Month Ramadan Observed (Muslim)

1     New Year’s Day

3     William Tucker
        First black child born in America born 1624
       Dr. Lauro F. Cavazos
        First Hispanic Secretary of U.S. Department of
        Education born 1927
      National Negro Baseball League
        Started 1920

10   George Washington Carver
        African-American agricultural scientist born 1864

11   Eugenio Marie de Hostos
        Puerto Rican lawyer, writer and leader for autonomy and
        abolition of slavery in Latin America born 1839

12    Ira Hamilton Hayes
        Native American, one of the Marines to raise U.S. flag at
        Iwo Jima born 1923
        James Farmer
          African-American political activist born 1920

13    L. Douglas Wilder
         First elected African-American Governor of Virginia 1990

15    Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
         African-American civil rights Leader born 1929

16    Elsa Gomez
         First Hispanic liberal arts college graduate born 1938

17    Muhammed Ali
         African-American heavyweight boxing champion born 1942

18   Dr. Daniel Hale Williams
        Pioneer heart surgeon born 1856

19   Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

26    Angela Davis
         African–American political activist born 1944
         Eartha Kitt
         African–American singer born 1928

27    Harold Cardinal
         Cree Tribal leader born 1945

28    Jose Marti
         Cuban orator, writer, patriot and martyr became Cuba’s 
         symbol of independence from Spain born 1853

29    Oprah Winfrey
         African–American entertainer born 1954
         Benjamin Hooks
         African–American civil rights leader born 1925

31    Jackie Robinson
         First African–American major League Baseball player born 1919<

African-American Heritage Month
National Dental Month

1     Langston Hughes
        African-American poet born 1902

2     Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo
        1848
      Groundhog Day

4     Dean Chavers
          North Carolina Lumbee Indian educator born 1941
      Rosa Parks
          African-American civil rights activist born 1913

5     Constitution Day
        In Mexico
      Henry "Hank" Aaron
        African-American baseball player, broke Babe Ruth's
        home run record born 1934

9     Alice Walker
        African-American author born 1944

10   Leontyne Price
        African-American opera singer born 1927

12   Abraham Lincoln
          16th U.S. President born 1827

13   "The Renaissance"
         First Black professional basketball team organized 1923

14   Valentine's Day
        Frederick Douglass
          African-American orator, politician born 1817
      Race Relations Day

15   Susan B. Anthony Day
          Social reformer, pioneer crusader for women born 1820

17   Julia De Burgos
          Puerto Rican poet born 1914
      Marian Anderson
           African-American singer born 1902

18   Sholom Aleichem
         Jewish-Yiddish writer born 1895
      Toni Morrison
        African-American author born 1931

19   U.S. Marines land on Iwo Jima

20   Sidney Poitier
          African-American entertainer born 1927

21   Barbara Jordan
          African-American Congresswoman born 1936

22   Julius "Dr. J" Erving
          African-American athlete born 1950
      George Washington
        1st U.S. president born 1732

23   W.E.B. DuBois
          African-American author born 1868<

Women’s History Month
Youth Art Month
National Nutrition Month
Poetry Month

2     Theodor Geisel
        Author "Dr. Seuss" born 1904

3     Jackie Joyner-Kersey
          African-American athlete born 1962

4     Samuel Billison
        First Native American to receive a Ph. D. in education

9     Amerigo Vespucci  
        Italian explorer born 1454

10   Lillian D. Wald
         American Jewish social worker born 1867

11   Ralph David Abernathy
        African-American civil rights leader born 1929

14   Quincy Jones
          African-American entertainer born 1933

16   Ida B. Wells
          Founded first Black newspaper "Freedom’s Journal" 1827

17   St. Patrick’s Day

18   Hawaii becomes a State
          1959
      Andrew Young Jr.
          African-American statesman, political activist born 1922

