Black History Pages

On This Day in Black History: May 14

1625

Captain John Powell landed on Barbados and claimed the island for King James I.

1807

A slave known as York accompanied Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition.

1881

Jamaican-born Mary Seacole, Crimean War heroine, died in London.

1897

Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist and composer Sidney Bechet was born.

1910

The frontiers of the Belgian Congo, British Uganda and German East Africa—including the territory of Ruanda-Urundi—were fixed at a conference in Brussels.

1951

Dr. Theophilus Donges, South Africa's Minister of the Interior, removed all people of mixed race from the electoral register, deeming it necessary to avoid the collapse of white civilization in the whole of Africa.

1961

A bus with the first group of Freedom Riders was bombed and burned by segregationists outside Anniston, Alabama.

1963

Arthur Ashe became the first African-American male selected to play for the U.S. Davis Cup Tennis Team.

1970

Two African-American students were shot to death by government troops at Jackson State University, Mississippi. The two students were watching anti-war demonstrations from a nearby dormitory tower.

1991

Winnie Mandela was sentenced to six years for her complicity in the kidnapping and beating of four youths, one of whom was later found dead.

1995

Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, was sworn in to head the NAACP.

1999

The ruling African National Congress signed a peace pact with its rival, the Inkatha Freedom Party.

Heal Emru, and Help the Global Black Community

In mid-December, Black History Pages co-founder Emru Townsend was diagnosed with leukemia, as well as a condition called monosomy 7. Due to the monosomy 7, he has an increased risk of the leukemia coming back, no matter how successful chemotherapy is.

Emru needs a bone marrow transplant. This kind of therapy is administered through a transplant of bone marrow stem cells from a matching donor. While anyone can match Emru, the best chances for a match come from someone who shares the same ethnic background—and blacks are underrepresented in international bone marrow registries.

This is an issue that affects not only Emru personally, but every black person in the world who needs a bone marrow transplant. Bone marrow transplants can save the lives of certain patients with a variety of diseases, including leukemia, Hunter's disease, osteopetrosis and even, in some cases, sickle cell anemia—a disease that predominantly affects blacks.

How can you help? Registering as a potential bone marrow donor is just a matter of getting your cheek swabbed or giving a blood sample. International bone marrow registries are linked to each other, so every black person who takes a few minutes out of their day to register is not only increasing Emru's chances of survival, but that of every black person in the world waiting for a transplant. Learn more, including where and how you can register, at the Heal Emru website.

Today's Featured Page

Mary Seacole
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, a quarter-century before the abolition of slavery to a free black woman and a Scottish army officer, Mary Seacole (née Grant) went on to become famous for her outstanding humanitarian work in the Crimean War. More...

Previously Featured Pages

Curt Flood
Curt Flood was the star center fielder of the St. Louis Cardinals who challenged baseball's reserve system all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. More...

Dr. Patricia E. Bath
Dr. Patricia E. Bath is a world-famous ophthalmologist. After excelling in her studies at high school and university and earning plaudits for her investigations in cancer research as early as age sixteen, Dr. Bath embarked on an illustrious medical career. More...

Onesimus
Onesimus' recollection of a traditional African medical practice saved numerous lives and sparked the introduction of smallpox inoculation in the United States. More...

Osei Tutu
Osei Tutu was the fourth ruler in Asante royal history, succeeding his uncle Obiri Yeoba. The Asante comprise the largest contingent of the Akan or Twi-speaking peoples. More...

Dr. Keith Black
Born in 1957 in Tuskegee, Alabama, Dr. Keith Black is a world-renowned neurosurgeon and scientist. More...

Annie Onieta Plummer
Dubbed The Dictionary Lady, Annie Onieta Plummer was born in 1936 in Sylvania, Georgia. In 1992, she noticed that many school children in Savannah, Georgia were not carrying any books. More...


