Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 11 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Mattiwilda Dobbs Born July 11, 1925 — died December 8, 2015 Opera singer, coloratura soprano, professor, and international classical music pioneer. Dobbs broke major racial barriers in opera, becoming one […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 10 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Mary McLeod Bethune Born July 10, 1875 — died May 18, 1955 Educator, civil rights leader, institution builder, organizer, and presidential advisor. Bethune was born in South Carolina to formerly […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 9 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. June Jordan Born July 9, 1936 — died June 14, 2002 Poet, essayist, teacher, journalist, and social justice activist. Jordan was born in Harlem and became one of the most […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 8 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Billy Eckstine Birth name: William Clarence Eckstein Born July 8, 1914 — died March 8, 1993 Jazz and pop singer, bandleader, style icon, and bebop-era music pioneer. Eckstine became known […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 7 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Margaret Walker Full name: Margaret Abigail Walker Born July 7, 1915 — died November 30, 1998 Poet, novelist, educator, and Black literary historian. Walker became a major voice in Black […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 6 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Della Reese Birth name: Delloreese Patricia Early Born July 6, 1931 — died November 19, 2017 Singer, actress, television personality, author, minister, and gospel-jazz vocalist. Reese began singing in church […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 5 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Smiley Lewis Birth name: Overton Amos Lemons Born July 5, 1913 — died October 7, 1966 New Orleans R&B singer, guitarist, blues musician, and early rhythm-and-blues figure. Lewis helped define […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 4 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Bill Withers Birth name: William Harrison Withers Jr. Born July 4, 1938 — died March 30, 2020 Singer, songwriter, musician, and soul music legend. Withers gave American music some of […]
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. […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on July 2 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Thurgood Marshall Birth name: Thoroughgood Marshall Born July 2, 1908 — died January 24, 1993 Civil rights lawyer, Supreme Court Justice, and first Black Justice of the United States Supreme […]