Those We Lost
Those We Lost — May 16
May
Honoring those we lost on May 16 — remembered for what they gave, and for what they left behind.
A. Philip Randolph
Born April 15, 1889 — Died May 16, 1979
Field: Labor / Civil Rights / Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters / March on Washington
Asa Philip Randolph was one of the most important labor and civil rights leaders in American history. He led the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters and helped pressure the federal government on fair employment and military desegregation.
Why it matters: Randolph is essential because he tied Black freedom to labor power. He understood that civil rights without jobs, wages, organizing power, and economic justice was incomplete.
Sammy Davis Jr.
Born December 8, 1925 — Died May 16, 1990
Field: Entertainment / Music / Dance / Film / Civil Rights Visibility
Sammy Davis Jr. was a singer, dancer, actor, comedian, musician, and one of the great all-around entertainers of the 20th century.
Why it matters: Davis broke barriers in entertainment while navigating racism, celebrity, political pressure, and the burden of being a Black performer in white-controlled spaces.
