The Berkley Square Housing Project, opened in 1953 in Las Vegas, Nevada, was a historically significant project for African Americans because of its unique design and financing. Berkley Square is named after its primary financier, Thomas Lucius Berkley, of Oakland, California, a prominent civil rights … Read MoreBerkley Square Housing Project, Las Vegas (1953-)
Patrick Mahomes, who is also known as Patrick Lavon Mahomes, Sr. or Pat Mahomes, is a former American professional baseball player. He actively played from 1988 to 2009. Born on August 9, 1970, Mahomes is the son of Johnny and Cindy Mahomes. During his childhood, … Read MorePatrick Mahomes Sr. (1970-)
Sandra Douglass Morgan is an attorney and executive currently serving as the president of the Las Vegas Raiders football team. Morgan was born on April 10, 1978, in Las Vegas Nevada. Her father, Gilbert, is African American, and her mother, Kilcha, is Korean. She attended … Read MoreSandra Douglass Morgan (1978- )
R&B singer, lyricist Ciara was born Ciara Princess Harris on October 25, 1985, in Austin, Texas, to Carlton Clay Harris of the US Army and Jackie Smith-Harris, a member of the US Air Force. Because of the demands of the military, however, the Harris family … Read MoreCiara/Ciara Princess Wilson (1985- )
Floyd Joy Mayweather Jr is a professional boxer and boxing promoter. Mayweather was born on February 24, 1977, to Floyd Mayweather Sr. and Deborah Sinclair in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mayweather comes from a family of boxers, including his father and uncles, Roger Mayweather and Jeff … Read MoreFloyd Joy Mayweather Jr. (1977- )
The earliest evidence of African Americans as cattle herders (cowboys) in North America can be traced back to colonial South Carolina, where stock grazers from what is now Senegal in West Africa were specifically brought to that colony because of their unique skills. They were … Read MoreBlack Cowboys in the 19th Century West (1850-1900)
Blues Guitarist Gary Lee Clark Jr. was born on February 15, 1984, in Austin, Texas, to Sandy Clark and Gary Clark Sr., a car salesman. Clark received the first guitar at Christmas when he was 13, an Ibanez RX20. During that time, he read music … Read MoreGary Lee Clark Jr. (1984- )
Bettye Swann is a popular American soul singer known for the hit song “Make Me Yours.” Born Bettye Jean Champion in Shreveport, Louisiana, on October 24, 1944, she was one of 14 children. As a teen Champion sang in a local group. At the age … Read MoreBettye Swann (1944- )
R&B Singer Doris Troy was born Doris Elaine Higginsen in the Bronx, New York, on January 6, 1937. Both a singer and a songwriter, her biggest hit, “Just One Look,” was released in 1963 and peaked at no. 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. … Read MoreDoris Troy (1937-2004)
Multi-talented musician Morris Eugene Day was born on December 13, 1956, in Springfield, Illinois, to LaVonne Daugherty. When he was eight years old, however, his family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota. There he privately studied the piano and percussion, but his passion was always the drums. … Read MoreMorris Eugene Day (1956- )
