Pianist, composer, lyricist, “word doubling” singer William Larry Stewart II, known by his stage name, Billy Stewart, was born on March 24, 1937, in Freemen’s Hospital on the campus of Howard University, Washington, D.C. His parents were William Larry Stewart, Sr. and Idabel Stewart and … Read MoreBilly Stewart II (1937-1970)
The O’Jays, an R&B ensemble from Canton, Ohio, was formed in 1958 by childhood friends Eddie Levert, who was born in Bessemer, Alabama in 1942 and moved to Canton at the age of 8, and Walter Williams, Sr. born in Canton in 1942. They became … Read MoreThe O’Jays (1958 – 2019)
Joseph L. Graves Jr. is a renowned geneticist and the first African American evolutionary biologist. Currently an Associate Dean for research and a professor of biological sciences at North Carolina A&T University, Graves’ professional work is rooted in the evolutionary genetics of aging and untangling genetic … Read MoreJoseph L. Graves, Jr. (1955- )
Diplomat, Historian, Poet, Frenise Avedis Logan, Sr. was born September 30, 1920, in Albany, Georgia but grew up in Cleveland, Ohio. Both of his parents were educators and he had one brother. In 1938, Logan enrolled in Fisk University and participated in basketball, tennis, track … Read MoreFrenise Avedis Logan, Sr. (1920-1995)
Jodeci is an R&B group founded in the late 1980’s by members Mr. Dalvin (Dalvin Ertimus DeGrate), DeVante’ Swing (Donald Earle DeGrate Jr.), JoJo (Joel Hailey) and K-Ci (Cedric Renard Hailey). The group name is derived from an abbreviation of all the members names – … Read MoreJodeci (1989- )
Lt. Commander Brenda Evette Robinson, the first African American female pilot in the United States Navy, understood at an early age the sky’s the limit. In 1961 when she was in Kindergarten, her teacher sent home a note that expressed concern about “Brenda’s desire to … Read MoreBrenda E. Robinson (1956- )
Percy Robert Miller is an American rapper, entrepreneur, and actor best known under the stage name, Master P. Miller was born on April 29, 1970, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Miller is the oldest of his five siblings, including two brothers who are fellow rappers, Corey … Read MoreMaster P\Percy Robert Miller (1970- )
Alonzo Smith “Jake” Gaither, football coach, was born April 11, 1903 in Dayton, Tennessee to teacher Florence Kyle Gaither and AME minister Jefferson Davis Gaither. Gaither attended Knoxville College, Knoxville, Tennessee in 1919 as a high school freshman and graduated with a B.A. in 1927. … Read MoreAlonzo Smith “Jake” Gaither (1903-1994)
Melissa “Missy” Arnette Elliott, songwriter, rapper, and music producer, was born on July 1, 1971 to power company dispatcher Patricia Elliott and U.S. Marine Ronnie Elliott at Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia. Elliott had a troubled childhood while the family lived in Jacksonville, North Carolina. … Read MoreMissy Elliott (1971- )
In 1941 the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the construction agent for the War Department, maintained construction battalions that were deemed less valuable than units in other Army branches. Coupling this practice with the racial beliefs dominant in the Jim Crow South, it … Read MoreThe 97th Engineering Regiment (1941-1948)
