TODAY'S BIRTHDAYS:
- Edwin Moses, Olympic Gold Medalist, 66
- Chris Tucker, comedian and actor (Rush Hour 1,2,3), 50 (disputed)
- Joe Budden, rapper, 41
- Lira Mercer, video & Instagram model, 28
- Shar Jackson, TV actress, 45
ON AUGUST 31ST:
- In 1935, political activist Eldridge Cleaver is born. He dies in 1998 at age 62.
- In 1935, Frank Robinson, Former Major League Baseball Manager, Hall Of Famer, was born. He dies in 2019.
- In 1962, Trinidad and Tobago become independent within the British Commonwealth.
- In 1965, the U.S. House Of Representatives joins the Senate in voting to establish the Department Of Housing And Urban Development.
- In 1971, The Bill Cosby Show last airs on NBC.
- In 1973, George Forman wins his first heavyweight championship fight in Japan.
- In 1983, Edwin Moses sets a record in the 400-meter hurdles, at 47.02 seconds.
- In 1983, "All Night Long" by Lionel Richie is released.
- In 1984, "Centipede" by Rebbie Jackson is released.
- In 1984, "State Of Shock" by the Jacksons is certified gold, the same day their Victory album is certified both gold and platinum.
- In 1985, Diff'rent Strokes leaves NBC for ABC.
- In 1985, "Party All The Time" by Eddie Murphy** is released. **See Calendar Extra Below**
- In 1990, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, the first African-American in NBA, dies at age 67.
- In 1995, the Boyz II Men video From Then II Now is certified platinum.
- In 1997, Princess Diana died in a Paris car crash with her companion, Egyptian playboy Dodi Fayed, and driver Henri Paul. She was 36, and Fayed was 42. Paul was found to have been intoxicated and speeding at the time of the accident.
- In 1997, Michael Jackson postpones his Belgium concert in the wake of Princess Diana's death in a Paris car crash.
- In 2002, jazz vibraphonist Lionel Hampton dies at age 94.
- In 2006, rapper Mos Def is arrested outside of the MTV Video Music Awards after an impromptu performance on a flatbed truck of the "Katrina Clap," a song dedicated to Hurricane Katrina survivors.
- In 2009, DJ AM was found dead in his New York City apartment. TMZ.com reports that he was found at about 5:20 p.m. and drug paraphernalia was found at the scene.
- In 2011, T.I. was released from prison after serving nine months in jal for probation violation. He served the remainder of his sentence in a halfway house in Atlanta.
- In 2011, The Game's R.E.D. album debuted at number 1 on the Billboard charts, selling over 97,000 copies.
- In 2011, Pusha T signed a solo deal with Def Jam.
- In 2011, Michelle Obama, Beyonce, and Oprah topped Forbes' the Most Powerful Black Women in the world list.
