The Temptations were the quintessential Motown vocal group. The quintet offered a rich blend of voices accompanied by stylish, coordinated dance moves. With songs and production from some of Motown’s brightest lights – most notably Smokey Robinson (“My Girl”) and Norman Whitfield (“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg”) – the Temptations lived up to their billing as emperors of soul. During the gilded age of soul music in general and Motown in particular, the Temptations delivered the intricate harmonies of streetcorner serenaders and the polished choreography of a Sixties soul revue. Moreover, their story is a long, episodic one of perseverance and dedication that extends from their origins in 1961 to the present day.
For more information see the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Biography.
Ain’t too proud to beg : the troubled lives and enduring soul of the Temptations / Mark Ribowsky. Hoboken, N.J. : John Wiley & Sons, c2010.
Taking office on January 1, 2013, Sam Singh was the first Indian-American to serve in the Michigan House, and that made him the first Indian-American to serve as minority leader when he became the chamber’s top Democrat on January 11, 2017.
In fact, Singh has a knack for making history.
Before joining the Legislature, he was one the state’s youngest city council members when he joined the East Lansing council at age 24. He served a dozen years there, two of them as the city’s youngest mayor — the first person of color to hold that position.
He’s long said his parents, who came to the U.S. from India before he was born, taught him the value of what this country gives to its people and the importance of giving back.
He has also served as the president and CEO of the Michigan Nonprofit Association and worked on the New Economy Initiative. He holds a history degree from MSU.
Having spent the entirety of his House career in the Democratic minority, Singh has seen only six of his bills signed into law by Republican Gov. Rick Snyder. But he said he’s still made a difference by using the bully pulpit to force the GOP majority to focus on his issues: schools, roads and higher education.
Sources:
Justin A. Hinkley, “State Rep. Sam Singh (repeatedly) made Michigan history“, Lansing State Journal, June 21, 2018.
Richard Bernstein made history on New Year’s Day when he was sworn in as the Michigan Supreme Court’s first blind justice during a chilly inauguration ceremony at the Capitol.
The 41-year-old disability rights attorney and Birmingham resident said he’s spent six weeks catching up on the 10 cases scheduled for oral arguments in January and will start work at 9 a.m. Friday.
Bernstein said after the ceremony that he hopes his election to an 8-year term on the High Court might encourage employers to consider hiring applicants with a disability.
For the full article, see Dustin Blitchok, “Richard Bernstein sworn in as Michigan’s first blind Supreme Court justice”, Macomb Daily News, January 1, 2015.
Justice Richard Bernstein entry from Michigan Courts.
On January 2, 1837 the first regular session of the Michigan Legislature convened in Detroit for the first time.
For this and other January 2 highlights, visit Pasty Central Day in Michigan
Arrival of the Honorable Chase S. Osborn, governor of Michigan, and the Honorable John Ross, Lieutenant governor of Michigan, at the Capitol preceding inauguration – 1/1/1911 (Bentley Historical Library)
On January 2, 1911 Chase Osborn from Sault Ste. Marie became governor of Michigan, the only governor ever elected from the Upper Peninsula.
For this and other January 2 highlights, visit Pasty Central Day in Michigan
On January 2, 1920, the Gray Ghost sailed his ice cutter across the Detroit River to Windsor, Ontario to buy a motorboat license. This was probably the last law abiding act he performed in his short life. During the Prohibition Years in America – 1920-1933- the Gray Ghost and other Detroit River pirates and rum runners, both professional and amateur, provided swashbuckling action enough to rival the Spanish Main. Unfortunately for the Gray Ghost, never identified, he was eventually killed by a member of the Purple Gang.
Source : Kathy Warnes, “The Gray Ghost Haunted the Detroit River During Prohibition”, Definitely Downriver, June 2012.
On January 2, 1920, local and state authorities, as part of a nationwide communist-hunting “Red Raid” organized by J. Edgar Hoover, arrested more than a thousand Detroit, Grand Rapids, and Flint residents, nearly all of whom were innocent of any crime except that of being a “foreigner” or of being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Justice Department officials finally admitted that they had arrested innocent individuals but asked reporters not to mention that fact in their stories then praised Michigan law-enforcement for their cooperation in ending the “red menace” in their state.
Sources:
Mich-Again’s Day.
2,800 REDS BAGGED IN NATION WIDE RAIDS, 500 IN DETROIT: ROUND-UP SMASHES RECORDS; AGENTS USE 4,000 WARRANTS; DEPORTATION OPENLY SOUGHT PLOT TO ROUSE NEGROES BARED Trouble Is Yet Feared Because of Subtle Propaganda for “Race Equality.” All Efforts Centered on Getting Men “With Goods on;” 33 Big Cities in Drive.
Detroit Free Press (1858-1922) via Proquest Historical Newspapers, Jan 3, 1920: 1.
https://onthebanks.msu.edu/Object/162-565-2387/rose-bowl–bob-shackleton-narration-1956/
Footage from the 1956 Rose Bowl game against the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Bruins at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. MSU Head Coach – Duffy Daugherty; UCLA Head Coach – Henry Russell “Red” Sanders. Spartans won 17-14. The film is narrated by Bob Shackleton. Courtesy of the MSU Archives.
The Michigan Court of Appeals rules school districts can bus students to achieve racial balance. Ruling stems from white parents challenging Lansing Board of Education decision to bus black kids from Sexton to Eastern & Everett high schools.
Source : Michigan’s Past
On January 2, 1970, Clifton Wharton became the president of Michigan State University, making him the first black president of a major U.S. white university.
Source : Michigan History, January/February 2011.
For more information, see Clifton Wharton wikipedia entry
The 89 year old (2015) recently came out with an autobiography, “Privilege and Prejudice: The Life of a Black Pioneer,” published by MSU Press.