Today in Black History: August 8th
1866 – Mathew Henson Is Born
Matthew Henson, born August 8, 1866, in Maryland, began his career as a cabin boy and later joined Commander Robert Peary’s Arctic expeditions. He played a vital role in exploring the polar regions, learning Inuit customs and language, and contributing to their 1908-09 North Pole attempt.
Although they did not reach the Pole, Henson’s work was significant in Arctic exploration. He was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1944, authored “A Negro Explorer at the North Pole” in 1912, and retired as a customs clerk in 1936. Henson passed away in 1955, was reburied in Arlington National Cemetery in 1988, and was honored with the U.S.N.S. Henson and the Hubbard Medal posthumously.
1907 – Benny Carter Is Born
Benny Carter (August 8, 1907 – July 12, 2003) was a pioneering American jazz musician known for his exceptional alto saxophone playing, composing, and arranging. Starting in New York, he played with major big bands and led his own before spending time in Europe. After settling in Los Angeles in 1945, he focused on film and TV music but continued performing jazz.
Carter’s playing was noted for its purity and elegance, and his arrangements were acclaimed for their woodwind scoring. Key recordings include “Six or Seven Times” and “Further Definitions” (1961). He remained influential in jazz until his death and was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 2000.
1934 – Julian Dixon Is Born
Julian Dixon, born August 8, 1934, in Washington, D.C., was a U.S. Congressman who represented California’s 32nd district for twenty-two years. He served in the U.S. Army, earned degrees from California State University and Southwestern University Law School, and worked as a lawyer and aide before entering politics. Dixon was a member of the California State Assembly from 1972 to 1978 before joining the U.S. House of Representatives. He was a strong advocate for education, labor, health care, environmental reform, and mass transit.
A dedicated civil rights supporter, Dixon worked with the NAACP and Urban League and backed the Martin Luther King Memorial project. He held key positions, including chairing the House Ethics Committee and the Democratic National Convention Rules Committee. Dixon passed away on December 8, 2000, and is commemorated in Los Angeles with several institutions named in his honor, such as the Julian Dixon Library and the Julian Dixon Institute for Cultural Studies.
