Birthday Celebrations — September 23

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on September 23 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Mary Church Terrell

Full name: Mary Eliza Church

Born September 23, 1863 — died July 24, 1954

Educator, suffragist, and NACW founding president.

Born the year of the Emancipation Proclamation, Terrell fought under "Lifting as We Climb" for seven decades — at 89 leading the campaign that desegregated Washington’s restaurants.

John Coltrane

Full name: John William Coltrane

Born September 23, 1926 — died July 17, 1967

Jazz saxophonist and composer.

From Giant Steps to A Love Supreme, Coltrane’s technical and spiritual revolution earned a special Pulitzer citation and permanent influence.

Ray Charles

Full name: Ray Charles Robinson

Born September 23, 1930 — died June 10, 2004

The Genius who invented soul.

Charles fused gospel and blues on "What’d I Say," refused to play segregated Georgia, and made "Georgia on My Mind" the state song.

Les McCann

Full name: Leslie Coleman McCann

Born September 23, 1935 — died December 29, 2023

Soul-jazz pianist and singer.

His 1969 Montreux "Compared to What" became one of the best-selling jazz records ever.

George C. Wolfe

Full name: George Costello Wolfe

Born September 23, 1954

Playwright and five-time Tony-winning director.

Wolfe directed Angels in America, ran the Public Theater, and brought Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom to film.

LisaRaye McCoy

Full name: Lisa Raye McCoy

Born September 23, 1967

Actress.

Diamond in The Players Club made her a defining screen presence of late-1990s Black film.

Michelle Thomas

Full name: Michelle Doris Thomas

Born September 23, 1968 — died December 23, 1998

Actress.

Beloved as Justine on The Cosby Show and Myra on Family Matters, the daughter of Kool & the Gang’s Dennis Thomas died of cancer at 30.

Jermaine Dupri

Full name: Jermaine Dupri Mauldin

Born September 23, 1972

Producer and So So Def founder.

Dupri discovered Kris Kross as a teenager and produced era-defining hits for Usher and Mariah Carey — a Songwriters Hall of Famer.

Anthony Mackie

Full name: Anthony Dwane Mackie

Born September 23, 1978

Actor.

The Juilliard-trained New Orleanian took up the shield as Marvel’s Captain America.

Matt Kemp

Full name: Matthew Ryan Kemp

Born September 23, 1984

MLB All-Star outfielder.

Kemp led the National League in homers and RBIs in 2011, nearly winning the Triple Crown.

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Wear the history: John Coltrane · Ray Charles — from the Black Knowledge Wear collection.