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 […]
Nina Simone “I’ll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear.” — Nina Simone Nina Simone lived her art as protest and liberation. Her definition of freedom was simple — to exist and create without fear. Wear the history: Nina Simone — from the Black Knowledge Wear collection.
Honoring those we lost on August 2 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. James Jamerson Full name: James Lee Jamerson Born Jan 29, 1936 — died Aug 2, 1983 Bassist, Funk Brothers member, Motown session musician, and modern bass innovator. Jamerson’s melodic, deeply rhythmic bass lines helped create the […]
What happened on this day. These are the August 2 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1790 — First United States census begins under the three-fifths system On August 2, 1790, the United States began its first federal census. Enslaved Black people were counted in a separate category and only three-fifths […]
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 […]
James Baldwin “Love takes off masks we fear we cannot live without and know we cannot live within.” — James Baldwin Baldwin’s words reflect his lifelong call for honesty and self-acceptance. He saw love as a radical force for truth and liberation. Wear the history: James Baldwin — from the Black Knowledge Wear collection.
Honoring those we lost on August 1 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Joseph Rainey Full name: Joseph Hayne Rainey Born Jun 21, 1832 — died Aug 1, 1887 Reconstruction-era congressman, barber, businessman, and political trailblazer. Rainey became the first Black person to serve in the United States House […]
What happened on this day. These are the August 1 moments in Black history worth knowing, remembering, and passing on. 1834 — Slavery Abolition Act takes effect across much of the British Empire On August 1, 1834, Britain’s Slavery Abolition Act took effect, legally emancipating hundreds of thousands of enslaved people across much of the […]
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 […]
Claude McKay “Into the darkness we must go, bearing our light.” — Claude McKay Claude McKay, a Harlem Renaissance poet, believed that art and courage illuminate even the darkest struggles. His words remind us that truth and resilience are the light we carry forward.