People, Locations, Episodes

New Bethel Baptist Church (Detroit), a story

*New Bethel Baptist Church was founded on this date in 1932. They are one of the oldest black churches in Detroit, Michigan.  In its early years, V. L. Bolton was the first pastor, followed by Horatius “H.H.” Coleman, N. H. Armstrong, and William E. Ramsey. In May 1946, Rev. C. L. Franklin became the pastor. When Rev. Franklin […]

Roosevelt Grier, Athlete, and Minister born

*Roosevelt Grier was born on this date in 1932.  He is a Black actor, singer, minister, and former professional football player.   Born in Cuthbert, Georgia, as one of twelve children, Grier was named after Franklin Delano Roosevelt.  He played high school football at Abraham Clark High School in Roselle, New Jersey, graduating in 1951. […]

James Cleveland, Gospel Vocalist born

James Cleveland was born on this date in 1932. He was an African American minister, composer, and gospel vocalist.

Born in Chicago, Cleveland’s life calling began at that city’s Pilgrim Baptist Church. Mahalia Jackson lived on Cleveland’s paper route and influenced his career. In 1953, he joined a gospel group called the Caravans as pianist, arranger, and occasional singer. They had two successful recordings, “The Solid Rock” and “Old Time Religion.” Between 1956 and 1960, Cleveland wrote an average of three songs a week.

Walter Fauntroy, Pastor, and Activist born

*Walter Fauntroy was born on this date in 1933. He is a Black politician, pastor, and civil rights activist. The fourth of seven children, Walter Edward Fauntroy, was born and raised in Washington, D.C. His mother, Ethel (Vines) Fauntroy, was a homemaker. His father, William Thomas Fauntroy, Sr., was a clerk in the U.S. Patent […]

Louis Farrakhan, Nation Of Islam Leader born

On this date in 1933, Louis Farrakhan was born. He is an African American religious leader in the Muslim community.

Born in New York City, he was an outstanding student at Boston English High School and then attended Winston-Salem Teacher’s College. Farrakhan was an excellent musician; he played the violin and was a calypso singer. It was as a singer that he earned his livelihood before converting to Elijah Muhammad’s Nation of Islam in the 1950s. He quickly worked his way up to a leadership position, becoming the minister of the Boston mosque.

Rev. Samuel Kyles, Minister, and Activist born

*The Rev. Samuel “Billy” Kyles was born on this date in 1934. He is an African American minister and Civil Rights activist.

James Patterson Jr., Lawyer, and Minister born

*On this date in 1935 James Patterson, Jr. was born. He was an African American lawyer and minister.

James Oglethorpe “J. O.” Patterson, Jr. was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He was the son of J.O. Patterson, Sr. and Mrs. Deborah M. Patterson. He was the grandson of the COGIC founder, Bishop Charles Harrison Mason. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in business administration from Fisk University in 1958, his Jurist Doctor degree from DePaul University in 1963, and his Master of Religion degree from the Memphis Theological Seminary in 1985.

O. C. Smith, Entertainer, and Minister born

O. C. Smith, an African American singer and minister, was born on this date in 1936.

Charles Sherrod, Minister, and Educator born

*This date in 1937 is celebrated as the birth date of Charles Sherrod, a Black activist, educator, and minister.    Charles Sherrod was born in Surry, Virginia, and was raised by his Baptist grandmother. As a young boy, he sang in a choir and attended Sunday school at church. When he was older, he became a […]

Wings Over Jordan, Choir is Formed

*On this date from 1937, we celebrate the founding of Wings Over Jordan Choir. This group was organized by the Rev Glen T. Settles in Cleveland, Ohio and was perhaps the most beautiful sounding of all Gospel choirs.

Their otherworldly and almost ghostly sound was heard on over 50 recordings. In the days before television, when families would sit around the radio together, Wings Over Jordan was a popular family radio program that featured this talented African American choir. Beginning in the late 1930s, the show was broadcast out of Cleveland on the CBS network.

Shirley Caesar, Gospel Singer, and Minister born

*Shirley Caesar was born on this date in 1938. She is an African American gospel singer and pastor.

Caesar was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina, her father died when she was eight years old. During that time she took on the responsibility of caring for a semi-invalid mother. Caesar began singing as a young girl in church. She remained determined, and continued with her education while developing her remarkable musical talent. She eventually graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing from Shaw University.

Al Sampson, Minister born

Albert “Al” Sampson was born on this date in 1938. He is an African American activist and minister.

Jimmie Lee Jackson, Activist, and Minister born

*On this date in1938, Jimmie Lee Jackson was born. He was an African American minister and civil right activist.

Jonathan Daniels, Seminarian, and Activist born

*Jonathan Daniels was born on this date in1939. He was a white Episcopal seminarian and civil rights activist.

Ben Ami Ben-Israel, Spiritual Leader born

*Ben Ami Ben-Israel was born on this date in 1939. He was a Black immigrant to Israel and the founder and spiritual leader of the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem. Ben Carter was born in a Baptist family in Chicago, Illinois. After dropping out of high school, Carter served three years in the United States Army, where […]