This Day in History: 2017-09-10
1773 – “Phillis Wheatley’s ‘Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral’ Published” “Phillis Wheatley, the first professional African-American woman poet, became the first African-American woman whose writings were published with the printing of this volume. The book was published by Archibald Bell, the leading bookseller and printer London at the time, who required proof that Wheatley had written the poems herself. The volume of poems, 39 in all, broke barriers for African-American writers, as it was illegal in several of the states in the U.S. for a slave to learn how to read or write.”
April 1963 - "First Billboard 100 Hit from Asian American Musicians" The Rocky Fellers, a Filipino American boy band, is the first Asian American musical act to have a song chart on the Billboard Hot 100. "Killer Joe" reached number 16 on the charts across the country and reached number 1 in New York City and Los Angeles. The group consisted of four Filipino brothers – Tony, Junior, Eddie and Albert Maligmat – and their father, Doroteo "Moro" Maligmat.