Roy Hamilton is the man Elvis Presley got his voice and style from. In January 2009, Roy Hamilton was Inducted into, 'The Hit Parade Hall Of Fame', 'Reflections In Black Museum Hall Of Fame' and 'The Georgia Music Hall Of Fame'. He unfortunately did not live to see this accomplishment, he died from a stroke in July 1969.
Black History 365 | # 64 Florence Griffith Joyner
Famously known as Flo-Jo, Florence Griffith Joyner still holds the world record for the Women’s 100 meter dash (10.49) and the 200-meter dash (21.34). She was a gold and silver Olympian from Watts, California. She was also styling her own track uniforms, and the nails stayed on point too. She even designed the Indiana Pacers jerseys after she retired. She died at 38 years old from an epileptic seizure in 1998. Rest in peace and major respect to the legacy of Ms. Flo-Jo
Black History 365 | # 63 Johnnie Cochran
Did you know before the O.J. Simpson trial that while a student at Loyola Law School, Johnnie Cochran became the first black law clerk hired by the Los Angeles City Attorney? He had quite the list of high profile clients as well — Michael Jackson, Tupac Shakur, Todd Bridges, Snoop Dogg, Riddick Bowe, & even Rosa Parks. But most notably, Cochran himself considers one of his most important trials was his work on the case of Geronimo Pratt, who spent a quarter century in prison for a crime he did not commit. Do your homework on J Mane, it hit different.
Black History 365 | # 62 Yvette Carnell
Yvette Carnell is the CEO of ADOS (American Descendants of Slavery). An organization advocating for a fixing/reversal of the 400-year legacy of chattel slavery for the descendants of slaves in the US, its accrued cost and the major disadvantages made to national black life. This organization advocates for policies that will eliminate the divides faced by all Black Americans. For ADOS, the specific call is for a national program for slavery Reparations. This program contains a Reparations package that would prioritize cash payments totaling $20 trillion to American Descendants of Slavery. Together with targeted policies and protections, the redistributive measures will be ongoing and must remain in effect until — at the very least — the racial wealth gap between white Americans and ADOS is closed. Come on now!! This is present day black history. As a first generation American-Haitian I would see none of this bread. And that’s OK, much respect for our brothers and sisters in the struggle. I pray this plan actualizes.
Black History 365 | # 61 Otis Boykin
In 1964, Otis Boykin invented the pacemaker. Well, he created a control unit for pacemakers – a small device that helps regulate the heartbeat by an electric stimulation. By the time of his death in 1982, he had 26 patents to his name. Boykin’s invention would be found in the cutting-edge technology of the time: guided missile systems, IBM computers, and the first implantable pacemakers.