This week in history
For the week of Sep. 6, 2026
06
Christy Brown (1932-1981): Irish. Writer. Born with cerebral palsy, Christy Brown was unable to move any part of his body except his left foot. With the help of his mother, who also raised twelve other children, he learned to read, to paint holding the brush with the toes of his left foot, and to write by typing with his little toe. His first book, My Left Foot, was published in 1954. His autobiographical novel, Down All The Days, written in 1970, was translated into fourteen languages. He died on this day.
06
Marie E. Zakrzewska (1820-1902): Polish American. Physician. Zakrzewska founded hospitals for women and children as well as the first American school for nurses and was known as the iMother of the Playground Movementi for her efforts in establishing playgrounds. She was also active in the causes of womenis rights and the abolition of slavery.
07
Independence Day. Brazil. Unlike the other areas of South America, the region now known as Brazil was colonized by the Portuguese in 1500 led by the explorer *Pedro Alvares Cabral. On this day in 1822, the son of Portugalis king and regent of Brazil independent of Portugal and himself Emperor Pedro I. He was succeeded by his son Pedro II in 1831, who until his death in 1889 led the development of Brazil as a modern nation. *
09
Confuciusi Death (551-479 B.C.E.) : Peoples Republic of China. The day honoring Confucius is celebrated on the anniversary of his death. Confucius is revered by all Chinese as the iTeacher of All Generationsi
10
Alice Brown Davis (1852-1935): American Indian (Seminole). Civic activist. Alice Brown Davis was prominent in tribal affairs for much of her life. She acted as an interpreter and spokesperson for her people in the courts and once as part of a delegation to Mexico that sought unsuccessfully to from a new homeland for the tribe, which was under increasing economic and legal pressure from the influx of white people into Indian territory. She also served briefly as director of a tribal boarding school for girls. In 1922 the U.S. government briefly appointed her chief, an office which had lapsed with the end of tribal government years before, but stripped her of the office when she refused to sign over tribal property without reimbursement.
11
New Year: Coptic Orthodox Christian. This begins the year for the Coptic Orthodox Christian Church of Egypt, which follows a Julian calendar very similar to that of the Eastern Orthodox Christian Church. Christmas falls on January 7, Epiphany on January 19, and Easter follows the date of the Orthodox calendar as well. The Coptic Orthodox Church is based on the teachings of Saint Mark, who brought Christianity to Egypt in the first century. The Coptic Chruch has a structure distinct from the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches. The head of the church is Pope Shenouda III, believed to be the 117th successor of St Mark. There are approximately 9 million Copts living in Egypt, out of a total population of 57 million. The Copts religious observance often involves fasting. Out of the 365 day of the year, Copts fast for about 210 days, during which time no animal products are eaten, no and food or drink of any kind can be eaten between sunrise and sunset. Lent, known as the iGreat Fast,i starts with a pre-Lenten fast of one week and is then followed by a 40-day fast preceding Easter.
12
Jesse Owens (1913-1980): African American. Owens won fame as the greatest track star of the century with victories in the 100-meter dash, broad jump, 200-meter dash, and 400-meter relay at the 1936 Olympics held in Berlin, Germany. His victories were and embarrassment to Adolf Hitler, who presided at the games as Chancellor of Germany and whose National Socialist (Nazi) Party held that African Americans were genetically inferior to whites.
13
Alain Leroy Locke (1886-1954): African American. Educator, writer, and philosopher. The first African American Rhodes Scholar, Locke studied at Harvard, Oxford, and the University of Berlin. He chaired the philosophy department at Howard University for nearly 40 years. During his distinguished career, he published widely as an essayist, anthologist, and critic, and encouraged and interpreted the work of African American artists. He is generally regarded as the leader and chief chronicler of the Harlem Renaissance. This is the anniversary of his death.