Honoring those we lost on May 28 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Mary Lou Williams Born May 8, 1910 — Died May 28, 1981 Field: Jazz / Piano / Composition / Arrangement / Music Education Mary Lou Williams was a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and mentor whose career […]
Honoring those we lost on May 27 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Gil Scott-Heron Born April 1, 1949 — Died May 27, 2011 Field: Poetry / Music / Spoken Word / Political Art Gil Scott-Heron was a poet, musician, author, and spoken-word artist whose work connected jazz, soul, […]
Honoring those we lost on May 26 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Little Willie John Born November 15, 1937 — Died May 26, 1968 Field: R&B / Soul / Blues / Early Rock and Roll Influence Little Willie John was a powerful R&B singer known for emotional delivery, […]
Honoring those we lost on May 25 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Madam C. J. Walker Born December 23, 1867 — Died May 25, 1919 Field: Business / Beauty Industry / Black Women Entrepreneurs / Philanthropy Madam C. J. Walker was a beauty entrepreneur, philanthropist, employer, and one […]
Honoring those we lost on May 24 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Duke Ellington Born April 29, 1899 — Died May 24, 1974 Field: Jazz / Composition / Bandleading / American Music Duke Ellington was one of the most important composers and bandleaders in American history. He led […]
Honoring those we lost on May 23 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Vernon D. Jarrett Born June 19, 1921 — Died May 23, 2004 Field: Journalism / Black Press / Television / Civil Rights Commentary Vernon Jarrett was a journalist, columnist, broadcaster, and commentator whose career connected the […]
Honoring those we lost on May 22 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Claude McKay Born September 15, 1889 — Died May 22, 1948 Field: Harlem Renaissance / Poetry / Fiction / Radical Politics Claude McKay was a poet and novelist whose work became central to the Harlem Renaissance. […]
Honoring those we lost on May 21 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Katherine Dunham Born June 22, 1909 — Died May 21, 2006 Field: Dance / Anthropology / Choreography / Black Cultural Scholarship Katherine Dunham was a dancer, choreographer, anthropologist, educator, and social activist. Why it matters: Dunham […]
Honoring those we lost on May 20 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Nannie Helen Burroughs Born May 2, 1879 — Died May 20, 1961 Field: Education / Black Women’s Organizing / National Baptist Convention / Labor Nannie Helen Burroughs was an educator, orator, religious leader, and founder of […]
Honoring those we lost on May 19 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Mary Turner Born c. 1899 — Died May 19, 1918 Field: Racial Terror / Lynching / Black Women’s History / Georgia Mary Turner was lynched in Georgia after speaking out against the lynching of her husband, […]