Slideshow: It happened this week in black history 12/13-12/19

On this date December 14 1963, jazz and pop singer Dinah Washington died of an accidental overdose of sleeping pills. She was the most popular black female vocalist of the 1950's and early 60's. Her biggest hit was a 1960 duet with Brook Benton titled "Baby (You Got What It Takes)." On her own, Washington made the charts with "What a Difference a Day Makes" and "This Bitter Earth."

(AP Photo)

On December 14 1799 George Washington dies. His will stipulates that his slaves will be freed upon the death of his wife Martha.

On December 14 1993, commissioners in Dade County, Florida, turned down Luther Campbell's nomination as a member of the Miami-area county's cultural affairs council. Campbell, the leader of 2 Live Crew, was acquitted of giving an obscene performance at a Hollywood, Florida, nightclub in 1990 after a judge declared the group's "As Nasty As They Wanna Be" album obscene. Commission members cited Campbell's involvement with the group as one of their reasons for rejecting the nomination.

On December 15 2004, authorities in New York City reported O.D.B died from the combined effects of cocaine and a prescription painkiller. The city's medical examiner says the rap star died from intoxication from cocaine and Tramadol but ruled that the death was due to an accidental overdose. The founding member of the Wu Tang Clan collapsed at his recording studio the month before, dying a few days before he would have turned 36.

(AP Photo/Bebeto Matthews)

On December 15 1988, James Brown was sentenced in Aiken, South Carolina, to six years in prison for failing to stop for police during a two-state auto chase. But he was acquitted of assault with intent to kill. Brown's lawyer claimed the entertainer was afraid when he tried to get away from the police. The prosecutor said fear was no excuse for breaking the law, or for trying to run over two officers.

On December 15 1864, two brigades of black troops helped crush one of the South’s best armies in the Battle of Nashville. Col. Charles R. Thompson's black brigade made a great charge up Overton Hill. Thirteenth U.S.C.T. sustained more casualties than any other regiment involved in the battle.

On this December 16 1976, President Jimmy Carter named Andrew Young Ambassador and Chief US Delegate to the United Nations.

(AP Photo)

On this December 16 1946, the first coin honoring an African-American was issued. The fifty-cent piece, which became available on this day, contained the bust of Booker T. Washington. It was minted by the United States from 1946 to 1951.

(AP Photo/Library of Congress)

On this date December 18 1971 Rev. Jesse Jackson founded the People United to Save Humanity (PUSH) in a Chicago meeting.

On December 18 1996, the California school board becomes the first to recognize black English aka Ebonics as a separate language not a dialect or slang.

(AP Photo/Dwayne Newton)