* Today in Black History - March 30 * 1869 - The 15th Amendment to the Constitution is ratified, which guarantees men, the right to vote regardless of "race, color or previous condition of servitude." Despite ratification of the amendment, it will be almost 100 years before African Americans become "universally" enfranchised. Editor's Note: The entire African American population of Washington DC (approximately 300,000+ of the 550,000+ people who live there) is still constitutionally denied any voting rights or self-government in the United States. This is a gaping exception to a so-called "universal" practice. 1923 - Zeta Phi Beta sorority is incorporated. It was founded on January 16, 1920 at Howard University in Washington, DC. 1941 - The National Urban League presents an one-hour program over a national radio network and urges equal participation for blacks in the national defense program. 1946 - "St. Louis Woman" opens on Broadway. Based on a book by Arna Bontemps and Countee Cullen from Bontemps's novel "God Sends Sunday," the play brought wide attention to supporting actress Pearl Bailey, who stopped the show nightly with her renditions of "Legalize My Name" and "A Woman's Prerogative." 1948 - Naomi Sims is born in Oxford, Mississippi. She will become a trailblazing fashion model and founder of a beauty company that will bear her name. 1960 - Eighteen students are suspended by Southern University for participating in civil rights demonstrations. Southern University students will rebel on March 31, boycotting classes and requesting withdrawal slips. The rebellion will collapse after the death of a professor from a heart attack. 1963 - Air Force Capt. Edward J. Dwight, Jr. is named to the fourth class of aerospace research pilots at Edwards Air Force Base, becoming the first African American candidate for astronaut training. He will be dropped from the program in 1965. 1963 - Stanley Kirk Burrell is born in Oakland, California. He will become a rapper known as "M.C. Hammer" and will come out in 1988 with the album, "Let's Get It Started. He will be best known for his hit, "U Can't Touch This." 1992 - Percival Noel James Patterson becomes Prime Minister of Jamaica. He will serve in this office until 2006. 1995 - Tens of thousands of Rwandan refugees, fleeing violence in Burundi, begin a two-day trek to sanctuary in Tanzania. 2006 - Percival Noel James Patterson retires from Jamaican politics after serving as Prime Minister since 1992. 2013 - After the Kenyan presidential elections on March 4, 2013, CORD, under the leadership of presidential candidate Raila Odinga, lodged a petition with the Supreme Court of Kenya on March 10, 2013 challenging Uhuru Kenyatta's election. Dr. Willy Mutunga, the Chief Justice of Kenya, reads the unanimous Supreme Court ruling declaring the election of Uhuru Kenyatta and his running- mate, William Ruto, as valid. Uhuru Kenyatta will become the 4th President of Kenya on April 9, 2013. 2020 - Bill Withers, who wrote and sang a string of soulful songs in the 1970s that have stood the test of time, including “ Lean on Me,” “Lovely Day” and “Ain’t No Sunshine,” joins the ancestors at the age of 81 after succumbing to heart complications. The three-time Grammy Award winner withdrew from making music in the mid-1980s. His transition comes as the public has drawn inspiration from his music during the coronavirus pandemic, with health care workers, choirs, artists and more, posting their own renditions on “Lean on Me” to help get through the difficult times. ______________________________________________________________ Munirah Chronicle is edited by Mr. Rene' A. Perry "The TRUTH shall make you free" E-mail: <[log in to unmask]> Archives: http://listserv.icors.org/archives/Munirah.html http://blackagenda.com/cybercolonies/index.htm _____________________________________________________________ To SUBSCRIBE send E-mail to: <[log in to unmask]> In the E-mail body place: Subscribe Munirah Your FULL Name ______________________________________________________________ Munirah(TM) is a trademark of Information Man. Copyright 1997 - 2016, All Rights Reserved by the Information Man in association with The Black Agenda.