19   Swallows return to San Juan Capistrano

20   Spike Lee
          African-American filmmaker born 1957

22   Slavery abolished in Puerto Rico
        1873

24   Dorothy Height
          President National Council of Negro Women born 1912

25   Debi Thomas
          First African-American to win medal at Winter Olympics born
        1967
      Aretha Franklin
          African-American entertainer born 1942

26   Diana Ross
          African-American entertainer born 1944

29   Pearl Bailey
          African-American entertainer born 1918

31   Charles Stewart Parker
        African-American botanist born 1882
      Cesar Chavez
        Organized U.S. farm labor movement born 1927

Child Abuse Prevention Month
Math Education Month
National Humor Month
Thai Heritage Month

1     Carlos Montezuma
          Apache physician, graduate of Chicago Medical College born
        1867
      April Fool's Day

2     International Children's Book Day

3     Eddie Murphy
         African-American entertainer born 1961

4     Maya Angelou
          African-American author born 1928
      General Colin Powell
          African-American U.S. general born 1937
      Booker T. Washington
          African-American educator born 1856

7     Billie Holiday
         African-American singer born 1915

8     Birth of Buddha
        Approximately 563 B.C.

13   Thomas Jefferson
          3rd U.s. president born 1915

15   A. Philip Randolph
          African-American civil rights leader born 1889

15   Jackie Robinson became the first black Major League Baseball player in 1947. This all-time star second baseman made his debut at first base. In his first game, the .311 lifetime hitter went 0 for 3; however, he reached base on a sacrifice/fielder's choice and scored the fourth run in the 5-3 Dodger victory.
        -- photo and stats courtesy, Los Angeles Dodgers

24   Thomas Almajuela
        Squamesa Army officer
      Earth Day

25   Ella Fitzgerald
          African-American singer born 1918

26   James J. Audubon
        U.S. naturalist born 1785

27   Coretta Scott King
           African-American civil rights activist born 1927

29   Margaret B. Adams
         Navajo anthropologist and museum director born 1936
      "Duke" Ellington
         African-American musician born 1899

Asian-Pacific Island Month
Bike Safety Month
Suicide Prevention Month

1     May Day

3     Golda Meir 
          Former prime minister of Israel born 1898

4     George Abrams 
          Seneca anthropologist born 1939

5     Cinco de Mayo
          Commemorates Mexican victory over French at Pueblo 1862

6     Passage of Chinese Exclusion Act
         U.S. law to restrict immigration on the basis of race 1882

8     King Kamehameha I
          First sovereign of a united Hawaii people died 1819

13   Joe Lewis
          African-American boxer born 1914
      Stevie Wonder
          African-American entertainer born 1950

15   Joseph A. Califano
          Hispanic Secretary of HEW born 1931

17   Brown vs. Board of Education 
          U.S. Supreme Court declares desegregation in public schools 
        unconstitutional 1954

23   Alicia De Larrocha
          Spanish concert pianist born 1923

26   Leslie Uggams
          African-American entertainer born 1943

28   James Francis “Jim” Thorpe
          Sauk and Fox Indian athlete who won Decathlon in 1912
        Olympics born 1888

29   John F. Kennedy
          35th U.S. president born 1917
      Patrick Henry
        Politician and orator born 1736

31   Memorial Day<

National Dairy Month
World Environment Month

2     American Indian Citizenship Day
        Conferred by act of Congress 1924

7     Gwendolyn Brooks
        First African-American to win Pulitzer Prize born 1917

8     Frank Lloyd Wright
        Architect born 1867

12   Anne Frank
        Young German Jewish author born 1929

14   Flag Day

16   Roberto Duran
        Hispanic professional boxer forn 1951

17   Susan LaFlesche-Picotte
        Native American physician born 1865

23   Wilma Rudolph
        African-American athlete born 1940

27   Helen Keller
        Educator and author born 1880

30   Lena Horne
        African-American entertainer born 1917<

1     La Nocha Triste 
          Aztecs force Spaniards out of Vera Cruz 1520

2     Thurgood Marshall
          African-American Supreme Court justice born 1908

3     Puerto Rico becomes a commonwealth of U.S.
          1950
      Hawaii becomes a republic
          1950

4     Independence Day
         USA
       Louis Armstrong
         African-American entertainer born 1900 
     Geraldo Rivera
         Journalist, television personality born 1943

