Today In History Ossie Davis was born in Cogdell, GA, on this date December 18, 1917. The highly successful writer, director, actor, and producer established a phenomenal career, remaining throughout a strong voice for artists' rights, human dignity, and social justice. Mr. Davis made his Broadway debut in 1946 in Jeb, where he met his wife and fellow actress, Ruby Dee. He went on to perform in many Broadway productions, including Anna Lucasta, The Wisteria Trees, Green Pastures, Jamaica, Ballad for Bimshire, A Raisin in the Sun, The Zulu and the Zayda, and the stage version of I'm Not Rappaport. In 1961, he wrote and starred in the critically acclaimed Purlie Victorious. Ossie Davis was a leading activist in the civil rights era of the 1960s. He joined Martin Luther King, Jr., in the crusade for jobs and freedom and to help raise money for the Freedom Riders. He eulogized both Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X at their funerals and remained an activist throughout his life. He received innumerable honors including the Hall of Fame Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement in 1989; the U.S. National Medal for the Arts in 1995; the New York Urban League Frederick Douglas Award; NAACP Image Award; and the Screen Actor's Guild Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001. Ossie Davis enjoyed a long and luminous career in entertainment along with his wife and fellow performer, stage and screen collaborator, and political activist, Ruby Dee. CARTERâ„¢ Magazine carter-mag.com #wherehistoryandhiphopmeet #historyandhiphop365 #cartermagazine #staywoke #carter #ossiedavis #rubydee #blackhistorymonth #blackhistory #history #blacktwitter https://www.instagram.com/p/CmTkpO_umlB/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=
