Today in Black History: January 2nd
1915 – John Hope Franklin Is Born
John Hope Franklin, born January 2, 1915, in Rentiesville, Oklahoma, was a pioneering historian and the first African American to lead both the American Historical Association and the Organization of American Historians. He overcame the challenges of growing up in a segregated society, with his father surviving the 1921 Tulsa Race Riot and successfully suing the city. Franklin earned degrees from Fisk University, Harvard, and published his influential dissertation as The Free Negro in North Carolina in 1943.
His most famous work, From Slavery to Freedom, became a key American history text. Franklin taught at various institutions, including the University of Chicago and Duke University, and served in numerous national roles. He passed away on March 25, 2009, leaving behind a profound legacy in American history.
1964 – Pernell Whitaker Is Born
Pernell Whitaker born on January 2, 1964, was a renowned American boxer, winning world titles in multiple weight classes, including lightweight, junior welterweight, welterweight, and junior middleweight. A left-handed defensive specialist, Whitaker had a successful amateur career, capturing a gold medal at the 1984 Olympics.
Whitaker turned professional in 1984, eventually winning titles in multiple divisions. Notable victories included wins over José Luis Ramírez, Greg Haugen, and James McGirt. He briefly held the WBA junior middleweight title in 1995 but lost his welterweight title to Oscar de La Hoya in 1997. Whitaker retired with a record of 40 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw, and was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007. Whitaker passed on July 14, 2019.
1977 – Errol Garner Passed Away
Erroll Garner born June 15, 1921, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was an American pianist and composer, one of the most virtuosic and popular pianists in jazz.
Garner was influenced by Fats Waller and was entirely self-taught. He substituted for Art Tatum in the latter’s trio in 1945 and subsequently formed his own three-piece group, achieving commercial success with Concert by the Sea (1958), one of the best-selling albums in jazz. Like Waller and Tatum, Garner was adept at performing both with a rhythm section and unaccompanied, often establishing great momentum with his sure sense of swing. His best-known composition is “Misty.” Garner died on January 2, 1977, in Los Angeles, California.