6     Della Reese
          African-American entertainer born 1932

7     Clare Clifton Brant
          Mohawk psychiatrist born 1941

10   Mary McLeod Bethune
           African-American educator born 1857
       Arthur Ashe, Jr.
          African-American athlete born 1943

11   Bill Cosby
          African-American entertainer born 1937

14   Bastille Day
          France

15   Maggie Lena Walker
           First African-American to establish a bank born 1867

16   Ruben Blade
          Hispanic musician, actor, author, attorney, social activist born
        1948
      Ida B. Well Barnett
        Political activist born 1862

17   Diahann Carroll
        African-American entertainer born 1935

24   Amelia Earhart
        Pilot born 1898

25   Puerto Rico Constitution Day
          1952<

01  Benjamin Mays African-American educator born 1895

02   James Baldwin   African-American author born 1924

06    Atom bomb dropped on Hiroshima

09     Atom bomb dropped on Nagasaki

10   Great Pueblo Revolt 1680 
           Led By Pope San Juan
      Gen. Colin Powell 
           Nominated for Joint Chiefs of Staff 1989 (First African-American 
        to hold post.)

11   Alex Haley
           African-American author born 1921

15   Liberation Day
           Korea

18   Roberto Clemens 
           Puerto Rican baseball player born 1934

19   Dr. Ralph S. Bunche
           African-American named Undersecretary of United Nations 1954 
        born 1904

20   Connie Chung
        Asian-American journalist born 1946

21   William “Count” Basie 
           African-American musician born 1904
      Nat Turner 
           Led slave revolt in Virginia 1831

24   Anonia Novella
          First woman & Hispanic Surgeon General born 1944

26   Branford Marsalis
        African-American musician born 1960

27   Mary McCleod Bethune
          Founded National Council of Negro Women born 1935

28   Elizabeth Ann Seton 
          Educator, established parochial schools in U.S. born 1774
      Tiger Woods
          First African-American to win U.S. Amateur Golf Championship 
       1994

29   Charlie Bird Parker
        African-American jazz musician born 1920

30   Lt. Col. Guion S. Bluford, Jr. 
          First African-American astronaut in space 1983<

National Hispanic Heritage Month
National Courtesy Month

2     Queen Lydia Kamakaeha Liluokalani
        Last sovereign of Hawaii born 1838

9     Arthur Ashe, Jr.
        First African-American to win U.S. Open Tennis Championship
        1968

10   John Mercer Langston
        First African-American to hold elected office in U.S. born 1855

12   Jessie Owens  
        First African-American athlete to win an Olympic medal born 1913 
        Dr. Mae C. Jemison  
        First African-American woman to travel in space 1992

13   Ramadan

14   Constance Baker Motley
        First African-American appointed to federal court born 1921

15   Crazy Horse
        Indian chief born 1877
      Tommie DePaolo
        Author born 1934

16   Grito de Dolures
          Mexican Independence Day 1810 
       Rosemary Casals
         Hispanic tennis player born 1948    

23   Ray Charles 
          African-American singer born 1930

26   Winnie Mandela
         Civil rights activist born 1936
       John Chapman
         "Johnny Appleseed" born 1774

27   Hiram R. Revels
          First African-Americn U.S. Senator born 1822

28   Juan Rodriguez de Cabrillo
          Discovered present day San Diego 1542
      David Walker
        Abolistionist born 1785

29   National Urban League
        Founded 1910 in New York City<

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Disability Employment Awareness Month

