Those We Lost — August 6

Honoring those we lost on August 6 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind.

David Walker

Born c. 1796 — died Aug 6, 1830

Abolitionist, writer, activist, and author of Walker’s Appeal.

Walker’s 1829 Appeal to the Colored Citizens of the World condemned slavery, rejected claims of Black inferiority, and called for unity, education, and resistance. Its uncompromising language alarmed slaveholding states and became a foundational text in Black abolitionist and nationalist thought.

Robert H. Holmes

Full name: Robert Henry Holmes

Born Jul 25, 1888 — died Aug 6, 1917

New York City police officer and the first Black NYPD officer killed in the line of duty.

Holmes served in Harlem when only a handful of Black officers were part of the NYPD. He was shot and killed while pursuing a burglary suspect, and his death became an early marker of Black service and sacrifice within New York law enforcement.

Lionel Taylor

Full name: Lionel Thomas Taylor

Born Aug 15, 1935 — died Aug 6, 2025

Professional football receiver, record-setter, coach, and NFL coaching pioneer.

Taylor became the first professional football player to catch 100 passes in a season and one of the early stars of the Denver Broncos. He later won two Super Bowls as an assistant coach and became the first Black offensive coordinator in NFL history.

Rick James

Birth name: James Ambrose Johnson Jr.

Born Feb 1, 1948 — died Aug 6, 2004

Funk singer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist, and Motown hitmaker.

James brought rock energy, streetwise storytelling, and heavy funk to records including “You and I,” “Give It to Me Baby,” and “Super Freak.” As a performer and producer, he helped shape the late-1970s and 1980s sound while also developing artists including Teena Marie and the Mary Jane Girls.