Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 31 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Frank Robinson Born August 31, 1935 — died February 7, 2019 Baseball Hall of Famer, Triple Crown winner, and Major League Baseball’s first Black manager. Robinson became the only player […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 30 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Roy Wilkins Born August 30, 1901 — died September 8, 1981 Civil rights leader, journalist, and longtime executive director of the NAACP. Wilkins guided the NAACP through major battles over […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 29 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Isabel Sanford Birth name: Eloise Gwendolyn Sanford Born August 29, 1917 — died July 9, 2004 Actress and groundbreaking Emmy Award winner. Sanford became iconic as Louise “Weezy” Jefferson on […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 28 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Roxie Roker Full name: Roxie Albertha Roker Born August 28, 1929 — died December 2, 1995 Actress, journalist, community advocate, and television barrier breaker. Roker became beloved as Helen Willis […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 27 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Lester Young Full name: Lester Willis Young Born August 27, 1909 — died March 15, 1959 Jazz tenor saxophonist, composer, and one of the most influential soloists in American music. […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 26 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Jimmy Rushing Full name: James Andrew Rushing Born August 26, 1901 — died June 8, 1972 Blues shouter, jazz singer, and longtime featured vocalist with Count Basie’s orchestra. Known as […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 25 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Althea Gibson Full name: Althea Neale Gibson Born August 25, 1927 — died September 28, 2003 Tennis champion, professional golfer, and international sports trailblazer. Gibson broke the color barrier in […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 24 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Ernest Wright Born August 24, 1941 — died May 23, 2023 Singer and founding member of Little Anthony and the Imperials. Wright helped create the close harmonies behind enduring recordings […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 23 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Rudy Lewis Full name: Charles Rudolph Harrell Born August 23, 1936 — died May 20, 1964 R&B singer and lead vocalist of the Drifters. Lewis gave the Drifters some of […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 22 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. John Lee Hooker Born August 22, 1912 — died June 21, 2001 Blues singer, songwriter, guitarist, and architect of electric Delta blues. Hooker created a hypnotic, driving boogie style heard […]