Danita Washington (1957 - 1979)

Danita Washington’s biography is built and maintained by people like you. Create an online profile of Danita so that her life is remembered forever. If any factual information is incorrect, please edit Danita’s biography.

Pictures really do say a thousand words. Add photos of Danita during various points of her life.

1957 - In the year that Danita Washington was born, on September 24th, the "Little Rock Nine" (nine African-American students) entered Little Rock High School. Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus had previously prevented the students from entering the school at the beginning of the term with the Arkansas National Guard - they blocked the door. President Eisenhower ordered federal troops - the 101st Airborne Division of the United States Army - to guard the students and allow them entry.

1960 - At the age of only 3 years old, Danita was alive when on May 1st, an American CIA U-2 spy plane, piloted by Francis Gary Powers, was shot down by a surface-to-air missile over the Soviet Union. Powers ejected and survived but was captured. The U.S. claimed that the U-2 was a "weather plane" but Powers was convicted in the Soviet Union of espionage. He was released in 1962 after 1 year, 9 months and 10 days in prison.

1970 - By the time she was merely 13 years old, on May 4th, four students at Kent State University in Ohio were shot and killed by National Guardsmen. The students were at a peaceful demonstration protesting the invasion of Cambodia by US forces. There had been precedent for the killing of American college students. The previous year, on May 15th, Alameda County Sheriffs used shotguns against U.C. Berkeley students at a protest for People's Park. One student died, one was blinded, 128 were injured.

1974 - She was 17 years old when on July 30th, the House Judiciary Committee adopted three articles of impeachment against President Nixon. He was charged with obstruction of justice, failure to uphold laws, and the refusal to produce material subpoenaed by the committee. In order to avoid impeachment, Richard M. Nixon announced that he would resign on August 8th, the first President to do so.

1979 - In the year of Danita Washington's passing, on November 4th, Iranian militant students seized the US embassy in Teheran and held 52 American citizens and diplomats hostage for 444 days. They were released at the end of the inauguration speech of the newly elected Ronald Reagan.

Who was Danita’s parents? Did she get married and did they have children? Share Danita’s family tree to share her legacy and genealogy pedigree.

What do you remember about Danita Washington? Share your memories of special moments and stories you have heard about her. Or just leave a comment to show the world that Danita is remembered.