Birthday Celebrations — September 24

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on September 24 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Frances E.W. Harper

Full name: Frances Ellen Watkins

Born September 24, 1825 — died February 22, 1911

Poet, novelist, abolitionist, and suffragist.

Born free in Baltimore, Harper became one of the first Black women to earn a living as a writer while working the Underground Railroad lecture circuit.

E. Franklin Frazier

Full name: Edward Franklin Frazier

Born September 24, 1894 — died May 17, 1962

Sociologist.

The Howard University scholar became the first Black president of the American Sociological Association.

Theresa Merritt

Born September 24, 1922 — died June 12, 1998

Actress and singer.

Merritt starred as television’s Ma on That’s Life and earned a Tony nomination as the original Broadway Ma Rainey.

John Mackey

Born September 24, 1941 — died July 6, 2011

Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end and union pioneer.

Mackey revolutionized his position and, as the modern NFLPA’s first president, broke open free agency; his dementia battle produced the "88 Plan" for ailing players.

"Mean" Joe Greene

Full name: Charles Edward Greene

Born September 24, 1946

Steel Curtain cornerstone.

The four-time Super Bowl champion was twice Defensive Player of the Year — and star of the most famous Coke ad ever made.

Eddie George

Full name: Edward Nathan George Jr.

Born September 24, 1973

Heisman winner and college head coach.

George never missed a start in nine NFL seasons, then became head coach at Tennessee State and Bowling Green.