Today in Black History: January 9th
1916 – Jerome Heartwell Holland Is Born
Jerome Heartwell Holland, born on January 9, 1916, in Auburn, New York, was an educator, diplomat, and businessman. The son of Robert and Viola Holland, he earned the nickname “Brud” from a sibling. Holland became the first African American to play for Cornell University’s football team and was an All-American athlete in 1937 and 1938. He earned an M.A. in sociology in 1941, married Madeline Smalls, and worked for Sun Shipbuilding during WWII.
Holland held significant leadership roles, including President of Delaware State College and Hampton Institute. In 1970, President Nixon appointed him U.S. Ambassador to Sweden. Holland later served in corporate roles and became the first African American on the New York Stock Exchange’s board. He passed away on January 13, 1985, and was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
1935 – Earl G. Graves Is Born
Earl G. Graves, born on January 9, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York, was the founder of Black Enterprise, a prominent Black business magazine. Influenced by his parents, Graves attended Morgan State University, where he sold flowers to overcome racial barriers. After graduating in 1957, he served in the U.S. Army and later worked as a real estate agent. He became politically active and worked for Robert F. Kennedy before founding his consulting firm, which led to the creation of Black Enterprise in 1970.
Graves expanded his entrepreneurial ventures, acquiring a Pepsi-Cola franchise and authoring a bestselling book, How to Succeed in Business without Being White. He served on various corporate boards and earned numerous awards, including a NAACP Spingarn Medal. Graves was also appointed by President George W. Bush to the commission for the National Museum of African American History and Culture. He passed away on April 6, 2020, at age 85.
1946 – Countee Cullen Passes Away
Countee Cullen, born in New York City on May 30, 1903, and adopted by Reverend Dr. Frederick A. Cullen, grew up in a middle-class, racially-conscious household. He excelled in academics, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from New York University in 1925, and earned an M.A. from Harvard in 1926. Cullen’s poetic talent was recognized early, and his first collection, Color, was published in 1925, marking his place in the Harlem Renaissance.
Cullen published several poetry collections, a novel, and children’s books, with works like “Heritage” and “Yet Do I Marvel” becoming iconic. Though privately identifying as gay, he married twice. Cullen died on January 9, 1946 at age 43.
