* Today in Black History - May 9 * 1750 - The South Carolina Gazette reports that Caesar, a South Carolina slave, has been granted his freedom and a life time annuity in exchange for his cures for poison and rattlesnake bite. Caesar and the famous James Derham of New Orleans are two of the earliest known African American medical practitioners. 1862 - Major General David Hunter, Department of the South, of the Union Army issues a proclamation (General Order No. 11), freeing the slaves of Georgia, Florida and South Carolina. A displeased President Lincoln annuls this act. Lincoln stated, "General Hunter is an honest man...He proclaimed all men free within certain states. I repudiated the proclamation." 1919 - James Reese Europe joins the ancestors after being stabbed to death by a crazed band member (his drummer) after a concert at Mechanics Hall in Boston. Europe was one of the preeminent jazz bandleaders of the early 20th century, beginning with his association with the team of J. Rosamond Johnson and Bob Cole in The Shoo-Fly regiment in 1906. Founder of the Clef Club, Europe joined the 15th, and later, 369th Infantry Regiments. The military band he formed during World War I was one of the most popular in all of Europe. 1936 - After a eight month occupation, Italy annexes Abyssinia (now Ethiopia). Italy's dictator Benito Mussolini announces in front of 400,000 people at the Piazza Venezia in Rome that, by controlling Abyssinia, Eritrea, and Somaliland, Italy now has its own Empire. This is the beginning of a five year occupation, which will end in 1941. 1952 - Canada Lee joins the ancestors in New York at the age of 45. A jockey and amateur boxer before turning to acting, Lee achieved wide acclaim for his portrayal of Bigger Thomas in the 1941 Broadway play "Native Son" and for the film, "Cry the Beloved Country." 1960 - Nigeria becomes a member of the British Commonwealth. 1974 - The House Judiciary Committee formally opens its impeachment hearings against President Richard M. Nixon with representatives John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) and Barbara Jordan (D-Tex.) among members of the committee. Jordan, in particular, distinguishes herself as an eloquent and incisive contributor to the hearings process. 1977 - Mabel Murphy Smythe is confirmed as Ambassador to the Republic of Cameroon. 1987 - Chief Obafemi Awolowo, leader of the banned Action Group and leader of the Yorubas of western Nigeria and first premier of the defunct Western Region, joins the ancestors at the age of 78. 1987 - Eddie Murray, of the Baltimore Orioles, is the first baseball player to hit home runs as a switch hitter in 2 consecutive games. 1994 - South Africa's newly elected parliament chooses Nelson Mandela to be the country's first Black president. 1995 - Kinshasa, capital of Zaire, is placed under quarantine after an outbreak of the Ebola virus. 2017 - Christopher "Big Black" Boykin joins the ancestors after succumbing to a heart attack. ______________________________________________________________ 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.