Honoring those we lost on July 29 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Claudia Tate Born December 14, 1946 — died July 29, 2002 Literary scholar, professor, critic, and African American literature specialist. Tate became a respected scholar of Black women’s writing, African American literature, and psychoanalytic literary criticism. […]
Honoring those we lost on July 28 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Harold Bethuel Evans Born October 31, 1907 — died July 28, 1995 Research chemist, Manhattan Project scientist, educator, and nuclear chemistry figure. Evans was one of the few African American scientists connected to the Manhattan Project […]
Honoring those we lost on July 27 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Garrett Morgan Full name: Garrett Augustus Morgan Sr. Born March 4, 1877 — died July 27, 1963 Inventor, businessman, newspaper publisher, and public safety innovator. Morgan became one of the most important Black inventors of the […]
Honoring those we lost on July 26 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Charles Albert Tindley Birth name: Charles Tindley Born July 7, 1851 — died July 26, 1933 Methodist minister, gospel composer, preacher, and early Black sacred music figure. Tindley rose from poverty and limited formal schooling to […]
Honoring those we lost on July 25 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Big Mama Thornton Birth name: Willie Mae Thornton Born December 11, 1926 — died July 25, 1984 Blues singer, R&B vocalist, songwriter, drummer, and original “Hound Dog” recording artist. Thornton brought a powerful voice, commanding stage […]
Honoring those we lost on July 24 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Mary Church Terrell Full name: Mary Eliza Church Terrell Born September 23, 1863 — died July 24, 1954 Civil rights activist, suffragist, educator, writer, and Black women’s club movement leader. Terrell fought for racial justice, women’s […]
Honoring those we lost on July 23 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. E. Lynn Harris Birth name: Everett Lynn Jeter Born June 20, 1955 — died July 23, 2009 Author, novelist, former IBM executive, and Black LGBTQ+ literary trailblazer. Harris became one of the most widely read Black […]
Honoring those we lost on July 22 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Francis L. Cardozo Full name: Francis Lewis Cardozo Born 1836 — died July 22, 1903 Minister, educator, Reconstruction-era politician, and public school leader. Cardozo became one of the most important Black public officials of the Reconstruction […]
Honoring those we lost on July 21 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Evelyn Thomas Born August 22, 1953 — died July 21, 2024 Disco singer, Hi-NRG dance music vocalist, and international club music figure. Thomas became best known for “High Energy,” a major 1980s dance record that helped […]
Honoring those we lost on July 20 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Roy Hamilton Birth name: Rodothas Hamilton Born April 16, 1929 — died July 20, 1969 Singer, R&B vocalist, pop interpreter, and gospel-influenced soul pioneer. Hamilton brought a powerful, semi-classical vocal style into R&B and popular song. […]