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Black History Month

On this day in black history: Leon Spinks stuns the world by beating Muhammad Ali

Black History Month: The Undefeated Edition Feb. 15

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    Muhammad Ali vs. Leon Spinks
    Leon Spinks (right) upset Muhammad Ali (left) for the heavyweight title in 1978. Ron Galella/WireImage
    Kelley D. Evans By @kelleysthrngrl

    1896 – George Washington Carver builds a school
    Known for discovering more than 300 products derived from the peanut, scientist George Washington Carver becomes the head of the Agricultural Experiment Station and Agricultural School at Tuskegee Normal School.

    1968 — Henry Lewis becomes the first African-American to lead a major orchestra
    Henry Lewis broke racial barriers when he was named director of the New Jersey Symphony. Lewis’ 47 years of work includes transforming the symphony from an ensemble into a well-known, prestigious orchestra that performed at Carnegie Hall and the Kennedy Center.

    1978 — Leon Spinks upsets Muhammad Ali for the heavyweight title
    Twenty-four-year-old Leon Spinks shocked the boxing world as he battled for 15 rounds against the 36-year-old Muhammad Ali for a split-decision victory. Spinks became the heavyweight champion of the world in front of a crowd of 5,300 at the Las Vegas Hilton Sports Pavilion and millions of television viewers. Ali went into the fight as a 10-1 favorite to win.

    Kelley Evans is a digital producer at Andscape. She is a food passionista, helicopter mom and an unapologetic Southerner who spends every night with the cast of The Young and the Restless by way of her couch.

    This Story Tagged: Daily Uplift Muhammad Ali Black History Month George Washington Carver Leon Spinks Henry Lewis