What happened on this day. These are the August 19 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1791 — Benjamin Banneker challenges Thomas Jefferson on slavery On Aug 19, 1791, Black mathematician and astronomer Benjamin Banneker sent Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson a forceful letter condemning slavery. By confronting the contradiction between […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 19 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Johnny Nash Full name: John Lester Nash Jr. Born August 19, 1940 — died October 6, 2020 Singer, songwriter, actor, and early American popularizer of reggae. Nash became one of […]
W.E.B. Du Bois “Children learn more from what you are than what you teach.” — W.E.B. Du Bois Du Bois understood that example shapes generations. His wisdom reminds us that actions speak louder than lessons. Wear the history: W.E.B. Du Bois — from the Black Knowledge Wear collection.
Honoring those we lost on August 18 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Albert Murray Full name: Albert Lee Murray Born May 12, 1916 — died Aug 18, 2013 Essayist, novelist, critic, biographer, educator, and interpreter of Black American culture. Murray argued that Black culture—especially blues and jazz—was central […]
What happened on this day. These are the August 18 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1920 — Nineteenth Amendment is ratified On Aug 18, 1920, Tennessee became the decisive thirty-sixth state to ratify the Nineteenth Amendment, constitutionally barring denial of the vote on the basis of sex. Black women helped […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 18 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Roberto Clemente Full name: Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker Born August 18, 1934 — died December 31, 1972 Baseball Hall of Famer, Pittsburgh Pirates legend, humanitarian, and Puerto Rican icon. Clemente […]
Toni Morrison “Make a difference about something other than yourselves.” — Toni Morrison Toni Morrison’s legacy urges us to live beyond self-interest. Change begins when our work serves something larger than us.
Honoring those we lost on August 17 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Pearl Bailey Full name: Pearl Mae Bailey Born Mar 29, 1918 — died Aug 17, 1990 Singer, actor, comedian, author, and Broadway star. Bailey’s warmth, timing, and improvisational ease carried her from Black nightclubs to Broadway, […]
What happened on this day. These are the August 17 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 2016 — Elaine Thompson completes an Olympic sprint double On Aug 17, 2016, Jamaican sprinter Elaine Thompson won the 200-meter final at the Rio Olympics in 21.78 seconds. The victory, four days after her 100-meter […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 17 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Marcus Garvey Full name: Marcus Mosiah Garvey Born August 17, 1887 — died June 10, 1940 Jamaican political leader, publisher, entrepreneur, orator, and founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association. […]