Today in Black History: February 20th
1895 – Frederick Douglass Passes Away
Frederick Douglass, born into Maryland slavery in February 1818, escaped to New Bedford in 1838, adopting his surname from Lady of the Lake. His wife, Anna, and their children joined him as he became a leading abolitionist. In 1845, he published Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and fled to Britain, where allies bought his freedom.
Returning in 1847, he founded The North Star and fought slavery and racism. He supported Black enlistment in the Civil War, held federal roles, and remained active until his 1895 death. Douglass believed freedom required constant struggle. Douglass passed away in Washington, D.C. on February 20, 1895.
1937 – Nancy Wilson Is Born
Nancy Wilson was a legendary singer and actress whose career spanned over five decades. Born in Chillicothe, Ohio, on February 20, 1937, she won a talent show at 15, leading to TV appearances. After briefly attending Central State University, she joined Rusty Bryant’s Carolyn Club Big Band in 1956, touring for three years. Moving to New York in 1959, she worked as a nightclub singer before signing with Capitol Records in 1960, releasing five albums in two years.
Wilson won her first Grammy in 1964 and hosted The Nancy Wilson Show, earning an Emmy. She acted in films and TV, recorded extensively, and received numerous honors, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. She hosted NPR’s Jazz Profiles and won three Grammys. Wilson performed her final concert in 2011 and passed away on December 13, 2018, at age 81.
2012 – Katie Beatrice Hall Passes Away
Katie Hall was elected to Congress in 1983, representing Indiana’s First District. Born in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, on April 3, 1938, she earned degrees from Mississippi Valley State and Indiana University before teaching in Gary, Indiana. She entered politics in 1972, winning a seat in the Indiana Legislature, followed by the State Senate in 1974, where she served until her congressional campaign.
Nominated after Congressman Adam Benjamin’s sudden death, Hall ran a well-organized campaign and won with 60% of the vote. In Congress, she fought for working-class families, addressed unemployment, and opposed excessive military spending. Most notably, she introduced the bill establishing Martin Luther King Jr. Day, securing its passage in 1983. Hall passed away on February 20, 2012, at age 73, leaving a legacy of political trailblazing and civil rights advocacy.
