Birthday Celebrations — July 3

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 3 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Gertrude E. H. Bustill Mossell

Full name: Gertrude Emily Hicks Bustill Mossell

Born July 3, 1855 — died January 21, 1948

Teacher, journalist, author, suffragist, and Black women’s literary figure.

Mossell used journalism and writing to advocate for Black women, education, and public voice. She wrote for Black newspapers, encouraged women to enter journalism, and helped document the intellectual work of Black women in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Syvilla Fort

Born July 3, 1917 — died November 8, 1975

Dancer, choreographer, modern dance educator, and Black dance pioneer.

Fort helped expand modern dance while facing racial barriers in formal training and performance. Her work as a dancer and teacher influenced generations of performers, and her career connected Black movement traditions with modern concert dance.

Fontella Bass

Full name: Fontella Marie Bass

Born July 3, 1940 — died December 26, 2012

R&B and soul singer, songwriter, musician, and gospel-rooted vocalist.

Bass came out of St. Louis with a voice shaped by gospel, soul, and rhythm and blues. Best known for “Rescue Me,” she built a career that crossed popular soul music, gospel roots, and later collaborations with jazz and experimental artists.

Audra McDonald

Full name: Audra Ann McDonald

Born July 3, 1970

Singer, actress, Broadway performer, and Tony Award-winning stage artist.

McDonald became one of the most honored performers in Broadway history, known for her powerful voice, emotional range, and command of the stage. Her career has stretched across theater, television, concert performance, and advocacy for greater equity in the arts.