Black History Month originated in 1926, founded by Carter G. Woodson and was created to celebrate achievements, births, important timelines, events and to remember those we lost.
February 16: This Day in Black History was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
1. Bessie Smith
1923: Bessie Smith made her first recording ‘Down Hearted Blues’ on this day. It sold 800,000. (Photo: Tumblr)
2. Wilt Chamberlain
1972: Wilt Chamberlain becomes the 1st NBA player to score 30,000 points (in 940 games). (Photo: Tumblr)
3. Philadelphia at Detroit
1985: Largest NBA Crowd (ever) sees Philadelphia at Detroit, 43,816). (Photo: Tumblr)
4. Magic Johnson
1992: The LA Lakers retired Magic Johnson’s #32 uniform. (Photo: Tumblr)
5. Jordan Davis Birthday
1995: The 17-year-old was killed in 2012 while sitting in a vehicle with his friends outside a Jacksonville, Fl. convenience store, listening to music. The music was too loud for Michael Dunn and following some words over the volume, the 45-year-old man fired his gun into the vehicle filled with teenagers, killing Jordan. Dunn told his fiancee the teens
6. O.J. Simpson Heisman Trophy
1999: O.J. Simpson’s 1968 Heisman Trophy was sold for $230,000 to help settle a $33.5 million civil judgement against Simpson for the deaths of his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ron Goldman. (Photo: Tumblr)
