This Week In Black History

Jet, Sept 24, 2001

September 17, 1968--

* Diahann Carroll, actress and singer, became the first Black in a lead role in the television situation-comedy "Julia" on this day. Carroll also starred in the musical No Strings, becoming the first Black to star in the romantic lead of a White Broadway play. She received a Tony Award for her performance. Some of her honors include Emmy nominations for "Naked City" (1962) and "Julia" (1969), and an Oscar nomination for Claudine (1975). In 1987 she published Diahann!, her autobiography. In 1998, Carroll was diagnosed with breast cancer. Following successful treatment, she became the spokeswoman for the National Women's Cancer Research Alliance, and an outspoken advocate of early cancer prevention and detection.

September 18, 1972--

* Art Williams became the National League's first Black umpire on this day. He called plays from third base in the Los Angeles Dodgers' 10-inning, 3-2 triumph over the San Diego Padres in San Diego. After his debut, he said that he was more nervous than he had ever been in his entire life. Williams, a minor league umpire for four seasons, was a minor league pitcher in the mid-1950s. He was a graduate of baseball's Umpire Development School. Williams died in his hometown, Bakersfield, CA, in February of 1979. He was 44 years old.