Today in Black History: October 24th
1896 – Marjorie Joyer Is Born
Marjorie Stewart Joyner, born on October 24, 1896, in Monterey, Virginia, was a trailblazing inventor and cosmetologist best known for creating the Permanent Wave Machine. After moving to Chicago at age 16, she became the first African American graduate of A.B. Molar Beauty School. Joyner co-founded the United Beauty School Owners and Teachers Association in 1945 with Mary Bethune McLeod, helping to establish Illinois’ first cosmetology laws.
Throughout her life, Joyner was dedicated to uplifting the African American community. She worked with Madam C.J. Walker and founded the Alpha Chi Pi Omega Sorority to raise professional standards for beauticians. Joyner passed away on December 7, 1994, at age 98.
1925 – Emmett Chappelle Is Born
Emmett Chappelle, born on October 24, 1925, in Phoenix, Arizona, was a distinguished inventor and biochemist with 14 U.S. patents. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California in 1954 and later became a biochemistry instructor at Meharry Medical College, despite lacking graduate training. Chappelle pursued a Master’s in Science at the University of Washington, focusing on biochemistry, though he did not complete a Phd.
In 1966, he joined NASA as an exobiologist and astrochemist, significantly contributing to the search for extraterrestrial life. Chappelle developed methods for detecting adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and monitoring forest vegetation health. He retired in 2001 and passed away on October 14, 2019, in Baltimore.
1972 – Jackie Robinson Passes Away
On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson made history as the first African American to play in Major League Baseball in over fifty years, breaking the sport’s color barrier. Born on January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia, he grew up in Pasadena, California, excelling in multiple sports at UCLA. After serving in a segregated Army unit during World War II, he joined the Kansas City Monarchs in the Negro Leagues in 1945, leading to his groundbreaking career with the Brooklyn Dodgers.
Robinson’s impressive rookie season earned him accolades, including the National League MVP in 1949. After retiring, he became a civil rights advocate. Robinson passed away on October 24, 1972, at 53, and received numerous posthumous honors, including the Medal of Freedom in 1984, recognizing his profound impact on sports and society.
