1917 – Ossie Davis Is Born
Ossie Davis, born December 18, 1917, was an acclaimed actor, playwright, and director, left Howard University to pursue theatre in New York before serving in Liberia during WWII. Returning in 1945, he debuted on Broadway in Jeb, where he met Ruby Dee—his partner in life and art. Together, they became known as “the first couple of Black theatre.”
Davis wrote influential works including Purlie Victorious, Alice in Wonder, Curtain Call, Mr. Aldridge, Sir, and Escape to Freedom, cementing his legacy as a key voice in Black arts and culture.
1971 – Operation PUSH Founded
Operation PUSH was founded by Rev. Jesse Jackson on December 18, 1971 after leaving the SCLC’s Operation Breadbasket, where he successfully pushed corporations to hire Black workers and invest in Black businesses. Created to advance “civil economics,” PUSH aimed to expand job opportunities, support Black-owned businesses, and organize low-income workers.
Using negotiations and boycott threats, PUSH secured agreements from major corporations like Coca-Cola and Burger King. Though sometimes criticized, the organization later merged with the Rainbow Coalition, continuing its economic justice work through projects like the Wall Street Project.
1994 – Judge Luke Charles Moore Passes Away
Luke Charles Moore, a Howard- and Georgetown-trained attorney and WWII veteran, played a pivotal but often overlooked role in the 1962 integration of the University of Mississippi. As Chief U.S. Marshal, he was responsible for enforcing federal orders when Mississippi defied the Supreme Court and violence erupted around James Meredith’s enrollment. Moore directed hundreds of federal marshals on the ground, coordinating protection for Meredith amid riots, resistance, and national crisis. His leadership ensured federal law was upheld and helped secure one of the era’s most significant civil-rights victories. Judge Luke Charles Moore died in Atlanta, Georgia on December 18, 1994. He was 70.
