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A little-known Black history fact about folding chairs:

Nathaniel Alexander, of Lynchburg, Virginia, received the patent on July 7, 1911.

He is by far the most popular among folding-chair inventors. And for a good reason. The Nathaniel Alexander folding chair uses Cram’s design as a template for a superior version. This version is more convenient and valuable. In his patent, he states that his creation will be used in churches and other auditoriums. His design includes a thinner chair with arms and a noticeable backrest. This backrest functions as a desk or shelf for the person behind it. The Nathaniel Alexander folding chair has features that are suitable for churches. It is very practical for the choir and congregation to rest their music sheets and prayer books.

Application US61351411A events

1911-03-10

Application filed by Nathaniel Alexander

1911-03-10

Priority to US61351411A

1911-07-04

Application granted

1911-07-04

Publication of US997108A

1928-07-04

Jaden Christopher Syre Smith (July 8, 1998) known mononymously as Jaden, is a rapper, singer, songwriter, and actor. He is the son of Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith. His first movie role was with his father in the film The Pursuit of Happyness. He acted in the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still, the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid, and the film After Earth with his father.

Following the critical panning of After Earth, he distanced himself from acting and the film industry, deciding to focus on music instead. He released CTV2, his second mixtape. Following a three-year work effort, he released his debut studio album, Syre, on November 17, 2017. His second studio album, Erys, was released on July 5, 2019.

Lance Darnell Gross (July 8, 1981) is an actor, model, and photographer. He is known for his role as Calvin Payne on the sitcom Tyler Perry’s House of Payne and the sitcom Tyler Perry’s The Paynes, as well as appearing in other Tyler Perry productions such as Meet the Browns and Tyler Perry’s Temptations: Confessions of a Marriage Counselor. He co-starred in Our Family Wedding. He starred as Secret Service Agent Marcus Finley in Crisis. He starred as Tyrique Freeman in Our Kind of People.

He was born in Oakland, the child of an African American mother and a Ghanaian immigrant father, and later moved to Las Vegas, where he attended and graduated from Bonanza High School. He went on to attend Howard University, where he received a BA in theater. He trained at The Ivanna Chubbuck Studio and the Tasha Smith Acting Studio.

Jamal “Gravy” Woolard (July 8, 1975) is an actor and rapper. He portrayed rapper The Notorious B.I.G. in Notorious and reprised the role as a supporting character in All Eyez on Me.

He is from Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, and Lafayette Gardens, Brooklyn. He joined the group Da Franchise, which consisted of Red Café and Q Da Kid, and was signed by Violator Records. The group released the 2000 single “We Gotta Eat”. In real life, he raps under the name “Gravy”. He is featured in the song “Untouchable” by Tupac Shakur on Pac’s Life album. He had to add over 50 pounds to his frame to play The Notorious B.I.G. in Notorious.

He was known for being shot near the radio station Hot 97 on April 26, 2006, and giving an interview on the Funkmaster Flex show directly afterward. His music was banned from play at the station as a result of a policy that bans “music by any artist who is involved in an altercation at the station.”

Jason L. Riley (July 8, 1971) is a senior fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute, a columnist, and member of the editorial board at The Wall Street Journal, a Fox News commentator, and a frequent contributor to National Review. He authored two very popular books on politics and race. Let Them In: The Case for Open Borders.

His second book, Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed, examined social welfare policies and programs designed to promote Black advancement.

He was born in Buffalo, New York, where he earned a BA in English from SUNY Buffalo. His father, Lee Riley, was a social worker, and his mother, Ola Riley, was a public school teacher’s aide. Before joining the Wall Street Journal as a copyreader in 1994, he worked for the Buffalo News and USA Today. In 2005, he joined the Wall Street Journal editorial board, where he wrote editorials focusing on the impact of public policy on the African American community.

Nicci Nichole Gilbert (July 8, 1970) is an R&B singer. She is known as the lead vocalist of the female R&B group Brownstone, who rose to fame in the mid-1990s for their 1995 hit single “If You Love Me”, which was nominated for a Best R&B Performance Grammy Award. “Grapevine” and “Pass the Lovin’” brought them some success, as well as their rendition of “I Can’t Tell You Why”.

Following the group’s disbandment in 1997, she made her debut in the film Woo. She returned to the music industry after a five-year hiatus as a solo singer and released her debut album Grown Folks Music.

