Birthday Celebrations — June 29

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on June 29 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Stokely Carmichael / Kwame Ture

Born June 29, 1941 — Died November 15, 1998

Title: Civil rights organizer, Black Power leader, and Pan-African activist

Stokely Carmichael, later known as Kwame Ture, was a major figure in the civil rights and Black Power movements. He worked with SNCC, participated in the Freedom Rides, organized around voting rights, and helped popularize the phrase “Black Power” as a call for political, cultural, and community self-determination.

Stedman Pearson

Born June 29, 1964 — Died March 10, 2025

Title: British pop and R&B singer, dancer, and member of Five Star

Stedman Pearson was a member of the British sibling group Five Star, one of the notable Black British pop and R&B acts of the 1980s. As the eldest sibling, he contributed vocals, dance, and style to a group often compared to the Jackson 5 because of its family structure and polished presentation.