The Week of February 19-25:

February 19

1919—The “first” Pan African Congress is held bringing together prominent blacks from throughout the world to chart a program for Black unity and betterment. African-American scholar and activist W.E.B. DuBois was the chief organizer. The gathering was held in Paris, France and drew 57 distinguished delegates including 16 from the United States, 14 from Africa and others from the Caribbean, South America and Europe. (The 1919 Congress is considered by many the “first” but another such Congress had been organized in 1900.)

TUSKEGEE AIRMEN

1940—Smokey Robinson is born William Robinson in Detroit, Mich. He formed “The Miracles” in 1955 while still in high school. With his voice and poetry of song, Robinson led The Miracles as the group became one of the all-time best record sellers for Barry Gordy’s Motown music empire.

1942—The Tuskegee Airmen are activated for service in World War II. The all-Black pursuit squadron, later designated 99th Fighter Squadron, was organized and trained at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama. The squadron served with honors in Europe. During the war, the nearly 1,000 pilots who had been trained flew 15,000 sorties, destroyed 1,000 German aircraft and earned more than 150 Distinguished Flying Crosses.

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. (AP)—The Queen of Soul came out to watch King James—and Dwyane Wade, too. Aretha Franklin was on hand Feb. 11 when LeBron James and the Miami Heat visited the Detroit Pistons. She sat in the second row next to Rev. Jesse Jackson and said at halftime she hopes to resume her public schedule in May—probably at New York’s Radio City Music Hall.

“Probably starting at Radio City, reschedule what I had to cancel,” she said.

ARETHA AND JESSE WAVE TO FANS (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

The Pistons game was believed to be one of Franklin’s first public appearances since undergoing surgery Dec. 2 for an undisclosed ailment. Franklin announced in November that she would be canceling all concert dates and personal appearances through May on doctors’ orders.

Included among the thousands of migrants coming to Pittsburgh were two men who would develop a newspaper that would make a significant impact on journalism and African- American life both in this country and the world.

In 1910, three years after publishing a book of poems called “A Toilers’ Life,” Edward Na­thaniel Harleston wanted to expand his small sheet newspaper into a major publication. Harleston was a native of Charles­ton, S.C., and had moved to Pittsburgh from Atlantic City.

DOUBLE V CAMPAIGN—Above photos of Blacks in the military during World War II. The Double V campaign launched by the Courier pushed circulation to a record high for any Black newspaper.

He was employed as a messenger at the H.J. Heinz Co. on the North Side. He was an educated man, with industrial training as a carpenter and a business background as a partner in the Harleston and Wil­son Undertaker & Em­balmer Co. in Charles­ton. But by late 1909, Harleston did not have the capital nor the experience to publish a newspaper alone.

by Darlene Superville

WASHINGTON (AP)—Michelle Obama’s advice for couples on Valentine’s Day and beyond: Laugh with your partner.

She said it’s what she and President Barack Obama do, and it seems to be working. Their marriage, although tested throughout the years by his political ambitions—for the Illinois Senate, the U.S. Senate and later president—is going on 19 years.

ROMANTIC—In this Jan. 2009, photo President Barack Obama dances with first lady Michelle Obama at the Midwestern Ball on the night of his inauguration in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

“I think a lot of laughing,” the first lady said Feb. 8 at a White House luncheon with reporters who asked about the Obamas’ union. “I think in our house we don’t take ourselves too seriously, and laughter is the best form of unity, I think, in a marriage.”

“So we still find ways to have fun together, and a lot of it is private and personal. But we keep each other smiling and that’s good,” she added.