Birthday Celebrations — August 5

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 5 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Patrick Ewing

Full name: Patrick Aloysius Ewing Sr.

Born August 5, 1962

Basketball Hall of Famer, Olympic gold medalist, Georgetown champion, and New York Knicks legend.

Ewing became one of basketball’s greatest centers through defense, scoring, rebounding, leadership, and consistency. Born in Jamaica and raised in Massachusetts, he led Georgetown to an NCAA championship, anchored the Knicks through the 1990s, and won Olympic gold as a member of the original Dream Team.

Jesse Williams

Full name: Jesse Wesley Williams

Born August 5, 1981

Actor, producer, director, former teacher, and civil rights advocate.

Williams became widely known as Dr. Jackson Avery on Grey’s Anatomy, but his public impact extends beyond acting. A former classroom teacher, he has used his platform to speak about racial justice, representation, education, and the responsibility of artists to challenge inequality.

Anthony Edwards

Full name: Anthony DeVante Edwards

Born August 5, 2001

NBA guard, Olympic gold medalist, and rising basketball star.

Edwards entered the NBA as the first overall pick in the 2020 draft and quickly became known for explosive scoring, athleticism, confidence, and competitive energy. His rise with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Team USA has made him one of the leading faces of basketball’s new generation.

Funkmaster Flex

Birth name: Aston George Taylor Jr.

Born August 5, 1968

DJ, radio host, producer, rapper, and New York hip-hop tastemaker.

Funkmaster Flex became a defining voice of New York hip-hop through Hot 97, where his premieres, freestyles, signature bomb drops, and on-air influence helped break records and shape careers. His 60 Minutes of Funk mixtapes also carried the energy of New York DJ culture to a national audience.