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Black History, Los Angeles, CA, United States, California (2026)

02/20/2026

Clerow "Flip" Wilson Jr. (December 8, 1933 – November 25, 1998) was an American comedian and actor best known for his television appearances during the late 1960s and 1970s. From 1970 to 1974, Wilson hosted his own weekly variety series The Flip Wilson Show, and introduced viewers to his recurring character Geraldine. The series earned Wilson a Golden Globe and two Emmy Awards, and it was the second highest-rated show on network television for a time. Wilson was the first African American to host a successful TV variety show. In January 1972, Time magazine featured Wilson's image on its cover and named him "TV's first black superstar". He released a number of comedy albums in the 1960s and 1970s and won a Grammy Award for his 1970 album The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress.
Wilson kept performing and acting until the 1990s, though at a reduced schedule, up until his death from cancer in 1998. He hosted a short-lived revival of People Are Funny in 1984, and he had the lead role in the 1985–1986 sitcom Charlie & Co.
In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Wilson toured regularly through nightclubs with a black clientele in the so-called "Chitlin' Circuit". During the 1960s, Wilson became a regular at the Apollo Theater in Harlem. An unexpected break came in 1965, when comedian Redd Foxx was a guest on The Tonight Show and host Johnny Carson asked him who the funniest comedian at the time was; Foxx answered, "Flip Wilson". Carson then booked Wilson to appear on The Tonight Show and Wilson became a favorite guest on that show as well as on The Ed Sullivan Show. Wilson later singled out Sullivan as providing his biggest career boost. Wilson also made guest appearances on numerous TV comedies and variety shows, such as Here's Lucy (in which he played the role of "Prissy" in a spoof of Gone with the Wind with Lucille Ball as Scarlett), Laugh-In, and The Dean Martin Show, among others.
Wilson's warm and ebullient personality was infectious. Richard Pryor told Wilson, "You're the only performer that I've ever seen who goes on the stage and the audience hopes that you like them."
A routine titled "Columbus", from the 1967 album Cowboys and Colored People, brought Wilson to Hollywood industry attention. In this bit, Wilson retells the story of Christopher Columbus from an anachronistic urbanized viewpoint in which Columbus convinces the Spanish monarchs to fund his voyage by noting that discovering America means that he can also discover Ray Charles. Hearing this, Queen "Isabel Johnson", whose voice is an early version of Wilson's eventual "Geraldine" character, says that "Chris" can have "all the money you want, honey – You go find Ray Charles!" When Columbus departs from the dock, an inebriated Isabella is there, testifying to one and all that "Chris gonna find Ray Charles!"
In 1970, Wilson won a Grammy Award for his comedy album The Devil Made Me Buy This Dress. He was also a regular cast member on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In. DePatie-Freleng Enterprises featured Wilson in two animated TV specials, Clerow Wilson and the Miracle of P.S. 14 and Clerow Wilson's Great Escape

02/17/2026

James Earl Jones (born January 17, 1931) is an American actor. He has been described as "one of America's most distinguished and versatile" actors for his performances in film, television, and theater, and "one of the greatest actors in American history". With a career spanning six decades, Jones is among the few performers awarded an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT). Jones's voice has been praised as a "a stirring basso profondo that has lent gravel and gravitas" to his projects, including live-action acting, voice acting, and commercial voice-overs.
James Earl Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi. Born with a childhood stutter, Jones has said that poetry and acting helped him overcome the disability. Jones was educated at the Browning School for boys in his high school years and graduated in 1949 as vice president of his class from Dickson Rural Agricultural School (now Brethren High School) in Brethren, Michigan. He attended the University of Michigan, where he was initially a pre-med major. He joined the Reserve Officers' Training Corps and excelled. He felt comfortable within the structure of the military environment and enjoyed the camaraderie of his fellow cadets in the Pershing Rifles Drill Team and Scabbard and Blade Honor Society. During the course of his studies, Jones discovered he was not cut out to be a doctor.
Instead, he focused on drama at the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance with the thought of doing something he enjoyed, before, he assumed, he would have to go off to fight in the Korean War. After four years of college, Jones graduated from the university in 1955.
Since his Broadway debut in 1957, he has performed in several Shakespeare plays including Othello, Hamlet, Coriolanus, and King Lear. Jones made his film debut in Stanley Kubrick's 1964 film Dr. Strangelove. Jones worked steadily in theater winning his first Tony Award in 1968 for his role in The Great White Hope, which he reprised in the 1970 film adaptation earning him Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. He received his second Golden Globe Award nomination for his leading role opposite Diahann Carroll in the 1974 romantic comedy-drama film Claudine. Jones gained international fame for providing the voice of Darth Vader in the Star Wars franchise, beginning with the original 1977 film.
He won his second Tony Award in 1987 for his role in August Wilson's Fences. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Jones appeared in a number of other successful films, including Conan the Barbarian (1982), Matewan (1987), Coming to America (1988), Field of Dreams (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), The Sandlot (1993), and The Lion King (1994). During the 21st century, Jones has continued working in the theater, starring alongside Phylicia Rashad in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof in 2008, and Angela Lansbury in Gore Vidal's The Best Man (2012) on Broadway and in an Australian tour of Driving Miss Daisy (2013). He also appeared in You Can't Take it With You (2014) with Annaleigh Ashford and in The Gin Game (2015–16) alongside Cicely Tyson. Jones has reprised his roles in recent Star Wars media, The Lion King (2019) and Coming 2 America (2021).

