February 2024 – Historic Moments Today

February 29th: Hattie McDaniel Became The 1st Black Actress To Win An Oscar

29Feb

By Professor Gregory J. Hayes, Ph.D. in Art History2 Comments

February 29th: Hattie McDaniel Became The 1st Black Actress To Win An Oscar

What Happened On February 29th? On February 29th, 1940 was a day that Hollywood would and will never forget. At the prestigious 12th Academy Awards ceremony, Hattie McDaniel won an Oscar, being the first African American actress to do so. Her win for Best Supporting Actress for her iconic portrayal of Mammy in Gone With the Wind was a bittersweet victory, drawing attention to her extraordinary talent along with challenges faced by people of color in the entertainment industry. The year, 1940 was a revolutionary one for the entertainment industry, television, and movies. Earlier this year, cartoons started to become popular, as "Tom & Jerry" debuted for the first time. The night itself was fraught with racial segregation. McDaniel was seated at a segregated table away from the rest of t...

February 28th: The Double Helix Structure Of DNA Discovered

28Feb

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

Science & Industry

February 28th: The Double Helix Structure Of DNA Discovered

What Happened On February 28th? On February 28th, 1953 at the Cavendish Laboratory in Cambridge, England, two scientists, James D. Watson and Francis H.C. Crick, made a discovery about life's most important molecule, DNA. More specifically, what they found was the double helix structure of DNA, which revolutionized our understanding of all life forms. Being such a small molecule, if you unravelled all DNA molecules in your body and lined them up, it would stretch over 110 billion miles! From wherever your position is in the world right now, your molecules would elongate to the Sun and back over 600 times! DNA, short for deoxyribonucleic acid, holds the blueprint for life, and cracking its code gave us information about heredity, disease, and the very essence of what it means to be alive. ...

February 27th: Non-Violent Protests In Berlin Save 2,000 Jews

27Feb

By Dr. Charles E. Whitman, Jr., Historian at LargeNo Comments

World History

February 27th: Non-Violent Protests In Berlin Save 2,000 Jews

What Happened On February 27th? On February 27th, 1943, the extraordinary power of collective action was tested against the most extreme right-wing group the world has ever seen. In Nazi-controlled Berlin, through a non-violent protest (spearheaded by the wives and relatives of 2,000 Jewish men who were detained for deportation), the Nazi authorities were shocked and surrendered. In a chilling operation dubbed the "Final Roundup," the Gestapo began arresting Jewish men married to non-Jewish women, those deemed "mixed-race," and others with certain exemptions. These men were held at Rosenstraße 2-4, a Jewish community center, where horror was inflected on countless others. Yet, courage upheld, starting a resistance. Driven by love and desperation, the wives, mothers, and sisters of th...

February 26th: Car Bomb Below World Trade Center Took 6 Lives

26Feb

By Dr. Charles E. Whitman, Jr., Historian at LargeNo Comments

U.S. History

February 26th: Car Bomb Below World Trade Center Took 6 Lives

What Happened On February 26th? In Lower Manhattan on this day in 1993, a deafening explosion ripped through an average New York morning, a preliminary event to the tragedy which would occur 8 years later. Islamist militants were attempting to target the iconic World Trade Center, specifically the parking garage beneath the North Tower. A car bomb, planted by a group of extremists, detonated, leaving a crater several stories deep and spewing smoke into the sky. Panic erupted as thousands fled the towering inferno, and all surroundings transformed into a scene of confusion and fear. Amidst the chaos, emergency services rushed in as soon as they could, but it was too late. Even though over a thousand of people were injured and needed medical assistance, only six lives were lost in the attack...

February 25th: Muhammad Ali Became The World Heavyweight Champion

25Feb

By Dr. Sylvia K. Crawford, MA in JournalismNo Comments

Sports History

February 25th: Muhammad Ali Became The World Heavyweight Champion

What Happened On February 25th? In Miami Beach on February 25th, 1964, possible one of the greatest fights in history was about to go down. In the ring, two very contrasting figures stood ready... The reigning heavyweight champion, Sonny Liston, with a hulking physique, was known for his intimidating presence and raw power. The challenger, Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali), a young, brash boxer known for his lightning-fast footwork and sharp tongue. Being complete opposites, this wasn't just a fight; it was a clash of styles, personalities, and even ideologies. Clay, who would soon change his name to Muhammad Ali, wasn't favored. Liston, nicknamed "The Bear," was considered unbeatable, boasting a 37-1 record with 25 knockouts. This is almost as impressive as the Lakers' win streak i...