In 2012, she starred as a cast member and executive producer in R&B Divas: Atlanta. She was featured in 2 seasons of the show. She performed with the group at events such as the Essence Music Festival.

She was born in Detroit. Her mother, Helene, was a jazz singer. Her mom did a lot to encourage her interest in music, and when she was in high school, she performed Madonna’s “Crazy for You” in a talent show.

Marcus Scott Chong (Wyatt; July 8, 1967) is an actor. He played Miguel Mendez in Street Justice (1991–93), real-life activist Huey P. Newton in Panther (1995), and Tank in The Matrix (1999).

He was born in Seattle to an African-American father and a Chinese mother. His biological father, Martin Wyatt, was a sports reporter at KGO-TV in San Francisco. Tommy and Shelby Chong adopted him.

He began acting at age nine. His first role was portraying the young Frankie Warner in Roots: The Next Generations (1979). He was a guest star on Little House on the Prairie.

He originated the role of student Lee Cortez in the Broadway production of Stand-Up Tragedy, which opened at the Criterion Center Stage Right and closed after 13 performances. The short-lived role nevertheless earned him a 1991 Theatre World Award; he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play.

He appeared in the action series Vanishing Son as Fu Qua Johnson. He appeared in the music video for “Temptations”.

Throughout the 2000s and briefly the 2010s, he has appeared in popular TV shows in supporting guest roles. He appeared in the third season of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and in the first season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent. He appeared in the sixth season of Numb3rs, and he had a role in the fourth season of Burn Notice.

Lieutenant Governor Joseph Bernard Rogers (July 8, 1964 - October 7, 2013) was a Republican politician who served as the 45th Lieutenant Governor of Colorado. He was born in Omaha to Joe Louis and Lola Marie Rogers. He graduated from Colorado State University with a BA in Business Administration. He was initiated into the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Omicron Tau chapter, and served as the President of the Congress of Afro-American Students. He was the first African American to be elected Homecoming King at Colorado State.

He graduated from Arizona State University Law School. He first worked as a Contract Associate with the firm Harris & Palumbo. He worked for the firm Snell and Wilmer and later served as an extern for the US District Court for Arizona. He provided pro bono legal services to low-income families in southeast Colorado as part of the Colorado Bar Association’s Lend-A-Lawyer program.

He worked with one of Colorado’s most prestigious law firms, David, Graham & Stubbs. He married Juanita Hardy (1992). The couple had three children. He moved to DC and served as legal counsel to former Senator Hank Brown of Colorado for two years.

He became the first African American candidate to run for Congress in Colorado, for the First Congressional District seat. In 1998, he ran for Lieutenant Governor of Colorado, alongside Bill Owens, the GOP candidate for Governor, and won by nearly 60% of the vote. In 1999, he was sworn in as the youngest Lt. Governor in the nation at age 35, and the second African American in Colorado to hold the position, and the fourth in the US.

Roscoe “Rocky” Fulton Carroll (July 8, 1963) is an actor and director. He is known for his roles as Joey Emerson on Roc, as Dr. Keith Wilkes on Chicago Hope, and as NCIS Director Leon Vance on NCIS and its spinoffs Los Angeles and New Orleans. He played a supporting role in the thriller film Crimson Tide.

He graduated from the famed School for Creative and Performing Arts in Cincinnati. He attended the Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University, where he graduated with a BFA. He would receive an honorary degree from his alma mater. He decided to test the waters by moving to New York City, the heart of the theater community. He introduced many young children to the works of William Shakespeare by participating in Joe Papp’s “Shakespeare on Broadway” series.

He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. His acting career is rooted in the theater. He graduated from the famed School for Creative and Performing Arts. Determined to further his knowledge of acting, he attended The Conservatory of Theatre Arts at Webster University in St. Louis, where he graduated with a BFA. He received an honorary degree from his alma mater. He decided to test the waters by moving to New York City, the heart of the theater community. There, he introduced many young children to the works of William Shakespeare by participating in Joe Papp’s “Shakespeare on Broadway” series.

Fredia “The Cheetah” Gibbs (July 8, 1963) is a former professional martial artist, kickboxer, and boxer who competed (1975-2005). She held ISKA, WKA, and WKF World Titles. She was an All-American in basketball and track.

