Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 4 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Bill Withers Birth name: William Harrison Withers Jr. Born July 4, 1938 — died March 30, 2020 Singer, songwriter, musician, and soul music legend. Withers gave American music some of […]
David Walker “The man who would not fight for liberty… ought to be kept in chains.” Abolitionist who challenged America’s hypocrisy in his Appeal (1829). Walker challenges America’s celebration of liberty while slavery existed and argues that freedom must be actively defended.
Honoring those we lost on July 3 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Clifford L. Alexander Jr. Full name: Clifford Leopold Alexander Jr. Born September 21, 1933 — died July 3, 2022 Lawyer, civil rights advocate, public servant, business leader, and first Black U.S. Secretary of the Army. Alexander […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 3 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1776 — African Lodge organized under Prince Hall On July 3, 1776, African Lodge was organized in Boston with Prince Hall as worshipful master, according to the Prince Hall Grand Lodge of Massachusetts. This became […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 3 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Gertrude E. H. Bustill Mossell Full name: Gertrude Emily Hicks Bustill Mossell Born July 3, 1855 — died January 21, 1948 Teacher, journalist, author, suffragist, and Black women’s literary figure. […]
Maggie L. Walker “Let us put our moneys together… let us have a bank that will take the nickels and turn them into dollars.” First Black woman to charter and preside over a bank in the U.S. Walker promotes cooperative economics: pooling small amounts of money to create lasting Black financial power.
Honoring those we lost on July 2 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. DeFord Bailey Born December 14, 1899 — died July 2, 1982 Harmonica player, country and blues musician, songwriter, and Grand Ole Opry pioneer. Bailey became one of the earliest stars of the Grand Ole Opry and […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 2 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1917 — East St. Louis massacre enters its deadliest phase On July 2, 1917, white mobs in East St. Louis attacked Black workers and Black neighborhoods. The violence included shootings, beatings, arson, and mass displacement, […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 2 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Thurgood Marshall Birth name: Thoroughgood Marshall Born July 2, 1908 — died January 24, 1993 Civil rights lawyer, Supreme Court Justice, and first Black Justice of the United States Supreme […]
Henrietta Vinton Davis “Let us arise from the dust and shadows of the past.” Elocutionist and activist; a powerful voice in the Garvey movement. (Born July 2, 1860) Davis calls Black people to rise beyond the injuries of the past and move collectively toward liberation.