This Week In Black History (November 9 – November 15)

November 9, 1922 – Dorothy Dandridge was born in Cleveland, Ohio. An equally talented and beautiful actress, she performed at prestigious nightclubs and starred in box office and groundbreaking films such as “Carmen Jones” (1954), “Bright Road” (1953), “Island in The Sun” (1957) and “Porgy and Bess” (1959). Despite battling racism in Hollywood and her own personal bouts, she was a trailblazer, becoming the first African American woman to receive an Academy Award nomination in 1954 for “Carmen Jones.” She was recognized as the first Black actress to become a sex symbol. (Courtesy Photo)

November 10, 1957 – Charlie Sifford was the first African American to win a major professional golf tournament. Sifford paved the way for future Black pro golfers, i.e. Tiger Woods, breaking racial barriers, playing in the PGA Tour. He was the first to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. A championship golfer, he helped to desegregate the sport. (Photo Courtesy: The PGA of America)

November 11,1986 – Shirley Graham DuBois was born Indianapolis, Indiana. She was a Black author, playwright, composer, and activist. Graham married W.E.B. DuBois in 1951. Her works includes” Dr. George Washington Carver, scientist” (1944), “Booker T. Washington” (1955), “Zulu Heart: A Novel” (1974) and “Du Bois: A Pictorial Biography” (1979). (Courtesy Photo)

November 12, 1922 – Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc. (ΣΓΡ) was founded at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana by seven young educators. (Courtesy Photo)

November 13, 1955 – Whoopi Goldberg was born in New York City. Goldberg is an award-winning comedian, actress and human rights advocate, as well as the host of daytime talk show “The View.” The comedic actress got her start in the “The Color Purple” and “Ghost.” (Courtesy Photo)

November 14, 1954 – Condoleezza Rice was born in Birmingham, Alabama. A politician and former secretary of state to the George W. Bush administration, was first Black woman to serve as the United States’ national security adviser, as well as the first Black woman to serve as U.S. Secretary of State from 2005- 2009. (Courtesy Photo)

November 15, 1975 Soulful hit “Wake Up Everybody” produced by Teddy Pendergrass, Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes reaching the #1 spot for R&B and #12 for pop. (Courtesy Photo)

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