To commemorate Black History Month, we've put together a calendar highlighting significant people in Texas Black History. Use as a desk calendar for a daily fact or, to enlighten others on the rich Black history of our state, share with children, friends, and students.

People in Texas Black History

February 2011
Sunday	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
Barbara Jordan	Earl Campbell	1 Esteban, a Moroccan, was the first known African to set foot in Texas, near Galveston in 1528, after a shipwreck.	2 For his heroism at Pearl Harbor, Waco’s Doris Miller became the first African American to receive the Navy Cross.	3 Alvin Ailey, from Rogers, was a dancer, choreographer, and founder, of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.	4 Samuel McCulloch, Jr., a free man, was the first casualty of the Texas Revolution in 1835 at Goliad.	5 Bessie Coleman, aviatrix, from Atlanta, Texas was the first licensed Black female pilot in the world.
6 Texarkana’s Scott Joplin, a Pulitzer Prize-winning composer and pianist, was known as the “King of Ragtime.”	7 Tyler’s Earl Campbell was the Texas Longhorns’ first Heisman Trophy winner (1977).	8 In 1966, Houston’s Barbara Jordan became the first African American to hold a Texas State Senate seat since 1883.	9 Galveston’s Jack Johnson became the first black heavyweight champion when he won the title in 1908.	10 Giddings’ Hilton Smith was a pitcher for the powerful Kansas City Monarchs of the Negro American League, 1936-1948.	11 Calvert’s Tom Bradley was the first Black mayor of a predominantly white city (Los Angeles), from 1973-1993.	12 Prairie View Interscholastic League governed activities for Texas’ Black high schools from 1920-1967.
13 Taylor’s Bill Pickett, a cowboy, created “bulldogging,” now known as steer wrestling.	14 Temple’s Dr. Bernard Harris, an astronaut and physician, was the first African American to walk in space, 1995.	15 Big Sandy’s Lovie Smith, coach of the Chicago Bears, was the first Black coach to qualify a team for the Super Bowl (2007).	16 In 1894, Houston’s Emmett Jay Scott co-founded the Houston Freeman, the first black newspaper west of the Mississippi.	17 Marshall’s James Farmer founded the Congress of Racial Equality which helped integrate Southern public facilities.	18 Terrell’s Jamie Foxx: First Black actor nominated for 2 Oscars in the same year (2004) for different movies, Collateral and Ray.	19 Austin’s Ron Kirk was Texas’ first Black Secretary of State (1994) and the first Black mayor of Dallas (1995).
20 Calvert’s Rube Foster formed the first black baseball league, the Negro National League, in 1920.	21 All-star Curt Flood’s (Houston) antitrust litigation in 1970 led to big money free agency in Major League Baseball.	22 The 761st Tank Battalion trained at Killeen’s Fort Hood and was the first-ever all-Black tank unit in combat duty (1944).	23 Navasota’s Gertrude E. Rush, attorney, co-founded the National Bar Association in 1925 for Black lawyers.	24 In 1934, Weimar’s Etta Moten sang at a White House Dinner, the first time a Black actress performed at the White House.	25 Dale’s Azie Taylor Morton is the only African American ever to hold the post of Treasurer of the United States (1977-1981).	26 Houston’s Jack Yates was a pastor and community leader who helped organize the first Baptist association for Blacks in Houston.
27 Austin’s James Means Jr. entered the Univ. of Texas in 1964 and was the first black athlete (track) to earn a varsity letter.	28 In 2004, Rotan’s Earl Pearson became the first Black chief of the Texas Rangers and its first Black Senior Ranger Captain.	Esteban	Doris Miller	Jack Johnson	Bessie Coleman	Alvin Ailey

The Texas Black History Preservation Project (www.tbhpp.org)