Honoring those we lost on October 20 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Lightfoot Solomon Michaux Born c. 1885 — died October 20, 1968 Evangelist, radio and television preacher, church founder, and businessman Known as the ‘Happy Am I Preacher,’ Michaux founded a Church of God movement in Newport […]
Honoring those we lost on October 19 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Benjamin Banneker Born November 9, 1731 — died October 19, 1806 Astronomer, mathematician, almanac author, surveyor, farmer, and antislavery correspondent Banneker published widely read almanacs, contributed calculations to the survey of the federal district, and directly […]
Honoring those we lost on October 18 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. James Wormley Born January 16, 1819 — died October 18, 1884 Hotelier, caterer, and businessman Wormley was born free in Washington, D.C. After running a successful restaurant, he bought a hotel near the White House that […]
Honoring those we lost on October 17 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Dangerfield Newby Born c. 1820 — died October 17, 1859 Freedman, blacksmith, and member of John Brown’s raid on Harpers Ferry Newby was born to an enslaved mother and gained his freedom, but his wife, Harriet, […]
Honoring those we lost on October 16 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Benjamin Franklin Randolph Born c. 1837 — died October 16, 1868 Minister, Union Army chaplain, educator, and South Carolina state senator Randolph was born free and educated at Oberlin College. During the Civil War he was […]
Honoring those we lost on October 15 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Gus Cannon Born September 12, 1883 — died October 15, 1979 Blues musician; banjo player; jug band leader Cannon, born on a plantation near Red Banks, Mississippi, taught himself banjo on a homemade instrument and worked […]
Honoring those we lost on October 14 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Maxine Powell Born May 30, 1915 — died October 14, 2013 Etiquette instructor, finishing-school founder, and head of Motown’s Artist Development department Powell directed Motown’s Artists Development Department, coaching performers in stage presence, interviews, grooming, movement, […]
Honoring those we lost on October 13 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Clarence Muse Born October 14, 1889 — died October 13, 1979 Actor; director; composer; screenwriter Muse, born in Baltimore, became the first African American to appear in a starring role in a major studio film, Hearts […]
Honoring those we lost on October 12 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Eugene Bullard Born October 9, 1895 — died October 12, 1961 Combat aviator; French Foreign Legion soldier; first Black American military pilot Bullard, born in Columbus, Georgia, enlisted in the French Foreign Legion after World War […]
Honoring those we lost on October 11 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Redd Foxx Born December 9, 1922 — died October 11, 1991 Stand-up comedian, recording artist, and actor Foxx built a career on the Black nightclub circuit and through dozens of comedy records before reaching a national […]