This Day in History: 2017-11-17
November 8, 2016 – “Minnesota Elects Country’s First Muslim American Woman Legislator”
Ilhan Omar became the first Muslim American woman elected to any legislative body in the country’s history. Omar, a Somali-American, is a former refugee and was elected to serve in Minnesota’s state legislature. In order to win her party’s nomination in Minneapolis, where she serves, she had to defeat a 44-year incumbent. She is an advocate for affordable college, criminal justice reform, economic equality and clean energy.
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.