(Diana Ross)
March 26
1944- Iconic actress and singer Diana Ross was born in Detroit, Michigan. Ross, who is known for being the lead singer of vocal group The Supremes, became one of Motown’s most successful acts. Ross is known for her hits, “Reach Out and Touch,” and “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough”.
March 27
1997- Pamela Gordon was sworn into office as Bermuda’s first woman prime minister. She was not only the first woman, but also the youngest person to hold the position.
March 28
1925- Poet Countee Cullen won the Phi Beta Kappa honors at New York University. Cullen was a leading figure in the Harlem Renaissance era.
(Pearl Bailey)
March 29
1918- Singer Pearl Bailey was born in Newport News, Virginia. The American actress won a Tony Award for her title role in the all-black production “Hello, Dolly!” She went on to win a Daytime Emmy Award for her performance as a fairy godmother in the ABC special “Cindy Eller: A Modern Fairy Tale.”
March 30
1964- Nurse, novelist and short story writer Nellie Walker, also known as Nellallitea Larsen, died. In 1915 Walker graduated from the all-black nursing school at Lincoln Hospital and in 1928 published her first novel “Quicksand”.
(Nellie Walker)
March 31
1960- Laurean Rugambwa of Tanzania became the first Black Roman Catholic Cardinal. He served as Archbishop of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania before becoming the cardinalate in 1960.
April 1
1984- Legendary singer Marvin Gaye was fatally shot. Gaye was known for his powerful impact in the music business with his hit songs, “Pride and Joy,” “Let’s Get It On,” and “Stubborn Kind of Fellow.”
