This week in Black history

Edward W. Brooke was elected to the U.S. Senate and became the first Black senator elected by popular vote since Reconstruction on this day. A Massachusetts Republican, Brooke served in the Senate from 1967 to 1979. He was also that state's first Black Attorney General in 1962. He was born October 26, 1919, in Washington, D.C., and educated at Paul Laurence Dunbar High School and Howard University. During World War II he served as an officer with the 366th Infantry Regiment that saw combat in Italy. Following the war, Brooke entered Boston University's School of Law and upon graduation practiced law there. Brooke left the Senate in 1979 and returned to private practice with a Boston and Washington, D.C., law firm. Earlier this year he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's top civilian honor.

November 13, 1951-

Janet Collins became the first Black prima ballerina when she appeared with the New York Metropolitan Opera Company to perform Aida on this day. She was 34. As the Metropolitan's premiere danseuse, she danced the lead in Carmen, Samson and Delilah and La Gioconda. Born in New Orleans, her family moved to Los Angeles shortly after her birth. While she was young Collins wanted to study ballet, but being Black prevented acceptance to dance classes. However, she refused to give up and found a private instructor. At 15, Collins' teacher told her to try for the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. The troupe's choreographer, Leonide Massine, did not accept Collins, although he recognized her talent. But she didn't stop. Collins went on to Los Angeles to study under Katherine Dunham, who led a landmark modern dance company. After Collins left the stage in the mid-1950s, she taught dance at the St. Joseph School for the Deaf in the Bronx. Collins died on May 28, 2003.