Gwendolyn Brooks “Live not for battles won, live not for the end-of-the-song.” — Gwendolyn Brooks Gwendolyn Brooks, the first Black Pulitzer Prize winner, celebrated life’s continuous rhythm. Her message: joy and purpose exist in the journey, not the ending.
Honoring those we lost on August 12 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Luther Allison Full name: Luther Sylvester Allison Born Aug 17, 1939 — died Aug 12, 1997 Blues guitarist, singer, songwriter, bandleader, and Chicago blues powerhouse. Allison carried the electric Chicago blues tradition onto international stages with […]
What happened on this day. These are the August 12 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1922 — Frederick Douglass’s Cedar Hill home is dedicated as a memorial On August 12, 1922, the restored Frederick Douglass Memorial Home at Cedar Hill was formally dedicated in Washington, D.C. Black women’s organizations, including […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 12 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Lillian Evanti Birth name: Annie Wilson Lillian Evans Born August 12, 1890 — died December 6, 1967 Opera singer, composer, concert artist, and civil rights advocate. Evanti became the first […]
Ida B. Wells “No man can rob me of the dignity which God has conferred upon me.” — Ida B. Wells Ida B. Wells fought racial violence with fearless truth. Her words declare that dignity cannot be taken — only surrendered. Wear the history: Ida B. Wells — from the Black Knowledge Wear collection.
Honoring those we lost on August 11 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Samuel Harrison Born Apr 15, 1818 — died Aug 11, 1900 Minister, abolitionist, Civil War chaplain, and advocate for equal military pay. Harrison served as chaplain of the 54th Massachusetts Infantry, one of the Civil War’s […]
What happened on this day. These are the August 11 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1965 — The Watts Rebellion begins in Los Angeles On August 11, 1965, the arrest of Marquette Frye after a traffic stop sparked six days of unrest in the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles. The […]
Born on this day. These are the birthdays we celebrate on August 11 — the people whose lives added to the story of Black history. Alex Haley Full name: Alexander Murray Palmer Haley Born August 11, 1921 — died February 10, 1992 Author, journalist, biographer, and historian of Black family memory. Haley helped bring Black […]
Jackie Robinson “The most luxurious possession, the richest treasure anybody has, is their personal dignity.” — Jackie Robinson Jackie Robinson broke barriers with integrity and courage. His words remind us that dignity is the foundation of true success. Wear the history: Jackie Robinson — from the Black Knowledge Wear collection.
Honoring those we lost on August 10 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Thomas Elkins Born c. 1818 — died Aug 10, 1900 Dentist, physician, pharmacist, abolitionist, Underground Railroad worker, and inventor. Elkins practiced medicine and dentistry in Albany while aiding freedom seekers through the Underground Railroad and serving […]