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For a President Lincoln Birthday activity on this day in 1900, James Weldon Johnson, lawyer, poet, novelist and activist, wrote the lyrics to “Lift Every Voice and Sing” to honor President Lincoln's birthday. The song later became popularly known as the 'Black (Negro) National Anthem'.

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Basketball great William Felton ‘Bill’ Russell was born in Monroe, Louisiana in 1934 . He was the Boston Celtics' first draft pick in 1956 and a Civil Rights advocate. In 1966, Russell became the first Black coach of a major professional sports team.

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On this day in 1909, the granddaddy of all civil rights organizations, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), was formed in New York City. It was designed to “ensure the political, educational, social, and economic equality of rights of all persons and to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination”.