Life

Harry Belafonte, a legendary Black musician, actor and civil rights activist has passed away in New York City, NY on April 25, 2023. He was 96 years old.

Harry Belafonte's achievements have contributed to set a foundation for Black actors and musicians, since the 1950s. In 1954, he won a Tony Award for his performance in John Murray Anderson's "Almanac". In 1959, he became the first Black performer to win an Emmy for the TV special "Tonight with Harry Belafonte."  Harry Belafonte will likely be remembered as  a civil rights activist and a humanitarian. Working with  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., he helped organize the 1963 March on Washington and supported protesters and activists financially, morrally and in other many ways. He also demonstrated against apartheid in South Africa.

The Black History Month in the United States is soon ending. The theme for the year is Black resistance. Once again, this month has helped Americans and the World to take time to remember and reflect on the discrimination Blacks have endured and the continuous struggle against the remnants of slavery, segregation, discrimination, and racial legacy. 

As the month is about to end, we are reflecting on the achievements of two people: Benjamin Lloyd Crump, the well known Black Civil Rights Lawyer who is changing the history and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a White German Pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident, who made history. Both pointed to the hypocrisy of leaders, either political or religious, of promoting racial and social injustice, by hiding or trying to erase history, factual races or ethnic groups, or documented historical events.

The Black History Month in the United States is moving forward. February 2023 theme is Black resistance, as Americans are taking time for remembrance and reflection and the country is reminded of the discrimination Blacks have endured and the continuous struggle against the remnants of slavery, segregation, and racial legacy.

The Black History Month is also a time to focus on understanding the question and dynamics of race in American society today and to remember the people who made sacrifices in building the foundation and helping attain some achievements for Blacks in America. Below are the some key pioners and most influential historic Blacks and African Americans who made such sacrifices or led the historic actions for civil rights, racial equality, and justice for Blacks in America.

World soccer legend and the best soccer player of all time, Edson Arantes do Nascimento, widely known around the world as Pelé, has passed away in São Paulo, Brazil. He was 82 years. Pele, a black man from Brazil, was born in the country side. He quickly rose to fame in his teens to became the most influential sport star. He was labelled "the greatest" by the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA).

Simone Biles,  the most decorated gymnast in the World championships history has added a new medal to her count. On Thursday, July 7, 2022, US President Joe Biden awarded Simone Biles the Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor. Simone Biles hence becomes the youngest person to win the Medal of Freedom.  

Sidney Poitier, a legendary Black actor and civil rights activist has passed away in Los Angeles, CA on January 6, 2022. He was 94 years old.
His death was confirmed by the office of the prime minister of the Bahamas. Sidney Poitier  was  the first Black man even to win a Best Actor Oscar.  Sidney Poitier,  whose parents hailed from the Bahamas, was also known for being the most prominent, if not the only representative of African-Americans in mainstream cinema during the tumultous period of the American Civil Rights movement.

On Wednesday, January 5, 2022, Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a pardon for civil rights activist Homer Plessy, 130 years after his arrest, trial and conviction, for protesting against racism. Homer Plessy's landmark case, Plessy v. Ferguson, was appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, where all White judges ruled in a 7-1 majority against him, reinforcing the racist "separate but equal" doctrine in the U.S and setting the foundation of the Jim Crow regime in the US southern states.

Nobel Prize Laureate, Freedom struggle icon and Leader in the South African Council of Churches Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu has died on December 26, 2021. He was 90 years old. Archbishop Desmond Tutu is considered as one of African freedom heroes for the  struggle against apartheid , corruption, dictatorship, and kleptocracy. 

General Colin Luther Powell, one of the most prominent Black US military and political figures has passed away. He was 84 years old.
According to the statement from his family, he died from COVID-19 complications. General Colin Powell is well known for his firsts as a Black African American: first US Black National Security Adviser, fist Black Secretary of State, and the youngest and Black Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Colin Powell, a long-time republican, was also known for endorsing the fist Black President Barack Obama, a democrat, and in the process, declining to run for president himself despite pressures from his party and republican supporters and instead endorsing other candidates, mostly democrats.

Marcel Theo Hall, known professionally as Biz Markie, was a pop culture star.  He died on July 16, 2021 in Baltimore, MD, USA. He was 57 years old An AfricanAmerican rapper, he was also a renown DJ, record producer, writer, singer, actor, and comedian.

Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) died on Sunday, July 11 in Paris, France. He was 81 years old.  Cardinal Laurent Monsengwo Pasinya, known to be close proche du Pope François, was a tireless fighter for peace in his country.

Zaila Avant-Garde, 14 years old,  won the Scripps National Spelling Bee Championship on Thursday, July 8, 2021. She was the first African American and the second Black to win the championship in the Scripps National Spelling Bee's 96-year history. The only previous Black winner was Jody-Anne Maxwell of Jamaica.