Honoring those we lost on July 21 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Evelyn Thomas Born August 22, 1953 — died July 21, 2024 Disco singer, Hi-NRG dance music vocalist, and international club music figure. Thomas became best known for “High Energy,” a major 1980s dance record that helped […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 21 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1835 — Abiel Smith School opens in Boston On July 21, 1835, the Abiel Smith School opened in Boston as a school for Black children. Built next to the African Meeting House, it became part […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 21 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Charles L. Reason Full name: Charles Lewis Reason Born July 21, 1818 — died August 16, 1893 Mathematician, educator, abolitionist, linguist, and first Black college professor in the United States. […]
Susie King Taylor “My fondest dream is to see my people become educated and self-supporting.” First Black Army nurse during the Civil War; taught formerly enslaved people. Taylor connects education and economic independence with the long-term freedom of Black communities.
Honoring those we lost on July 20 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Roy Hamilton Birth name: Rodothas Hamilton Born April 16, 1929 — died July 20, 1969 Singer, R&B vocalist, pop interpreter, and gospel-influenced soul pioneer. Hamilton brought a powerful, semi-classical vocal style into R&B and popular song. […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 20 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1909 — Richard B. Spikes receives beer tapper patent On July 20, 1909, Black inventor Richard B. Spikes received a patent for a beer tapper. Spikes held multiple patents across his career, and this invention […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 20 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Freeman Bosley Jr. Full name: Freeman Robertson Bosley Jr. Born July 20, 1954 Lawyer, politician, civic leader, and first African American mayor of St. Louis, Missouri. Bosley made history in […]
James Weldon Johnson “Young man, young woman, rise. You are heir to a glorious heritage.” Author of “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” civil rights leader, and poet. Johnson calls young Black people to recognize themselves as heirs to a powerful cultural and historical legacy.
Honoring those we lost on July 19 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Sheila Jackson Lee Birth name: Sheila Jackson Born January 12, 1950 — died July 19, 2024 Lawyer, U.S. congresswoman, civil rights advocate, and longtime Houston political leader. Jackson Lee represented Texas’s 18th Congressional District for nearly […]
What happened on this day. These are the July 19 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1919 — Washington, D.C. Red Summer violence begins On July 19, 1919, white mobs, including servicemen and veterans, began attacking Black residents and Black neighborhoods in Washington, D.C. during the Red Summer. Black residents organized […]