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	On This Day in Black History: May 14 1625 Captain John Powell landed on Barbados and claimed the island for King James I. 1807 A slave known as York accompanied Lewis and Clark on their famous expedition. 1881 Jamaican-born Mary Seacole, Crimean War heroine, died in London. 1897 Jazz saxophonist, clarinetist and composer Sidney Bechet was born. 1910 The frontiers of the Belgian Congo, British Uganda and German East Africa—including the territory of Ruanda-Urundi—were fixed at a conference in Brussels. 1951 Dr. Theophilus Donges, South Africa's Minister of the Interior, removed all people of mixed race from the electoral register, deeming it necessary to avoid the collapse of white civilization in the whole of Africa. 1961 A bus with the first group of Freedom Riders was bombed and burned by segregationists outside Anniston, Alabama. 1963 Arthur Ashe became the first African-American male selected to play for the U.S. Davis Cup Tennis Team. 1970 Two African-American students were shot to death by government troops at Jackson State University, Mississippi. The two students were watching anti-war demonstrations from a nearby dormitory tower. 1991 Winnie Mandela was sentenced to six years for her complicity in the kidnapping and beating of four youths, one of whom was later found dead. 1995 Myrlie Evers-Williams, widow of slain civil rights leader Medgar Evers, was sworn in to head the NAACP. 1999 The ruling African National Congress signed a peace pact with its rival, the Inkatha Freedom Party. Heal Emru, and Help the Global Black Community In mid-December, Black History Pages co-founder Emru Townsend was diagnosed with leukemia, as well as a condition called monosomy 7. Due to the monosomy 7, he has an increased risk of the leukemia coming back, no matter how successful chemotherapy is. Emru needs a bone marrow transplant. This kind of therapy is administered through a transplant of bone marrow stem cells from a matching donor. While anyone can match Emru, the best chances for a match come from someone who shares the same ethnic background—and blacks are underrepresented in international bone marrow registries. This is an issue that affects not only Emru personally, but every black person in the world who needs a bone marrow transplant. Bone marrow transplants can save the lives of certain patients with a variety of diseases, including leukemia, Hunter's disease, osteopetrosis and even, in some cases, sickle cell anemia—a disease that predominantly affects blacks. How can you help? Registering as a potential bone marrow donor is just a matter of getting your cheek swabbed or giving a blood sample. International bone marrow registries are linked to each other, so every black person who takes a few minutes out of their day to register is not only increasing Emru's chances of survival, but that of every black person in the world waiting for a transplant. Learn more, including where and how you can register, at the Heal Emru website. Today's Featured Page Mary Seacole Born in Kingston, Jamaica, a quarter-century before the abolition of slavery to a free black woman and a Scottish army officer, Mary Seacole (née Grant) went on to become famous for her outstanding humanitarian work in the Crimean War. More... Previously Featured Pages Curt Flood Curt Flood was the star center fielder of the St. Louis Cardinals who challenged baseball's reserve system all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. More... Dr. Patricia E. Bath Dr. Patricia E. Bath is a world-famous ophthalmologist. After excelling in her studies at high school and university and earning plaudits for her investigations in cancer research as early as age sixteen, Dr. Bath embarked on an illustrious medical career. More... Onesimus Onesimus' recollection of a traditional African medical practice saved numerous lives and sparked the introduction of smallpox inoculation in the United States. More... Osei Tutu Osei Tutu was the fourth ruler in Asante royal history, succeeding his uncle Obiri Yeoba. The Asante comprise the largest contingent of the Akan or Twi-speaking peoples. More... Dr. Keith Black Born in 1957 in Tuskegee, Alabama, Dr. Keith Black is a world-renowned neurosurgeon and scientist. More... Annie Onieta Plummer Dubbed The Dictionary Lady, Annie Onieta Plummer was born in 1936 in Sylvania, Georgia. In 1992, she noticed that many school children in Savannah, Georgia were not carrying any books. More... Copyright © 1996-2008 5x5 Media and African Images. All rights reserved.