People, Locations, Episodes

Jayne Cortez, Poet, and Musician born

This date in 1936 marks the birth of Jayne Cortez. She is an African American poet, musician, activist, and entrepreneur.

David Levering Lewis, Historian and Professor born

*David Levering Lewis was born on this date in 1936.  He is a Black author, historian, and professor of history.   Lewis was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, to a middle-class Black family. His father, John Henry Lewis, Sr., graduated from Morris Brown College in Atlanta and went on to Yale Divinity School, becoming its first Black graduate. He […]

Lucille Clifton, Poet born

Lucille Clifton was born on this date in 1936. She is an African American poet and author.

June Jordan, Writer, and Educator born

June Jordan was born on this date in 1936. She was an African American writer and educator.

James H. Cone, Theologian born.

*James Cone was born on this date in 1936.  He was a Black theologian who advocated Black Theology and liberation theology.  James Hal Cone was born in Fordyce, Arkansas, and grew up in Bearden, Arkansas. He and his family attended Macedonia African Methodist Episcopal Church. He received a BA from Philander Smith College in 1958, […]

Clarence Major, Novelist, and Poet born

*The birth of Clarence Major in 1936 is celebrated on this date. He is an African American Poet, novelist, and painter.

Leon Forrest, Author born

On this date, we remember the birth of Leon Richard Forrest born in 1937. He was an African American author of large, inventive novels that blend myth, history, legend, and contemporary realism.

Forrest was born into a middle-class family in Chicago. His mother was Catholic and from New Orleans, and his father’s family was Baptist. he attended the University of Chicago. He served in the U.S. Army before beginning his career as a writer. From 1965 to 1973, Forrest worked as a journalist for various papers, including the Nation of Islam’s weekly Muhammad Speaks.

Claude Brown, Writer, and Children’s Advocate born

*Claude Brown was born on this date in 1937. He was an African American writer and children’s advocate.

Bessie Head, South African Writer, and Educator born

*On this date in 1937, Bessie Head was born. She was one of Africa’s most prominent writers, and teachers.

Walter Dean Myers, Children’s Author born

*Walter Dean Myers was born on this date in 1937. He was an African American author who specialized in children’s books.

Born in Martinsburg, West Virginia. His mother, Mary died after the birth of his younger sister Imogene. His father, George, sent Walter to live with his first wife, Florence Dean, and her husband, Herbert Dean, in Harlem, along with Florence and George’s two daughters. Walter Milton Myers would eventually adopt the middle name “Dean” to honor Florence and Herbert.

Larry Neal, Writer born

On this date in 1937, Larry Neal was born. He was an African American writer and one of the most well known figures of the Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s.

Eugene Redmonds, Poet, and Professor born

*Eugene Redmond was born on this date in 1937.  He is a Black poet and academic.   Eugene B. Redmond was born in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University (SIU) in 1964 and his master’s degree from Washington University in St. Louis in 1966, both in English Literature.  He became a teacher-counselor at Southern Illinois University’s Experiment in Higher Education […]

Michael S. Harper, Poet, and Educator born

*The birth of Michael S. Harper in 1938 is celebrated on this date. He was a Black poet and educator.

Michael DeMond Davis, Journalist born.

*Michael DeMond Davis was born on this date in 1939. He was a Black journalist and a pioneer in African American journalism, opening the doors for many African American writers. Michael Davis was born in Washington, D.C., the son of John P. Davis and Marguerite DeMond Davis, and grew up in a black middle class […]

Julius Lester, Writer, and Educator born

*Julius Lester was born on this date in 1939. He is an African American educator, musician and writer.