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Black History Month

Today in Black history: Happy birthday, Bob Marley and Natalie Cole, RIP Arthur Ashe, Muhammad Ali knocks out Ernie Terrell and more

The Undefeated’s Black facts for Feb. 6

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    Tennis – Wimbledon – Men’s Singles Final – Jimmy Connors v Arthur Ashe – Centre Court
    Arthur Ashe in action during the third set against reigning champion Jimmy Connors during the 1975 Wimbledon men’s singles competition. Ashe became the first Black man to win the competition. PA Images via Getty Images
    Kelley D. Evans By @kelleysthrngrl

    1945 – Robert Nesta “Bob” Marley is born in St. Ann Parish, Jamaica. He formed Bob Marley and the Wailers with two friends. Marley died of cancer in 1981 at age 36. The reggae artist’s music continues to shine long after his death. Over the past two decades, Marley has sold more than 75 million albums.

    1950 – Natalie Cole is born. The award-winning singer was a daughter of crooner Nat King Cole.

    1967 – Muhammad Ali defeats Ernie Terrell in 15 rounds for the heavyweight boxing title.

    1993 – The world mourns tennis player, civil rights activist and humanitarian Arthur Ashe, who dies of AIDS-related pneumonia in a New York hospital at 49. He was the only African American man to win Wimbledon and the U.S. and Australian Opens. Off the court, Ashe advocated for equality, spoke out against South African apartheid and was arrested during a protest against U.S. policy toward Haitian refugees. After being diagnosed with the disease, Ashe pushed for more funds to be allocated to research on AIDS and created the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS shortly before his death.

    1993 – Riddick Bowe defeats Michael Dokes by TKO in the first round to remain world heavyweight boxing champion.

    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: Bob Marley Muhammad Ali Arthur Ashe Black History Month Black Facts Natalie Cole