Birthday Celebrations — September 29

Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on September 29 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history.

Eddie Tolan

Full name: Thomas Edward Tolan

Born September 29, 1908 — died January 31, 1967

Sprinter, the "Midnight Express."

At the 1932 Olympics Tolan became the first Black athlete to win two gold medals in one Games, taking the 100 and 200 as the world’s fastest human.

Chuck Cooper

Full name: Charles Henry Cooper

Born September 29, 1926 — died February 5, 1984

First Black player drafted by an NBA team.

Boston’s 1950 selection of Cooper, alongside pioneers Earl Lloyd and Nat Clifton, opened the league Black athletes came to define.

Samora Machel

Full name: Samora Moisés Machel

Born September 29, 1933 — died October 19, 1986

First president of Mozambique.

The FRELIMO commander led his nation to independence in 1975 and died in a plane crash still shrouded in questions.

Bryant Gumbel

Full name: Bryant Charles Gumbel

Born September 29, 1948

Broadcaster.

The first Black co-anchor of a network morning show hosted HBO’s Real Sports across 28 Emmy-laden years.

Gwen Ifill

Full name: Gwendolyn L. Ifill

Born September 29, 1955 — died November 14, 2016

Pioneering political journalist.

Ifill anchored Washington Week and the PBS NewsHour and moderated two vice presidential debates.

Hersey Hawkins

Full name: Hersey R. Hawkins Jr.

Born September 29, 1966

NBA All-Star.

Hawkins led the nation in scoring at Bradley in 1988 before a 13-year professional career.

Calvin Johnson

Full name: Calvin Johnson Jr.

Born September 29, 1985

Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver.

"Megatron" set the NFL single-season receiving record of 1,964 yards in 2012.

Kevin Durant

Full name: Kevin Wayne Durant

Born September 29, 1988

NBA champion and MVP.

Durant owns four scoring titles, two Finals MVPs, and more Olympic golds and points than any American men’s player.