Birthday Celebrations — August 16

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 16 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Louis Lomax

Full name: Louis Emanuel Lomax

Born August 16, 1922 — died July 30, 1970

Journalist, author, television host, and chronicler of the civil rights era.

Lomax became one of the first Black journalists to host a nationally televised news program. Through interviews, books, documentaries, and reporting, he brought Black political movements, religious organizations, and civil rights debates to mass audiences.

Ketty Lester

Birth name: Revoyda Frierson

Born August 16, 1934

Singer, actress, and stage, film, and television performer.

Lester reached international audiences with the soulful ballad “Love Letters” before building a long acting career. Her work ranged from music and Broadway to television roles including Hester-Sue Terhune on Little House on the Prairie.

Carol Moseley Braun

Born August 16, 1947

Attorney, diplomat, former U.S. senator, and political trailblazer.

Moseley Braun became the first Black woman elected to the United States Senate and the first woman to represent Illinois in that chamber. Her election expanded the possibilities of Black women’s leadership at the highest levels of American government.

Hasely Crawford

Full name: Hasely Joachim Crawford

Born August 16, 1950

Trinidad and Tobago sprinter and Olympic gold medalist.

Crawford won the 100-meter title at the 1976 Montreal Olympics, becoming Trinidad and Tobago’s first Olympic gold medalist. His victory made him a national hero and an enduring symbol of Caribbean excellence in world athletics.

Reginald VelJohnson

Born August 16, 1952

Actor and beloved television and film performer.

VelJohnson became one of television’s most recognizable Black fathers as Carl Winslow on Family Matters. His roles in Die Hard, Ghostbusters, and other projects also made him a familiar presence across action films, comedy, and family entertainment.

James “J.T.” Taylor

Full name: James Warren Taylor

Born August 16, 1953

Singer, songwriter, producer, and former lead vocalist of Kool & the Gang.

Taylor’s smooth lead vocals helped carry Kool & the Gang into a major crossover era with songs including “Ladies’ Night,” “Celebration,” and “Too Hot.” His voice became central to some of the most enduring dance, soul, and celebration music of the late 1970s and 1980s.

Angela Bassett

Born August 16, 1958

Actress, director, producer, and Academy Honorary Award recipient.

Bassett became one of the defining actresses of her generation through portrayals of Tina Turner, Rosa Parks, Coretta Scott King, and other complex women. Her power, precision, and longevity expanded the range of roles available to Black women in film and television.

Maysa

Full name: Maysa Leak

Born August 16, 1966

Jazz, soul, and R&B singer, songwriter, and longtime lead vocalist with Incognito.

Maysa’s rich alto voice became a signature sound in contemporary jazz and adult soul through her work with Incognito and an extensive solo career. A Morgan State University graduate, she has connected jazz musicianship, R&B warmth, and independent artistry for decades.

Young Thug

Birth name: Jeffery Lamar Williams

Born August 16, 1991

Rapper, singer, songwriter, and influential Atlanta hip-hop artist.

Young Thug reshaped modern rap vocals through elastic melodies, unconventional phrasing, and fearless experimentation with voice and image. His music and YSL imprint helped define a major branch of 2010s Atlanta hip-hop and influenced artists around the world.