Birthday Celebrations — September 27

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on September 27 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Hiram Revels

Full name: Hiram Rhodes Revels

Born September 27, 1827 — died January 16, 1901

First Black member of the United States Congress.

Mississippi sent Revels to the U.S. Senate in 1870, seating him in the chamber once held by Jefferson Davis; he later led Alcorn University.

Bud Powell

Full name: Earl Rudolph Powell

Born September 27, 1924 — died July 31, 1966

Architect of bebop piano.

Powell translated Charlie Parker’s revolution to the keyboard, creating the language of modern jazz piano.

Audrey Patterson

Full name: Audrey "Mickey" Patterson

Born September 27, 1926 — died August 23, 1996

First Black woman to win an Olympic medal.

The New Orleans sprinter took 200-meter bronze at London 1948, one day before Alice Coachman’s historic gold.

Stephanie Wilson

Full name: Stephanie Diana Wilson

Born September 27, 1966

Astronaut.

The second Black woman in space logged 42 days across three shuttle missions and was selected for the Artemis program.

Trick Daddy

Birth name: Maurice Samuel Young

Born September 27, 1974

Miami rap cornerstone.

"I’m a Thug" and "Let’s Go" carried Liberty City’s stories to national audiences.

Lil Wayne

Full name: Dwayne Michael Carter Jr.

Born September 27, 1982

Rapper and executive.

Signed at eleven, Wayne became "best rapper alive," and his Young Money label launched Drake and Nicki Minaj.