Black - African American History Facts

Paul Laurence Dunbar, renowned poet and novelist, died in Dayton, OH, on this date in 1906. A book of his poems was published in 1913--The Complete Poems.

Alice Walker, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and author of The Color Purple, was born in Eatonton, GA, on this date in 1944.

Leroy "Satchel" Paige was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame on this date in 1971. Paige became the first player from the Negro League to receive this honor.

Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr. became the first black astronaut to take a spacewalk on this date in 1995. Harris was the Payload Commander on STS-63 (February 2-11, 1995)--the first flight of a joint Russian and American space program.