May 6, 1961- The 1961 Kentucky Derby was held. The winner was a stallion named Carry Back. Carry Back has won many other races before like Remsen Stakes, Flamingo Stakes, Florida Derby, etc. He was trained by Jack A, Price and his breeder was his wife Katherine Price. Carry Back became the fourth horse to win a $1M prize. He was born April 16, 1958 and died March 24, 1983.
August 5, 1962- Marilyn Monroe died of drug overdose in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California. Marilyn Monroe (birth name Norma Jeane Mortenson) was a singer, actress, and model. She starred in multiple movies, and commercials during the 1950`s and early 1960`s. In 1999 she was ranked as the sixth greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute. She has acted in many films including 1956`s "Bus Stop" with co-star Don Murray, and a year later "The Prince and the Showgirl" with Laurence Oliver. She died at the young age of 36.
1963- "The Fire Next Time" was published by acclaimed author James Baldwin. The book contains two essays, "My Dungeon Shook- Letter to my Nephew on the 100`th Anniversary of Emancipation" and "Down At the Cross- Letter From a Region of My Mind". The first essay was a letter Baldwin wrote to his 14- year old nephew, discusses the central role of race in American history. The second letter focused on race and religion, sharing examples with Baldwin`s experience with the Christian church as a child, and Islamic ideas individuals have in Harlem. The book was first published by The New Yorker, andafter it`s great success a book form was published in 1963 in America by Dial Press. The book title comes from the spiritual line, "God gave Noah the rainbow sign, no more water but fire next time". The book has been credited as the most accurate and influential book published about race relations in the 1960`s.
March 26, 1964- Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. meet for the first and only time. After a press conference at U.S. Senate, the duo met for a very brief moment. King said after the encounter,"He (Malcolm X) is very articulate, but I totally disagree with many of his political and philosophical views--at least insofar as I understand where he now stands." It is said the Malcolm X and King never got along. The pair had different views in nonviolence, race relations, etc.
March 2, 1965- The Sound of Music comes out in America. An instant hit the movie became one of the top-grossing films in 1965. It sill remains a very popular musical, even today. The movie was directed and produced by Robert Wise. The movie was nominated for 10 Academy Awards winning, 5 awards. The movie starred Julie Andrews ad Christopher Plummber.