February 24th: 17th President, Andrew Johnson Impeached

24Feb

By Dr. Sylvia K. Crawford, MA in JournalismNo Comments

U.S. History

February 24th: 17th President, Andrew Johnson Impeached

What Happened On February 24th? The day that the first U.S. president was tried for impeachment initiated a clash between the executive and legislative branches of government. The events which led to eventual Johnson's eventual impeachment were rooted in the aftermath of the Civil War and during the tumultuous period of Reconstruction. On February 24, 1868, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to impeach President Johnson, making him the first president in American history to face such action. The impeachment was primarily driven by the intense political divisions of the time, as well as Johnson's contentious approach to Reconstruction following the Civil War. Johnson, a Democrat from Tennessee, had ascended to the presidency following the assassination of President Abrah...

February 23rd: 5-Time F1 World Champion Kidnapped By Fidel Castro

23Feb

By Dr. Sylvia K. Crawford, MA in JournalismNo Comments

Sports History

February 23rd: 5-Time F1 World Champion Kidnapped By Fidel Castro

What Happened On February 23rd? Havana, a Cuban city just a 13 hour drive north of Guantanamo Bay, was about to host their Cuban Grand Prix in 1958. On today February 23rd in the luxurious Hotel Lincoln, legendary Formula One champion Juan Manuel Fangio was just mingled with fellow racers in the lobby. Little did he know, his day was about to flip, as Cuban rebels, led by the 26th of July Movement, had something up their sleeves. As the day grew darker, two armed men, ignited by the flames of revolution, entered the hotel lobby. Their plan was to target Fangio, who symbolized international wealth and glamour. With their capture, they hoped to create mass publicity and pressure on the Cuban government. Then, through a swift and silent operation, they whisked the motorsport icon away, leavin...

February 22nd: 185 Lives Stolen In New Zealand Earthquake

22Feb

By Dr. Charles E. Whitman, Jr., Historian at LargeNo Comments

World History

February 22nd: 185 Lives Stolen In New Zealand Earthquake

What Happened On February 22nd? On February 22nd, 2011 in Christchurch, New Zealand, lunchtime began for the 367,000 civilians like any other Tuesday. However, all of a sudden at precisely 12:51 PM, the ground began to tremble. A 6.3 magnitude earthquake, less than a year after the Haiti 2010 quake, shattered the city and the illusion of just a normal day. Buildings, already weakened by a previous tremor the year before, crumbled under the renewed assault. Dust plumes surrounding all of Christchurch, while screams and the cries of emergency sirens were all that people were able to hear. The iconic Christchurch Cathedral, a symbol of resilience in the urban area, lost its spire as it crumbled to the ground. The Pyne Gould Corporation building collapsed, where a majority of the lives were lo...

February 21st: “The Communist Manifesto” Published

21Feb

By Professor Mei X. Chen, M.A., Literature ScholarNo Comments

World History

February 21st: “The Communist Manifesto” Published

What Happened On February 21st? In 1848 on a Parisian morning, a small little pamphlet carried the weight of an entire revolution. Today on this day, the radical thinkers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels published "The Communist Manifesto," and it was not your average political treatise . Little did anyone know, this unassuming document would become the foundation of communism, which would shape values and ideals of nations across the nation, even today! Originally titled the Manifesto of the Communist Party, it served as the official platform for the Communist League, a group of European socialists advocating for radical change. The manifesto, published in German, openly criticized capitalism and proposed a vision for a classless, communist society. Its opening line, "The history ...

February 20th: First Citizen To Orbit The Earth Landed Safely

20Feb

By Dr. Sylvia K. Crawford, MA in JournalismNo Comments

Science & Industry

February 20th: First Citizen To Orbit The Earth Landed Safely

What Happened On February 20th? Cape Canaveral, Florida buzzed with nervous energy on a Tuesday morning in 1962, as thousands of viewers tapped in to watch the "Friendship 7" takeoff. Astronaut John Glenn, one of the original "Mercury Seven," strapped himself into the cramped Mercury capsule, atop a towering Atlas rocket. His mission was to become the first American to orbit the Earth and prove America's mettle in the tense Cold War space race against the Soviet Union. At exactly 9:32 AM EST, the Atlas roared to life, pinning Glenn against his seat with G-forces as it shot him skyward. Minutes later, after releasing the capsule, the fiery rocket peeled away, leaving Glenn in exhilarating weightlessness. "The sensation is absolutely delightful," he reported back to Earth. Friendship 7 slipp...