2     Nat Turner
          Led slave revolt born 1800
      Mohandes Gandhi
          Born 1869

4     George Sanchez
           Dean of American scholars; activist against social, educational 
        segregation born 1906

5     Tecumseh
          Shawnee chief died 1813
      Yvonne Braithwaite Burke
        African-American politician born 1932

7     Desmond Tutu
        Bishop, Pulitzer Prize winner born 1931

8     Reverend Jesse L. Jackson
          African-American human rights activist born 1941

9     Luis Santeiro
        Hispanic playwright, television writer born 1947

12   Dick Gregory
          African-American comedian, activist born 1932
       Columbus Day

13    Eid-Ul-Fitr

15   Teresa Urrea
        Faith healer, peasant leader in Mexican Revolutionary movement
        born 1873

17   Dr. Mae Jemison
           African-American astronaut born 1953

21   Ronald McNair
        African-American astronaut born 1950
      Dizzie Gillespie
        African-American musician born 1917

23   Mahalia Jackson  
         African-American singer born 1911

27   Benjamin O. Davis
          First African-American general, U.S. Air Force born 1954

31   Ethel Waters
          African-American singer born 1900
       Halloween

National Native American Month
Latin American Month

5     Shirley Chisholm
           First African-American woman elected to Congress

7     Frank M. Blythe
         Cherokee motion picture and television producer born 1940

11   Veterans Day   

13   Whoopi Goldberg 
          African-American entertainer born 1949
      First Anti‑Slavery Party
          Established 1839

16   George Burdeau
          Blackfeet producer and director born 1944

17   Jung Hung
          First Chinese graduate of an American university

18   Mickey Mouse 
           First cartoon, “Steamboat Willie,” debuted 1928

22   Guion Bluford
          African-American astronaut born 1941

23   Manuel de Falla
           Spanish composer born 1876

26   Isabella Baumfree
         Known as Sojourner Truth died 1883
      Tina Turner
         African-American singer born 1939

29   Thurgood Marshall
          African-American Supreme Court Justice born 1908

30   Bo Jackson
           African-American athlete born 1962
      Shirley Chisholm
          African-American politician born 1924<

Human Rights Month

1     Rosa Parks
        African-American begins bus boycott in Montgomery 1955
       Lee Trevino
       Hispanic professional golfer born 1939

7     Pearl Harbor Day
         Japan bombed Pearl Harbor starting Pacific War 1941

8     Sammy Davis Jr.
          African-American entertainer born 1925

10   Treaty of Paris
          Spain transfers Cuba, Puerto Rico and Philippines to U.S. 1898

11   Daisy Bates 
        Member of “The Little Rock Nine” born 1944

13   St. Lucia Day
        Sweden

17   First airplane flight
        Wilbur and Orville Wright, Kitty Hawk, N.C. 1903

18   Ossie Davis
          African-American actor born 1917

19   U.S. recognizes Hawaiian kingdom
          1842
      Cicely Tyson
          African-American actress born 1933
      Carter G. Woodson
          Father of Black History born 1875

22   W.E.B. Dubois
        African-American elected to National Institute of Arts and
        Letters 1943

23   Madame C. Walker
           First African-American millionaire businesswoman born 1869

25   Christmas 
        Clara Barton
          Founded Red Cross 1821

26   Mao Tse-tung
          Chinese leader born 1893
      Kwanzaa begins

28   Henry Rue Cloud
          Winnebago Tribe educator who mastered English, Latin and 
        Greek by age 17, born 1844

If you'd like to have an event added to the VEA Multi-Cultural Calendar to help spread the word about contributions of cultures and peoples to making America great, please send it to us. The VEA Fitz Turner Commission, the VEA committee which maintains this teaching aid calendar, will update the calendar from time to time.

Please provide your name, your association, your home phone as well as the event or person's name and ethnic heritage of your nomination. Also, provide a short (one or two sentence) description of the event or the person's activity/contribution which you think deserves recognition. Thank you.