Dinah Washington passed far too soon at the age of 39, but not before establishing herself as a versatile and legendary vocalist. The Chicago native was born August 29, 1924. Born Ruth Lee Jones in Tuscaloosa, Ala., the songstress moved with her family to the Windy City when she was a child where she joined […]
Gertrude Rush became a legal pioneer after pioneer after becoming the first Black woman to practice law in Iowa, and the first Black woman to lead a national co-ed bar association. Rush was born August 5, 1880 in Navasota, Texas. Born Gertrude Elzora Durden, the future trailblazer moved with her family to the North as […]
Lester “Pres” Young passed 60 years ago, but he is still considered a true jazz giant. The Mississippi-born saxophonist’s birthday is August 27, 1909. Young grew up in New Orleans and by the time he was in his teens, he’d joined his father’s vaudeville band. At 18, Young left the band because he refused to […]
Dave Chappelle achieved superstardom in the early 2000s with his groundbreaking sketch comedy series, Chappelle’s Show and has since evolved to an iconic culture figure. The Washington, D.C. native turns 46 on Saturday. RELATED: Dave Chappelle Hosting Free Block Party In Dayton After Bar Shooting Raised in the Washington Metropolitan Area, Chappelle split time between […]
Dr. Asa Grant Hilliard, in his words, considered himself “a teacher, a psychologist, and a historian,” first and foremost. The late scholar and proponent of African history and culture was born August 22, 1933 in Galveston, Texas. Hilliard attended the University of Denver, earning his bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate in education from the institution, all […]
The contributions and influence of jazz bandleader Count Basie remains strong to this day. The New Jersey native was born August 21, 1904 in the town of Red Bank. William James Basie was born to parents with musical backgrounds, thus he had little choice but to take to music. As a child, his mother taught […]
The National Negro Bowling Association (NNBA) was formed on August 20, 1939, in Detroit, Mich. Now known today as The National Bowling Association (TNBA), the organization boasts over 23,000 members and hundreds of leagues nationwide. Bowling had become a favorite pastime for many Black families, and the NNBA was formed in part to organize leagues […]
Charles Bolden made history after he was named the first Black permanent administrator for NASA. The retired Marine Corps Major General and astronaut was born August 19, 1946. Charles Frank Bolden Jr. earned his bachelor’s of science in Electrical Science in 1968,and then earned a master’s in Systems Management from the University of Southern California […]
The late Anne Wiggins Brown was the first Black vocalist admitted to the prestigious Juilliard School in New York, and went on to play Bess in the opera, Porgy and Bess. Brown was born August 9, 1912 in Baltimore, Md. Brown was born Anne Wiggins and was said to be a vocal prodigy from the […]
Whitney Young was one of the most notable figures of the Civil Rights Movement, but hasn’t enjoyed the same manner of fanfare as his contemporaries for various reasons. The Kentucky native was born July 31, 1921. Young was born in Shelby County to middle-class parents, and attended Kentucky State University for his undergraduate studies. The […]
Chicago, like many other cities across America, has an ugly history regarding their treatment of Black lives and the enduring stench of racism. On July 27, 1919, 100 years ago this Saturday, an angry white mob contributed to the tragic death of a Black teenager who made the fatal mistake of crossing an imaginary racial […]
Fans of Art Neville in his native New Orleans and around the world are beset with heavy hearts after news that “Poppa Funk” passed on Monday. As a member of The Meters and the Neville Brothers, Neville helped pioneer the signature funk grooves that emanated from the Big Easy. Arthur Lanon Neville was born December […]
