Today in Black History - August 19th

1791 - Benjamin Banneker sends a copy of his just-published almanac to Secretary of State, Thomas Jefferson, along with a letter confronting his hypocrisy-if not indeed the hypocrisy of white America-in enslaving African Americans while at the same time declaring the "true and invaluable doctrine" of the "natural rights" of humankind.

1888 - The first beauty contest is held in Spa, Belgium. The winner is an eighteen year old beauty from the West Indies.

1926 - Theodore Flowers, known as the "Georgia Deacon," wins the world middleweight boxing title in New York City.

1940 - Johnny Nash is born. He will become a singer and will be known for his songs, "I Can See Clearly Now," "Stir It Up," "Hold Me Tight," and "A Very Special Love."

1946 - Charles F. Bolden, Jr., is born in Columbia, South Carolina. A pilot who flew over 100 sorties in Southeast Asia, Bolden will be named an astronaut in 1981. He will become a veteran pilot of several missions, including the Space Shuttle Atlantis in 1992, when he will participate as a presenter of a special Academy Award to science-fiction film producer George Lucas.

1950 - Edith Spurlock Sampson becomes the first African American appointed to serve on the United States delegation to the United Nations.

1954 - Dr. Ralph J. Bunche is named undersecretary of the United Nations.

1982 - Renaldo Nehemiah of the United States sets record for the 110 meter hurdles in 12.93 seconds.

1989 - Nobel Peace Prize winner Bishop Desmond Tutu is among hundreds of Black demonstrators who are whipped and sandblasted from helicopters as they attempt to picnic on a "whites-only" beach near Capetown, South Africa.

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