She made history as the first African American woman to become ISKA World Kickboxing Champion. She earned the name “The Most Dangerous Woman in the World” after an upset in 1994 in her fight against the World Champion in the “Battle of the Masters” Pay Per View Event. She became one of the most dominant champions of all time and remains a significant historical figure in the light and super lightweight kickboxing divisions. She competed (1991-97), amassing a record of 16 wins, 0 losses, 15 KOs, and three world titles. She competed as a top contender in women’s professional boxing (1997-2005) with a record of 9 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw.

She wrote The Fredia Gibbs Story about her life in 2016.

She was born in Chester, Pennsylvania. She was given the nickname “The Cheetah” at school due to her performance in track. Chester High School named their track team “Chester’s Cheetahs” after the cheetah.

She attended Temple University, where she received two athletic scholarships in basketball and track. She attended Cabrini University on a basketball scholarship and majored in marketing. She was invited to the US Olympic Training Center to try out for the women’s national basketball team but was cut during the second tryouts. She was selected Kodak All-American for three consecutive years for basketball at Cabrini University. She played professional basketball in Germany, averaging nearly 30 points, 15 rebounds, and 10 assists per game.

Her fight gear is displayed at the Sports Legend of Delaware County Museum. She is an author, celebrity trainer, philanthropist, motivational speaker, and radio host. She was honored and participated in the Orange County Heritage Black History Parade and was nominated to attend the United States of Women summit hosted by the White House.

Valarie Pettiford (July 8, 1960) is a stage and television actress, dancer, and jazz singer. She received a Tony Award nomination for her role in the Broadway production Fosse. She is known for her role as “Big Dee Dee” Thorne on Half & Half.

She began her career as a dancer and choreographer in Bob Fosse’s productions on Broadway.

She played in The Naked Truth and starred as Julie in a touring production of Show Boat.

She received a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical and a Dora Mavor Moore Award nomination for her role in the Broadway production Fosse. She left Fosse to appear in Chicago in the West End.

She won the Backstage Bistro Award for her cabaret debut at the Metropolitan Room in New York City and won an NAACP Theatre Award for her lead role in The Wild Party. She starred in a solo show, Valarie Pettiford - Thankful, which played in New York City and Los Angeles. She starred in the solo show Valarie Pettiford - The Concert in New York City.

She enrolled at the High School of Performing Arts and did her first-ever movie work as part of the large ensemble in The Wiz. She starred in the film Glitter and had a role in Stomp the Yard, Jumping the Broom, and The Family Business.

Melvin Lindsey (July 8, 1955 – March 26, 1992) was a radio and television personality in the DC area. He is known for originating the “Quiet Storm” late-night music programming format.

He was a native of DC and attended Woodrow Wilson High School. He began his broadcast career as an intern at Howard University radio station WHUR-FM. In 1976, he brought the “Quiet Storm” to the station’s late-night lineup, titled after a romantic hit single by tenor crooner Smokey Robinson. The show’s soulfully melodic and moody musical fare made it a phenomenal success, and the ‘love song’-heavy format was quickly replicated at stations across the country that served an urban, African American adult demographic. Lindsey’s show also gave rise to a music category of the same name.

After a nine-year run on WHUR, he took his format to another local radio station, WKYS-FM, for five more years, and he hosted Screen Scene for BET. He worked for DC television stations WTTG-TV, WFTY-TV, and WJZ-TV in Baltimore.

Ruby Nell Sales (July 8, 1948) was born in Jemison, Alabama. She is a social justice activist, scholar, and public theologian. She has been described as a “legendary civil rights activist” by the PBS program Religion and Ethics Weekly. She is one of 50 civil rights leaders showcased by the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in DC.

She has degrees from Tuskegee Institute, Manhattanville College, and Princeton University. She received an MDiv from the Episcopal Divinity School. She is the founder and director of the Spirit House Project, and regularly speaks throughout the country about race, class, and reconciliation.

She attended local segregated schools, including Carver High School, and was educated in the community during the 1960s Civil Rights Movement.

After graduating from high school, she attended Tuskegee Institute, where she became involved in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee. She marched in the Selma-to-Montgomery marches of 1965.

She attended Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge. She has worked as a human rights advocate in DC and across the South.

Stanley “Stan” Lathan (July 8, 1945) is an accomplished producer and one of Hollywood’s most prolific directors of television and film.

He directed Real Husbands of Hollywood, The Soul Man, Amen, Martin, Moesha, The Parkers, and The Steve Harvey Show.

