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Today in black history: Smokey Robinson is born, John Singleton nominated for an Oscar, Tuskegee Airmen are here, and more

#BlackHistory, #AfricanAmerican ,  #BlackAmerican , #BlackHistorymonth 1940 – Happy birthday, Smokey Robinson. William “Smokey” Robinson is born in 1940 in Detroit. Robinson iss ranked 20th on Rolling Stone’s list of 100 Greatest Singers, and was once called America’s “greatest living poet” by Bob Dylan. He wrote some of rhythm and blues’ most classic love songs by groups such as The Temptations and The Supremes. He sang hits such as “Cruisin’,” “Tears of a Clown” and “Ooo Baby Baby.” 1942 – Tuskegee Airmen are initiated into the armed forces. They were the first African-American flying unit in the U.S. military, and flew 1,578 missions and won more than 850 medals. 1992 – John Singleton is nominated for an Oscar for Boyz n the Hood (1991). He was the youngest African-American and, at 24, the youngest person to be nominated for the Academy Award for best director. Singleton was also nominated for the Academy Award for best screenplay. 2002 – Bobsledder Vonetta Flowers wins go

Black History Month: 17 LGBTQ black pioneers who made history

Storme DeLarverie, Marsha P. Johnson and Bayard Rustin.New York Times, Netflix, Getty Images By Gwen Aviles and Ariel Jao From 1960s civil rights activist Bayard Rustin to Chicago's first black female and LGBTQ mayor, Lori Lightfoot, black LGBTQ Americans have long made history with innumerable contributions to politics, art, medicine and a host of other fields. “As long as there have been black people, there have been black LGBTQ and same-gender-loving people,” David J. Johns, executive director of the  National Black Justice Coalition , told NBC News. “Racism combined with the forces of stigma, phobia, discrimination and bias associated with gender and sexuality have too often erased the contributions of members of our community." In celebration of Black History Month, we honor black LGBTQ pioneers of the past and the present and celebrate their oft-forgotten contributions. Richard Bruce Nugent (1906-1987) Nugent was one of few openly queer