Birthday Celebrations — July 6

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 6 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Della Reese

Birth name: Delloreese Patricia Early

Born July 6, 1931 — died November 19, 2017

Singer, actress, television personality, author, minister, and gospel-jazz vocalist.

Reese began singing in church and grew into a versatile performer across gospel, jazz, pop, television, and ministry. Her career showed the range of Black women entertainers who moved between sacred music, popular performance, acting, and spiritual leadership.

Randall Robinson

Born July 6, 1941 — died March 24, 2023

Lawyer, author, human rights advocate, law professor, and founder of TransAfrica.

Robinson became a leading voice for global Black human rights, especially through his fight against apartheid in South Africa and his advocacy for Africa and the Caribbean. Through TransAfrica, he helped connect Black American activism to international struggles for justice.

Phyllis Hyman

Full name: Phyllis Linda Hyman

Born July 6, 1949 — died June 30, 1995

Singer, songwriter, actress, and soul-jazz vocalist.

Hyman was known for her deep contralto voice, dramatic presence, and emotional honesty. Her music moved through jazz, soul, quiet storm, and R&B, leaving behind a catalog that still speaks to love, loneliness, elegance, and vulnerability.

50 Cent

Birth name: Curtis James Jackson III

Born July 6, 1975

Rapper, actor, television producer, executive, and businessman.

50 Cent rose from Queens hip-hop into a larger career in music, television, and business. His debut success helped define early 2000s rap, while his later work as a producer and entrepreneur expanded his influence beyond recording.

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Wear the history: Phyllis Hyman — from the Black Knowledge Wear collection.