He launched HBO’s groundbreaking Def Comedy Jam with partner Russell Simmons. Lathan produced and directed the Tony Award-winning Def Poetry Jam on Broadway. He directed the hip-hop classic film Beat Street.

He executive-produced and directed Dave Chappelle’s comedy specials Killin’ Them Softly and For What It’s Worth, as well as Cedric the Entertainer’s Taking You Higher.

He directed dance specials with Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, and Mikhail Baryshnikov, and dramas for such distinguished series as Great Performances, American Playhouse, and The American Short Story. He was also an original director for Sesame Street.

He executive-produced and directed The Real Husbands of Hollywood for BET. He directed The Soul Man.

He received the 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award from the Caucus for Producers, Writers, and Directors. He has received six NAACP Image Awards and was recently honored by the Directors Guild of America for his distinguished directing career.

He won a Creative Arts Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) for Dave Chappelle: Equanimity.

Faye Wattleton (Alyce Faye Wattleton; July 8, 1943) is an abortion rights activist who was the first African American and the youngest president ever elected by the Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She is known for her contributions to family planning and reproductive health, as well as the pro-choice movement.

She attended Ohio State University at the age of 16. She earned a BS in nursing and later taught at a nursing school in Dayton for 2 years. She worked at the Children’s Hospital in Columbus. There she cared for children who were abused, neglected, and sick with diseases.

She was accepted to both the Catholic University and Columbia University. She chose to attend Columbia University in New York. Due to her fascination with children born with drug addictions inherited from their using mothers, she did her master’s thesis on phototoelectrophoresis. Phototoelectrophoresis is a medical term referring to the test used to screen pregnant mothers for drug use so that a baby can be treated for withdrawal immediately. She graduated with an MS in maternal and infant care and certification as a nurse-midwife from Columbia University. She went to Columbia on a full scholarship.

Dr. Hamilton Earl Holmes (July 8, 1941 - October 25, 1995) was one of the duo who desegregated the University of Georgia in 1961. He was born in Atlanta, the son of businessman Alfred Holmes and schoolteacher Isabella Holmes. He graduated from Henry McNeal Turner High School as senior class president, class valedictorian, and co-captain of the football team.

He persuaded Turner High graduate Charlayne Hunter and civil rights activist Jesse Hill to attend the University of Georgia. The fight to allow African Americans to enroll at UGA had been won through the judicial process, and he and Hunter enrolled in classes on January 9, 1961. They were greeted with jeers, racial slurs, and threats of violence from boisterous crowds of white onlookers. White students burned crosses and hung a Black effigy they called “Hamilton Holmes” at the entrance to the campus; 600 white students rioted outside Hunter’s dormitory, forcing university officials to transport the pair back to Atlanta with an armed state patrol escort, where they stayed two days before returning.

He earned membership in both Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi honor societies. He graduated from UGA in 1963, establishing another civil rights milestone as the first African American admitted to the Emory University School of Medicine. Awarded his MD at Emory, he began his residency at Detroit General Hospital. This was interrupted by military service as an Army Ranger. He returned to Emory to finish his residency and was hired as an assistant professor of orthopedics. He became chief of orthopedics at Atlanta’s Veterans Administration hospital; started a private practice; was medical director and chairman of orthopedic surgery at Grady Memorial Hospital and a faculty member and associate dean at Emory’s medical school.

Congresswoman Julia May Carson (July 8, 1938 – December 15, 2007) born Julia May Porter, was a member of the House of Representatives for Indiana’s 7th congressional district. She was the first woman and first African American to represent Indianapolis in Congress. She was the second African American woman elected to Congress from Indiana, and her grandson, André Carson, succeeded her in the seat.

She was born in Louisville and raised in Indianapolis. She worked part-time, waiting tables, delivering newspapers, and harvesting crops, among other jobs, to support her family before graduating from Crispus Attucks High School, and while attending Martin University in Indianapolis and Indiana University–Purdue University Indianapolis.

She was a member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. She was named the Indianapolis Star Woman of the Year in 1974 and 1991 and was inducted into the Indiana Public Schools Hall of Fame in 2006. A commemorative bust honoring her was unveiled in the Indiana statehouse in 2014, and she was remembered during Indiana’s celebration of Women’s History Month in 2015. Indianapolis named its local government center in her honor in 1997 and its transit center in 2016. Ivy Tech Community College named its new library and community space in Indianapolis in her honor in 2011. Her papers are held in the library of Indiana University in Indianapolis. Indianapolis wanted to award landmark status to her former home.