January 26, 1954 – Dr. Theodore K. Lawless, dermatologist, awarded the Spingarn Medal for his research in skin-related diseases.
January 27, 1961 – Leontyne Price made her Metropolitan Opera debut.
January 28, 1787 – Free Africa Society organized in Philadelphia.
January 29, 1926 – Violette Nealy Anderson becomes the first black woman lawyer to argue a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
January 30, 1979 – Franklin Thomas named president of Ford Foundation.
January 31, 1986 – August Wilson’s Fences, starring James Earl Jones, opens at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre.
February 1, 1902 – Playwright, poet, author Langston Hughes born.
