Giovanni rose to prominence during the 1960s as a fierce voice in the Black Arts Movement, alongside literary giants such as Amiri Baraka, Audre Lorde, Ntozake Shange, and Sonia Sanchez.
READ MOREThere are few images more indelible in the history of American dance: Judith Jamison, regal and passionate in white leotard and long ruffled skirt, punching the air in “Cry” — Alvin Ailey’s piercing solo about Black womanhood.
READ MORELegendary musician Quincy Jones poses amongst his many Grammy awards at his home in the Bel Air section of Los Angeles, Calif., Friday, April 9, 2004. Quincy Jones died at age 91. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello, File)
Jones' historic career ranged from producing Michael Jackson’s record-setting “Thriller” to prize-winning film and television scores and collaborations with Frank Sinatra and Ray Charles. Jones rose from music school dropout to the very heights of show business, becoming one of the first Black executives to thrive in Hollywood.
READ MOREFor three weeks, Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus used the National Guard to block the Black students, known as the Little Rock Nine, from enrolling in Central High School. President Dwight D. Eisenhower sent federal troops to escort them into school on Sept. 25, 1957.
READ MOREMutombo’s impact reached far beyond basketball. After retiring from the game, he dedicated himself to humanitarian work, particularly in his home country, the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
READ MOREAmos was Emmy nominated for playing the adult Kunta Kinte, the centerpiece of “Roots,” based on Alex Haley’s novel set during and after the era of slavery in the U.S.
READ MORELucy was a heavyweight of the American labor movement and a fierce defender of civil and human rights. He marched shoulder to shoulder with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., co-founded the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and the Free South Africa Movement.
READ MOREMorial was the widow of New Orleans’ first Black mayor, Ernest N. “Dutch” Morial. Their son, Marc Morial, is also a former New Orleans mayor. Biden paid her respects in a video played for attendees during Monday's service at Xavier University. Young, who was a friend of Morial’s since their childhood, was among the speakers at the service, as was Sharpton.
READ MOREJim’s life was marked by a great passion for social justice, personally helping people who were marginalized by society to find employment and housing. The funeral Mass for Jim will be held at St. Andrew Catholic Church, 806 NE Alberta St., at 3 p.m., Saturday, September 14.
READ MOREA celebration of life will be held Saturday, Sept. 14. At 10:30 a.m. the Portland Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. will hold an “Omega Omega” Ceremony to which all are welcome. The Celebration of Life Service begins 11 a.m. at Greater Solid Rock COGIC, 1705 NE Dekum St.
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