Today in Black History: December 19th
1875 – Carter G. Woodson Is Born
Carter G. Woodson, born December 19, 1875, to former slaves in Virginia, overcame poverty to become a prominent historian. He co-founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History (ASNLH) and launched The Journal of Negro History in 1916. After working various jobs and attending Berea College, he earned a B.L. degree in 1903 and taught black youth in West Virginia. Woodson later worked in the Philippines, traveled globally, and earned a doctorate from Harvard in 1912. Woodson published many influential works, including The Mis-Education of the Negro (1933). He founded Negro History Week in 1926 and spent his life promoting black history, writing for leading newspapers, and speaking at schools. A prolific author and scholar, Woodson died on April 3, 1950, leaving a lasting legacy as “The Father of Black History.”
1924 – Cicely Tyson Is Born
Cicely Tyson, born December 19, 1933, in Harlem, began her career as a successful model before transitioning to acting. She gained recognition in the 1960s with roles in The Blacks and East Side/West Side. Her breakthrough film role came in 1972 with Sounder, earning Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. Tyson’s career included iconic roles in King, Roots, and The Marva Collins Story, winning multiple Emmy Awards.
Tyson also co-founded the Dance Theatre of Harlem and received numerous honors, including a Tony Award in 2013. Her memoir, Just As I Am, was published shortly before her death on January 28, 2021, at age 96.
1961 – Reggie White Is Born
Reginald Howard White, born December 19, 1961, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, was an All-American at the University of Tennessee. After playing for the Memphis Showboats in the USFL, he joined the Philadelphia Eagles in 1985, earning Pro Bowl selections and setting a record with 21 sacks in 1987.
In 1993, White joined the Green Bay Packers, leading them to a Super Bowl victory in 1997. Known as the “Minister of Defense,” he was also an ordained minister and active in community service. White passed away on December 26, 2004, at age 43.
