Birthday Celebrations — September 17

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on September 17 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Rube Foster

Full name: Andrew Foster

Born September 17, 1879 — died December 9, 1930

Father of Black baseball.

Foster founded the Negro National League in 1920, building the institution that ultimately forced baseball’s integration; Hall of Fame, 1981.

Agostinho Neto

Full name: António Agostinho Neto

Born September 17, 1922 — died September 10, 1979

First president of Angola and poet.

The physician-poet led the MPLA’s liberation struggle and became independent Angola’s first head of state; his birthday is a national holiday.

Junior Bridgeman

Full name: Ulysses Lee Bridgeman Jr.

Born September 17, 1953 — died March 11, 2025

NBA sixth man and billionaire entrepreneur.

After twelve NBA seasons, Bridgeman built a restaurant, bottling, and media empire — including Ebony and Jet — becoming a model of post-career wealth building.

BeBe Winans

Full name: Benjamin Winans

Born September 17, 1962

Gospel and R&B singer of the Winans dynasty.

With his sister CeCe, BeBe carried gospel to the top of the R&B charts and into mainstream American life.

Doug E. Fresh

Birth name: Douglas Davis

Born September 17, 1966

The Original Human Beat Box.

Born in Barbados, Fresh turned the human voice into a rhythm section on the 1985 classic "The Show."

Malik Yoba

Full name: Abdul-Malik Kashie Yoba

Born September 17, 1967

Actor.

Yoba broke through on New York Undercover, one of the first prime-time dramas centered on Black and Latino leads.

Rasheed Wallace

Full name: Rasheed Abdul Wallace

Born September 17, 1974

Four-time NBA All-Star and 2004 champion.

The final piece of the champion Pistons remains one of basketball’s most quotable and beloved originals.

Danielle Brooks

Full name: Danielle Brittany Brooks

Born September 17, 1989

Actress and singer.

Brooks earned a Tony nomination and then an Oscar nomination playing Sofia in The Color Purple on stage and screen.

Patrick Mahomes

Full name: Patrick Lavon Mahomes II

Born September 17, 1995

Three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback.

The son of a Black major league pitcher stands at the summit of a position Black athletes were long denied.