Miami Dade College celebrates Black History Month by recognizing the accomplishments of some of the most influential African Americans in the arts.
• (1760) Poet Jupiter Hammon (1711 -1806), first known African American to publish a book.
• (1940) Actress Hattie McDaniel (1893 -1952), first African American to win an Oscar.
• (1950) Poet Gwendolyn Brooks (1917 - 2000), first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize.
• (1950) Actress Juanita Hall (1901 - 1968), first African American to win a Tony Award.
• (1959) Singer and Musicians Ella Fitzgerald (1917 - 1996) and Count Basie (1904 - 1984), first African Americans to win a Grammy Award.
• (1960) Harry Belafonte (1927 - 2023), first African American to win an Emmy.
• (1986) Musicians Chuck Berry (1926 - 2017), James Brown (1933 - 2006), Ray Charles (1930 - 2004), Sam Cooke (1931 - 1964), Fats Domino (1928 - 2017), and Little Richard (1932 - 2020), first African Americans to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
• (1987) Singer Aretha Franklin (1942 - 2018), first woman inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Join us as we celebrate their achievement and contribution to the nation. Miami Dade College is proud to be part of this great celebration.