02/17/2026

Singer and songwriter Fats Domino with wife Rosemarie and their six children (two more were born after this photo was taken) circa 1959. They were married from 1947 until her death in 2008.
Antoine Domino Jr. was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. One of the pioneers of rock and roll music, Domino sold more than 65 million records. Domino signed to Imperial Records in 1949. His first single "The Fat Man" is cited by some historians as the first rock and roll single and the first to sell more than 1 million copies. Domino continued to work with the song's co-writer Dave Bartholomew, contributing his distinctive rolling piano style to Lloyd Price's "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" (1952) and scoring a string of mainstream hits beginning with "Ain't That a Shame" (1955). Between 1955 and 1960, he had eleven Top 10 US pop hits. By 1955, five of his records had sold more than a million copies, being certified gold.
Domino was shy and modest by nature but made a significant contribution to the rock and roll genre. Elvis Presley declared Domino a "huge influence on me when I started out" and when they first met in 1959, described him as "the real king of rock 'n' roll". The Beatles were also heavily influenced by Domino.
Four of Domino's records were named to the Grammy Hall of Fame for their significance: "Blueberry Hill", "Ain't That a Shame", "Walking to New Orleans" and "The Fat Man".
He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as part of its first group of inductees in 1986. The Associated Press estimates that during his career, Domino "sold more than 110 million records". Domino received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1987

02/04/2026

Hubert F. Julian, often called "The Black Eagle," was a trailblazer in aviation history. Born in Trinidad in 1897, Julian became one of the earliest Black aviators and made significant contributions to the world of aviation.
Aviation Pioneer:
In 1913, a tragic incident involving aircraft designer Frank Boland, who died after crashing a tail-less biplane, inspired Julian to develop a safety device for aircraft. His invention was a combination of a parachute and propeller, aimed at saving lives in emergencies.
Inventor & Innovator:
His safety device led to a patent in 1921, showcasing Julian’s forward-thinking and inventive mind. Though his name is often overshadowed in mainstream history, his impact on aviation safety cannot be understated.
Legacy of Courage & Innovation:
Julian made history not only with his aviation skills but also for his relentless efforts to break racial barriers. His career symbolized both innovation and resilience. The image of the "Black Eagle" in the sky became a symbol of freedom, courage, and the fight for equality.
Have you ever heard of Hubert F. Julian before? What do you think about his contribution to aviation safety and his legacy? Let us know your thoughts!

02/04/2026

Ruby Nell Bridges at age 6, was the first African American child to attend William Franz Elementary School in New Orleans after Federal courts ordered the desegregation of public schools, 1960.

