 1959 in Mobile, Alabama, has been in space twice.  After getting her Bachelor of Science at the US Naval Academy, she got her Master of Science degree in Space Technology just up the road here at the Florida Institute of Technology in Melbourne, Florida!  She was the first employee of the Kennedy Space Center to be chosen as an astronaut candidate.

Her first mission was aboard Columbia (STS-90) as mission specialist in April-May 1998.  It was the final flight of the European Space Agency's Spacelab module.

Her second and last flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-130) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in February 2010.  The primary payloads were the Tranquility module and the Cupola, a robotic controls station with six windows, providing a 360° view around the ISS.

Celebrating Black History Month: Jesse Owens, African-American athlete extraordinaire

Jesse Owens, born September 12, 1913 in Oakville, Alabama, is recognized as one of the greatest track and field athletes in history.  He set three world records in the span of forty five minutes during the Big Ten track meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1935.

He won four gold medals at the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin, Germany: 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump and 4 x 100 meter relay.  His achievements made him the most successful athlete at the games. 

The street outside the Olympic Stadium in Berlin has been named Jesse Owens Boulevard and the dormitory where he stayed during the games has been restored into a living museum with pictures of his accomplishments.

He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Gerald Ford, the Living Legend Award by President Jimmy Carter, has an asteroid named after him (6758 Jesseowens), and inducted into the inaugural class of the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame.

Owens died in March 1980 from an agressive, drug-resistant type of lung cancer.

Nat King Cole born 1919

Nat King Cole, born March 17, 1919 in Montgomery, Alabama as Nathaniel Adams Coles, had one of the most recognizable and velvety voices ever.  He dropped out of high school to pursue a career in music.  As a member of the King Cole Trio, he recorded Sweet Lorraine in 1940 which became his first hit.

November 5, 1956, the Nat King Cole show debuted on NBC, which was the first variety program to be hosted by an African-American.  It failed due to the lack of a national sponsor, despite the efforts of friends such as Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, Eartha Kitt to keep it on air.  A year later, the last show aired December 17, but it was Cole, not NBC who ended the program.

He recorded Unforgettable in 1951, which was edited and remixed in 1991 to create a duet with his daughter Natalie.  Her version reached won three Grammys in 1992, Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

Nat King Cole's original recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000. 

His last album L-O-V-E was recorded in December 1964 before he entered the hospital for cancer treatment and released just before he died February 1965. 

He was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1990.

Alabama wins Grammy for "Mountain Music" 1983

Super country group Alabama won the Grammy for Best Country & Western Performance - Duo or Group with Vocal February 23, 1983 for the song Mountain Music.  It is the title track to their top-selling album, Mountain Music, which has been certified 5 x platinum.

Henry Hartsfield, Space Shuttle astronaut, born 1933

Henry "Hank" Hartsfield, born November 21, 1933 in Birmingham, Alabama, was a veteran of 3 Space Shuttle flights, including one of the first, STS-4 aboard Columbia.  In June 1982, he and Ken Mattingly made the final test run of the Space Shuttle program, which was the last time only two astronauts were aboard a shuttle.

His second flight was on Discovery (STS-41-D) in August-September 1984 as commander.  Its initial launch date was June 26 but at T-6 seconds before blast off, the launch was aborted.  Its mission was delayed over two months.

His third and final flight was aboard Challenger (STS-61-A) in October-November 1985.  It was the last successful flight of the Challenger.  He was commander of the only space shuttle mission to carry 8 astronauts for the entire mission. 

Hartsfield passed away in July 2014 from complications due to back surgery.