On this day in 1983, Lt. Col. Guion S. Bluford Jr. was the first Black US astronaut to enter space.
On this day in 1960, Branford Marsalis, jazz saxophonist and icon was born.
On this day in 1826, the first Blacks graduated college: John Brown Russwurm is considered to be the first Black in America to graduate college. Two years after entering Bowdoin College, he received his baccalaureate degree on September 6,1826. A lesser known Black student, Edward Jones graduated just two weeks before on August 23,1826 from Amherst College. Both men received their Masters, John in 1829 and Edward in 1830.