This week in Black history

Miles Davis, musical maestro and jazz trumpet legend, was made a Knight in the (French) Legion of Honor, one of France's highest cultural distinctions, on this day. The National Order of the Legion of Honor, founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, recognizes eminent service to the Republic of France. Recipients of this honor are named by decree signed by the President of the Republic. Born on May 25, 1926, in Alton, IL, Davis was given his first trumpet and music lessons on his 13th birthday. In 1944, he moved to New York City where he enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music. Davis studied classical music during the day and played jazz at night. But he soon dropped out of Juilliard to pursue his love of jazz. His music genius continually evolved during a trend setting 40-year career. Davis died September 28, 1991, in Santa Monica, CA.

July 20, 1967--

* The Black Power Conference, where the largest and most diverse group of American Black leaders ever assembled, met in Newark, NJ, on this day. Up to 1,100 delegates, representing 42 cities and 197 Black organizations, attended the four-day conference. Among some of the organizations were the National Urban League, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC), the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE), the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), the NAACP, civil rights activists, labor leaders, clergymen and politicians. Dr. Nathan Wright, Jr. organized the conference, the brain child of Congressman Adam Clayton Powell. Some of the resolutions adopted at the conference by the delegates called for the creation of Black national holidays, a nationwide "buy Black" effort and the establishment of Black universities.