Birthday Celebrations — September 14

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on September 14 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Cachao

Full name: Israel López Valdés

Born September 14, 1918 — died March 22, 2008

Afro-Cuban bassist and composer.

With his brother Orestes, Cachao co-created the mambo and pioneered the jam-session descargas that shaped Latin music for half a century.

Constance Baker Motley

Full name: Constance Baker

Born September 14, 1921 — died September 28, 2005

Civil rights attorney and first Black woman federal judge.

Motley wrote the original complaint in Brown v. Board, won nine of ten Supreme Court arguments, and walked James Meredith into Ole Miss.

Robert Wisdom

Full name: Robert Ray Wisdom

Born September 14, 1953

Actor.

The son of Jamaican parents, Wisdom created the unforgettable Bunny Colvin on The Wire, with major runs on Prison Break and Barry.

Ketanji Brown Jackson

Full name: Ketanji Onyika Brown

Born September 14, 1970

First Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court.

Confirmed in 2022, Justice Jackson shares a September 14 birthday with Constance Baker Motley, whose path made hers possible.

Nas

Full name: Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones

Born September 14, 1973

Rapper, investor, and author of Illmatic.

His 1994 debut remains the standard for lyricism in hip-hop.

Kevin Lyttle

Born September 14, 1976

Vincentian soca star.

"Turn Me On" carried soca from Saint Vincent to the top of charts worldwide.

Michael Crabtree

Born September 14, 1987

NFL wide receiver.

The only two-time Biletnikoff Award winner, Crabtree starred at Texas Tech before a decade in the league.

Jimmy Butler

Full name: Jimmy Butler III

Born September 14, 1989

Six-time NBA All-Star.

Butler overcame teenage homelessness to carry the Miami Heat to two NBA Finals.