Kid ‘n’ Play is an American Hip Hop duo that consists of Christopher “Kid” Reid and Christopher “Play” Martin. The two met while performing in rival high school groups, the Turnout Brothers and the Super Lovers, in New York City. The duo’s original name was … Read MoreKid ‘n’ Play (1984- )
Television actor, comedian, and television personality Jackée Harry was born Jacqueline Yvonne Harry, the daughter of Flossie Harry from Trinidad and Warren Harry, on August 14, 1956, in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was the youngest of five children who were reared in Harlem, New York … Read MoreJackée Harry (1956- )
Julianna Michelle Childs, a U.S. District Court judge in South Carolina, was born on March 24, 1966, in Detroit, Michigan. Her father, Ralph Childs, was a former U.S. Junior Table Tennis Champion, and her mother, Shandra Childs-Thomas, was a personnel manager for Michigan Bell. In … Read MoreJ. Michelle Childs (1966- )
Everett Blair Ward, former President of St. Augustine’s University and National President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, was born on November 6, 1958, at St. Agnes Hospital on the campus of Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, North Carolina, to William Henry Ward, a businessman, and … Read MoreEverett Blair Ward (1959- )
Abraham Galloway, freedom-fighter, spy, abolitionist, and politician, is an unsung hero of American history. Galloway was born a slave on February 8, 1837 in Smithville (now Southport), North Carolina, the son of an enslaved woman and a white boatman. Little is known about his youth, … Read MoreAbraham Galloway (1837-1870)
Betty Davis was a model, singer, songwriter, and the second wife of trumpeter Miles Davis. She was born Betty Gray Mabry on July 26, 1944, in Durham, North Carolina. Her mother, Betty, was a nurse, and her father, Henry, was a steelworker. Mabry spent most … Read MoreBetty Davis (1945-2022)
The R&B doo-wop ensemble Brenda & the Tabulations began in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1966. They comprised vocalist/ lyricist Brenda J. Payton (Hill), born in the city on October 24, 1945, composer/ guitarist Eddie L. Jackson, born in 1947 in Forest City, North Carolina, Maurice Coates … Read MoreBrenda & the Tabulations (1966-1987)
Hayden Swank is African American race car driver with ambitions to race in NASCAR. He was born in Fayetteville, North Carolina on July 22, 2001 to Jennifer Swank, who works in medical billing, and Bob Swank, a high school football coach. Swank displayed an interest … Read MoreHayden Swank (2001- )
Dr. Kariamu Welsh was recognized as a pioneer and trailblazer of African diaspora dance, professor of dance at Temple University for 30 years before retiring in 2019, author and editor of seminal works on Afrocentricity and Black movement traditions. Welsh was born Carole Ann Welsh … Read MoreKariamu Welsh Asante (1949-2021)
Elizabeth Duncan Koontz was the first African American president of the National Education Association (NEA) which at that point was an 820,000-member Association of Classroom Teachers. Koontz was born on June 3, 1919, in Salisbury, North Carolina. Her parents were Samuel E. Duncan, former president … Read MoreElizabeth Duncan Koontz (1919-1989)
