Bessie Smith. Photo credit: Van Vechten/Library of Congress via Wikimedia CommonsApril 15
April 15, 1889 – Civil rights activist, Philip Randolph, was born.
April 15, 1894 – Blues singer, Bessie Smith, was born.
April 15, 1903 – Thousands of White people in Joplin, Missouri, killed a 20-year-old Black man named Thomas Gilyard, and several other Black people based on an accusation of killing a white police officer.
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April 15, 1922 – Harold Washington, the first Black Mayor of Chicago, was born.
April 15, 1947 – Jackie Robinson became the first Black Major League Baseball player.
