Black History Month

Fifty Years of Black History The '80s
1982 -- November 30, Michael Jackson releases "Thriller"; with sales of $110 million, it becomes the best-selling recording of all time. Watch his videos.

1983 -- April 12, Harold Washington is elected Mayor of Chicago. Why was his tenure short? Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" wins the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award. View clips from movie.

1984 -- Jesse Jackson wins one-fourth of the votes cast in the Democratic primaries and caucuses, and one-eighth of the convention delegates in his first presidential bid. What's his famous slogan?

1989 -- March, Frederick Drew Gregory becomes the first African-American to command a space shuttle, the Discovery. Who was the first black woman in space?

Josh Gibson Baseball player (1911-1947) Only Satchel Paige was a better-known personality than Josh Gibson was. The 6’1” 205 lb strongman was the standard against when other hitters were measured. A natural hither, the right-handed slugger hit for both distance and average. With a confident countenance beneath a turned-up cap bill and a rolled up left sleeve, displaying his powerful arm muscles, Gibson’s presence in the hatters box personified power. He awaited the pitch in a semi-crouched, the footed stance, and without striding generated a compact swing that produced tape-measure home runs with such regularity that, it came to be expected as the norm. Credited with 962 home runs in his 17-year career, he also compiled a .391 lifetime batting average in the Negro Leagues. In addition, to his slugging prowess, Gibson possessed a rifle arm and, by hard work behind the plate, he made himself into one of the best receivers in the league. For a big man, he was quick behind the plate and on the bases, and was a good baserunner. Always affable and easy going, Gibson was will liked and respected by his peers. His popularity extended to the fans, and he was voted to start in nine East-West all-star games, in which he compiled a sensational .483 batting average. Unfortunately, the major leagues were never afforded the opportunity to witness Josh Gibson’s greatness, for on January 20, 1947, he died a premature death only a month after his 35th birthday and just a few months before Jackie Robinson’s becoming the first black major leaguer in over a half century. He was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972.