*Chadwick Boseman was born on this date in 1976. He was a Black actor and director. Chadwick Aaron Boseman was born and raised in Anderson, South Carolina, to Carolyn and Leroy Boseman. His DNA testing indicates that his ancestors were Krio people from Sierra Leone, Yoruba people from Nigeria, and Limba people from Sierra […]
learn more*On this date in 1977, ABC-TV began televising the Roots mini-series. This television show (which would go on to be the most watched mini-series in history), was based on Alex Haley’s book.
The January 30th installment (final episode) became the third most watch TV program in history with a 51% rating.
learn moreKanye West was born on this date in 1977. He is an African American record producer and rapper.
Kanye Omari West was born in Atlanta, GA. His father was Ray West, a former Black Panther who was one of the first Black photojournalists at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution; he is now a Christian counselor. His mother is Dr. Donda West. When Kanye was three years old, his parents divorced, and he and his mother moved to Chicago. He was raised in an upper-middle-class family, attending Polaris High School in suburban Oak Lawn, IL.
learn more*On this date in 1978, the movie The Wiz opened in theaters globally. The Wiz was an American musical adventure fantasy film produced by Universal Pictures and Motown Productions. It was a reimagining of L. Frank Baum’s classic 1900 children’s novel, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, features an all-Black cast. The film was loosely adapted from the 1974 Broadway musical. It follows the adventures of Dorothy, a shy, twenty-four-year-old Harlem schoolteacher. […]
learn more*On this date in 1980, Black Entertainment Television (BET) was launched. This is an American cable television channel targeting African American audiences. It is owned by the Viacom CBS Domestic Media Networks unit of Viacom CBS via BET Networks. It has offices in New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago and was formerly headquartered in […]
learn more*On this date in 1980, Radio One, Inc. is celebrated. Formerly, Radio One is a Silver Spring, Maryland-based American media conglomerate. It is the most prominent Black-owned broadcasting company, and as of 2014, it was the ninth highest-earning Black-owned business in the United States. It operates 55 radio stations and majority-owning the syndicator Reach Media, […]
learn more*Meghan Markle was born on this date in 1981. She is a Black actress, model, humanitarian, and Duchess Of Sussex. Born in Los Angeles, CA, Rachel Meghan Markle’s father is white, and her mother is black. Her mother, Doria Radlan, has a master’s degree in social work and is a psychotherapist and yoga instructor. Her […]
learn more*Beyoncé Giselle Knowles-Carter Knowles was born on this date in 1981. She is a Black singer, songwriter, and Fashion Design businesswoman. Beyonce Giselle Knowles is from Houston, Texas, the daughter of Celestine “Tina” Knowles (née Beyonce), a hairdresser and salon owner, and Mathew Knowles, a Xerox sales manager. Beyoncé’s name is a tribute to her mother’s […]
learn more*Nicki Minaj was born on this date in 1982. She is an Afro Caribbean rapper, singer-songwriter, and actress. Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty was born in the Saint James district of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, and raised in Queens of New York City; she gained public recognition after releasing the mixtapes Playtime Is Over (2007), Sucka Free (2008), and Beam Me Up […]
learn more*Donald Glover was born on this date in 1983. He is a Black actor, comedian, writer, producer, director, musician, and DJ. He performs music under the stage name Childish Gambino and as a DJ named mcDJ. Donald McKinley Glover Jr. was born at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and was raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. His mother, Beverly Smith, is a retired daycare provider, […]
learn more*Trevor Noah was born on this date in 1984. He is a Black South African comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. Trevor Noah was born in Johannesburg, Transvaal (now Gauteng), South Africa. His father, Robert, is of Swiss-German ancestry, and his mother, Patricia Nombuyiselo Noah, is a Black Xhosa woman. Under apartheid legislation, Noah […]
learn more*Meechy Monroe was born on this date in 1985. She was a successful blogger who provided beauty tips and hair tutorials for black women with natural hair. Monroe was born Tameka Moore; her parents are Alexander and Patricia Moore. She grew up in Chicago, Illinois. Monroe gained an international YouTube following for videos demonstrating African […]
learn more*Emicida was born on this date in 1985. He is an Afro Brazilian rapper, singer, songwriter, and MC. He was born Leandro Roque de Oliveira into a poor family in Sau Paulo, Brazil. His father died when Leandro was still a child, as told in the song “Ooorra …”. He composed rhymes and passed them […]
learn more*Amie Bramme Sey was born on this date in 1987. She is an Afro Swedish multi-media host and programmer. Ami-Miriam “Amie” Bramme Sey was born in Stockholm and grew up in Södermalm as the daughter of Maudo Sey and sister of the singers Seinabo Sey (half-sister) and Fatima Bramme Sey. She has studied at Södertörn […]
learn more*Rihanna was born on on this date in1988. She is a Black Barbadian American entertainer.
Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born in the St. Michael parish in Barbados to Monica (Braithwaite), an accountant, and Ronald Fenty, a warehouse supervisor. Her mother is of Afro-Guyanese descent and her father has Afro-Barbadian and English/Irish/Scottish ancestry (known as “Redlegs” in the Caribbean). Rihanna lived the life of a normal island girl going to Combermere, a top sixth form school. Rihanna won numerous beauty pageants and performed Mariah Carey “Hero” in a school talent show.
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