On This Day In Black History: February 16
1970; Joe Frazier knocked out Jimmy Ellis in the second round of their New York fight and became the world heavyweight boxing champion.
1923; On this day Bessie Smith makes her first recording, “Down Hearted Blues,” which sells 800,000 copies for Columbia Records.
1857; Frederick Douglass elected President of Freedman Bank and Trust.
1951; New York City Council passed bill prohibiting racial discrimination in city-assisted housing developments.