Video: 'The Rhythm Club Fire Documentary (full movie)'
(Tuesday, April 23, 1940, 11:15 p.m. CST) — The Rhythm Club fire (or The Natchez Dance Hall Holocaust), a fire in a dance hall in Natchez, Mississippi, killed 209 people — all African Americans — and severely injured many others tonight. Continue reading Rhythm Club fire kills 209 people in Natchez, Mississippi 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 23 1940)
Video: 'Hattie McDaniel winning Best Supporting Actress'
(Thursday, February 29, 1940, 8:30 p.m. PST) — Hattie McDaniel became the first African-American to win an Oscar tonight when she was named Best Supporting Actress for her performance as a house servant in Gone With The Wind, which won eight awards, including Best Picture. Continue reading Hattie McDaniel becomes first African-American to win Academy Award 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 29 1940)
Video: 'Woolworth Lunch Counter'
(Monday, February 1, 1960, 4:30 p.m. EST; during the Greensboro sit-ins, part of the Civil rights movement) — Four black students from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University began a sit-in today at the Woolworth department store in Greensboro at a lunch counter that, like many in the South, would not serve African-American customers except for take-out orders. Continue reading Black students mount lunch counter sit-in at Greenboro Woolworth store 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 1 1960)
Video: ''Gone With the Wind' trailer
(Friday, December 15, 1939, 8:30 p.m. EST) — Gone with the Wind, an American epic historical romance film about Scarlett O’Hara’s battle to save her beloved Tara and find love during the American Civil War, premiered tonight at the Loew’s Grand Theatre at the corner of Peachtree and Forsyth Streets in downtown Atlanta. Continue reading ‘Gone with the Wind’ premiere sparks racial tension in Atlanta 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 15 1939)
Video: '"Marian Anderson Sings at the Lincoln Memorial" Newreel Story'
(Easter Sunday, April 9, 1939, 5:00-5:30 p.m. EST, during the Civil rights movement (1896–1954)) — Singer Marian Anderson performed an open air concert on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. to 75,000 people today after being denied the use of Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution because she was black. Continue reading Marian Anderson performs historic concert at Lincoln Memorial 80 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 9 1939)
Video: 'James Earl Ray Pleads Guilty - 1969 | Today In History | 10 Mar 17'
(Monday, March 10, 1969; during the Civil rights movement) — James Earl Ray pleaded guilty today in Memphis to the assassination of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on April 4, 1968.
A jury (of ten white and two black members) determined the sentence without the option of capital punishment and recommended a 99 year jail sentence.
Video: 'Martin Luther King Jr. - Civil Rights Leader | Mini Bio | Biography'
(Tuesday, January 15, 1929, just past noon EST) — Martin Luther King Jr., an American Baptist minister and activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement from 1954 until his death in 1968, was born today in his family’s home at 501 Auburn Avenue, N.E. in Atlanta, Georgia. Continue reading Civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. born in Atlanta 90 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 15 1929)
Video: 'TV's first interracial kiss'
(Friday, November 22, 1968, 10:00-11:00 p.m. EST) — The first scripted kiss between a Caucasian and an African-American on U.S. television was shown tonight on an episode of Star Trek, an American science fiction series. Continue reading ‘First’ interracial kiss on American TV airs on ‘Star Trek’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 22 1968)
Video: 'Tommie Smith and John Carlos during American anthem'
(Wednesday, October 16, 1968, 7:15 p.m. CST; during the Civil Rights movement) — African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos raised their fists tonight in a “Black Power” salute during the ceremony in which they received their track medals at the 1968 Summer Olympics in the Olympic Stadium in Mexico City, saying they did it to “show black people are united.” Continue reading Two American sprinters give ‘black power’ salute at Olympics 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 16 1968)
Video: 'If MLK Sneezed (MLK's Last Speech)'
(Saturday, September 20, 1958, 3:30 p.m. EDT; during the Civil rights movement) — The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., an African-American civil rights leader who urges his race to practice non-violent resistance to segregation, was stabbed today by an African-American woman in Blumstein’s department store in Harlem. Continue reading Martin Luther King Jr. stabbed, nearly dies 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 20 1958)
