Honoring those we lost on July 10 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Jelly Roll Morton Real name: Ferdinand Joseph LaMothe Born about 1890 — died July 10, 1941 Jazz pianist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and early New Orleans jazz pioneer. Morton was one of the foundational figures in early […]
Honoring those we lost on July 9 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. James Farmer Full name: James Leonard Farmer Jr. Born January 12, 1920 — died July 9, 1999 Civil rights leader, organizer, educator, Freedom Rider, and co-founder of CORE. Farmer helped build the Congress of Racial Equality […]
Honoring those we lost on July 8 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. David Blackwell Full name: David Harold Blackwell Born April 24, 1919 — died July 8, 2010 Mathematician, statistician, professor, game theory scholar, and first Black scholar admitted to the National Academy of Sciences. Blackwell made major […]
Honoring those we lost on July 7 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Helene Johnson Real name: Helen Johnson Born July 7, 1906 — died July 7, 1995 Poet, writer, Harlem Renaissance figure, and literary voice of Black modernism. Johnson was part of the Harlem Renaissance and became known […]
Honoring those we lost on July 6 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Louis Armstrong Full name: Louis Daniel Armstrong Born August 4, 1901 — died July 6, 1971 Jazz trumpeter, singer, bandleader, composer, entertainer, and American music giant. Armstrong changed the direction of jazz through his trumpet playing, […]
Honoring those we lost on July 5 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Ernie K-Doe Real name: Ernest Kador Jr. Born February 22, 1933 — died July 5, 2001 R&B singer, New Orleans music figure, drummer, and “Mother-in-Law” hitmaker. K-Doe became one of New Orleans R&B’s most colorful personalities, […]
Honoring those we lost on July 4 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. Full name: Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. Born December 18, 1912 — died July 4, 2002 U.S. Air Force general, Tuskegee Airmen commander, military pioneer, and first Black general officer in the U.S. […]
Honoring those we lost on July 3 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Clifford L. Alexander Jr. Full name: Clifford Leopold Alexander Jr. Born September 21, 1933 — died July 3, 2022 Lawyer, civil rights advocate, public servant, business leader, and first Black U.S. Secretary of the Army. Alexander […]
Honoring those we lost on July 2 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. DeFord Bailey Born December 14, 1899 — died July 2, 1982 Harmonica player, country and blues musician, songwriter, and Grand Ole Opry pioneer. Bailey became one of the earliest stars of the Grand Ole Opry and […]
Honoring those we lost on July 1 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind. Henry Johnson Full name: William Henry Johnson Born July 15, 1892 — died July 1, 1929 World War I soldier, Harlem Hellfighter, Medal of Honor recipient, and battlefield hero. Johnson served with the 369th Infantry Regiment, […]