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.