Fred Williamson
Born on March 5, 1938, in Gary, Indiana, Fred Williamson has remained under the spotlight in various fields for a long time. Former Football player and actor, Williamson has produced and directed various movies along with being a black belt in Kenpo, Shotokan Karate and more
1897: American Negro Academy founded.
Matthew Henson - Death on March 5, 1955 in New York City.
Mary McLeod Bethune commemorative stamp: The Mary McLeod Bethune commemorative stamp is issued by the U.S. Postal Service as the eighth stamp in its Black Heritage USA series.
Leontine T.C. Kelly, the first African-American woman to become a bishop within the Methodist denomination
Texas As a Slave State: President John Tyler signed the joint resolution of Congress to admit Texas as a slave state.
On this day, Crispus Attucks, an escaped slave became the first man killed in the cause of America's freedom. This event is better known as the 'Boston Massacre'.
Desi Giles, a black man, receives death threats after portraying Jesus in the the Park Theater Performing Arts Center's annual production of the "Passion Play"
Desi Arnaz Giles says he's starring in the role of his life, but the black actor's portrayal of Jesus Christ comes at the expense of ticket cancellations and death threats.
"I've led a complete life," Giles said Tuesday. "Should somebody clip me during a performance, don't cry for me, just rejoice because I'm ready to go home."
The controversy began Sunday after his first performance in the Park Theater Performing Arts Center's annual production of the "Passion Play," focusing on Jesus' last days.
The play attracts many bus groups, and word spread fast that a black man was sharing the role with a white actor.
On this day in:
1512 Gerardus Mercator was born (died Dec 2, 1594). The Flemish cartographer who created a world map using what would become known as Mercator projection, with parallel lines of latitude and longitude. This was convenient for navigation but land masses appeared increasingly enlarged at the top and bottom.
1558 Francisco Fernandes supposedly introduced smoking tobacco to Europe.
1836 Charles Goodnight was born. He is said to have devised the first 'chuck wagon' from an Army wagon in the 1850s or 1860s, with various shelves and compartments for food, equipment, utensils, medical supplies, etc.
1868 C.H. Gould of Birminghom, England patented a stapler. (Countless staplers have been patented).
1893 Emmett J. Culligan was born. He was the founder of the water treatment company that carries his name. (“Hey, Culligan Man!”)
1910 Momofuku Ando was born in Taiwan (died in Japan, Jan 5, 2007). Mr. Ando was the founder of Nissin Food Products, and invented 'Instant Ramen' noodles.
1936 'Mutiny on the Bounty' is voted 'Outstanding Production' (Best Picture) at the 8th Academy Awards. The story of the mutiny against Captain Bligh on the English ship 'Bounty' when it was sailing from Tahiti to bring back breadfruit trees.
1955 Fernand Point died (born 1897). Well known French Chef and restaurateur. His restaurant La Pyramide was considered by many to be the greatest in the world. Paul Bocuse, Louis Outhier, Alain Chapel and Jean and Pierre Troisgros all trained under Point, and he is considered to be the father of modern French Cuisine.
1963 Arthur 'Spud' Melin of Wham-O received a patent for the Hula-Hoop. A great exercise tool, first sold in 1958.
1965 ‘Pepper’ Martin, baseball player died.
1990 Eight Canadian flour mills are charged with rigging prices for food aid, amounting to $500 million over 12 years.
2000 The world's first cloned pigs (5 of them) were born in Virginia. They were produced by a Virginia subsidiary of the same Scotland company, PPL Therapeutics, that cloned Dolly the sheep.
2004 Martha Stewart, business magnate, cookbook author and TV personality, was convicted of obstructing justice and lying about a well timed stock sale just before the price plummeted.