Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 8 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Matthew Henson Full name: Matthew Alexander Henson Born August 8, 1866 — died March 9, 1955 Arctic explorer, navigator, author, and pioneering figure in polar exploration. Henson spent nearly two […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 7 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Ralph Bunche Full name: Ralph Johnson Bunche Born August 7, 1904 — died December 9, 1971 Diplomat, political scientist, civil rights advocate, and Nobel Peace Prize winner. Bunche became the […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 6 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Abbey Lincoln Birth name: Anna Marie Wooldridge Born August 6, 1930 — died August 14, 2010 Jazz singer, songwriter, actress, poet, and civil rights activist. Lincoln joined artistic expression with […]
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 […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 4 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Louis Armstrong Full name: Louis Daniel Armstrong Born August 4, 1901 — died July 6, 1971 Jazz trumpeter, singer, bandleader, composer, and foundational American music figure. Armstrong transformed jazz by […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 3 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Isaiah Washington Full name: Isaiah Washington IV Born August 3, 1963 Actor, producer, author, and television and film performer. Washington built a wide-ranging career across Black independent film, major studio […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 2 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. James Baldwin Full name: James Arthur Baldwin Born August 2, 1924 — died December 1, 1987 Writer, essayist, novelist, playwright, poet, and civil rights voice. Baldwin became one of America’s […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 1 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Benjamin E. Mays Full name: Benjamin Elijah Mays Born August 1, 1894 — died March 28, 1984 Educator, minister, theologian, civil rights leader, and longtime president of Morehouse College. Mays […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 31 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Wesley Snipes Full name: Wesley Trent Snipes Born July 31, 1962 Actor, producer, martial artist, author, and action-film star. Snipes became one of the defining Black action stars of the […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 30 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Buddy Guy Birth name: George Guy Born July 30, 1936 Blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and Chicago blues legend. Guy became one of the most […]