02/02/2026

Paula Kelly was an American actress that began her acting career in 1968. She appeared in her first theatrical movie in 1969 called "Sweet Charity" and in 1971, she landed a significant role in "The Andromeda Strain." During the early 1970s, Kelly starred in several movies in the famed Blaxploitation era. In 1972, she appeared in "Cool Breeze," Top of the Heap," and "Trouble Man." While most of her roles were minor, she still had a strong presence on screen, earning some more substantial parts later.
She starred in "Soylent Green" and "The Spook Who Sat by the Door" in 1973, and in 1974, she starred in "Lost in the Stars," where she displayed her singing and dancing talents, some of her greatest attributes. However, her part in "Uptown Saturday Night" was one of her most memorable roles as the fierce and charismatic "Leggy Peggy." Kelly continued acting in film and T.V. throughout the mid to late 70s, appearing in "Drum," "Good Times," and "Kojak."
During the 80s, Kelly's career flourished. She appeared in several T.V. shows with reoccurring roles such as "Nights Court" and "Santa Barbra." She also had excellent parts in "Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life is Calling" (1986) and "The Women of Brewster's Place" (1989). She earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in "Night Court" and Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Special for "The Women of Brewster Place." In the 1990s, Kelly continued her acting career in T.V. shows and films until 1999, when her acting credits stopped. She finished her career with 51 total acting credits. She passed away on Feburary 8th, 2020.
Paula Kelly was a phenomenal actress that was a joy to see on the screen. In addition, she was an excellent singer, dancer, and very charismatic. You knew you'd get someone who took her craft seriously when you saw her on screen.

02/02/2026

DADDY'S LITTLE GIRLS' (REAL-LIFE SIBLINGS) THEN & NOW
16 YEARS LATER...Daddy's Little Girls is a 2007 American film written and directed by Tyler Perry and produced by Perry and Reuben Cannon. The film stars Idris Elba, Gabrielle Union, Louis Gossett Jr., and Tracee Ellis Ross. It tells the story of a lawyer who helps a mechanic(Monty) in a custody battle against his mean-spirited ex-wife over who will get custody of their daughters.

Pictured Left to Right:

➡Lauryn Alisa McClain (born January 7, 1997) is an American actress and singer. In 'Daddy's Little Girls,' she played Monty's middle daughter(Lauryn James). She is also known for Haunt (2019), 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020) and A.N.T. Farm (2011).

Lauryn was in her first school musical when she discovered her love for singing and acting. She was once a very, shy girl; however, her appearance in her 1st film, The Gospel, left her wanting more. So she put away her stage fright and picked up a guitar.

➡Sierra Aylina McClain (born March 16, 1994) is an American actress and singer. In 'Daddy's Little Girls,' she played Monty's oldest daughter(Sierra James). She had her breakthrough as Nessa Parker in Empire (2016–2018), and is also best known for starring as Tanya Clifton in the television series Mindhunter (2019). Her film roles have included starring as Tosha in the films Honey: Rise Up and Dance (2018), and as Carina in Shrink (2009). She is currently starring as Grace Ryder in 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020–present).

➡China Anne McClain (born August 25, 1998) is an American actress and singer. In 'Daddy's Little Girls,' she played Monty's youngest daughter(China James). Her career began when she was seven years old, portraying Alexis in the film The Gospel (2005). She received recognition for starring as Jazmine Payne in the television series Tyler Perry's House of Payne (2007–2012; 2020–present) and as Charlotte McKenzie in the film Grown Ups (2010); and became internationally known for starring as Chyna Parks in the Disney Channel television series A.N.T. Farm (2011–2014), and as Uma in the Disney Channel films Descendants 2 (2017) and Descendants 3 (2019). She also voiced Freddy in Descendants: Wicked World. In 2018, McClain began starring in The CW superhero series Black Lightning (2018–2021) as Jennifer Pierce / Lightning. She also reprised her character Jazmine Payne on OWN's revival of The Paynes (2018).

China began her musical career in 2005 as a member of the sister girl group the 3mcclaingirls with her sisters Sierra and Lauryn. Her first professional single was "Your Biggest Fan" with Nick Jonas on the soundtrack album Jonas L.A. (2010). In 2011, McClain signed with Hollywood Records both as a solo artist and with her sister girl group, known as the McClain Sisters. Her debut single as a solo artist was "Dynamite" which peaked at no. 2 on the US Kid Digital Songs, and her second single, "Calling All the Monsters", peaked at no. 1 on the same chart and earned 25,000 downloads within its first week of release. The A.N.T. Farm soundtrack album spent five weeks on the Billboard Kids chart in 2011 and sold 14,000 copies in its first week of release. Billboard also named her the sixth best-selling artist for digital kids' songs in 2012. In 2017, her single "What's My Name" from Descendants 2 peaked on several Billboard charts, and was certified gold, with 500,000 units sold, on November 10, 2017. In June 2020 her sister girl group changed their name to Thriii.

FAMILY

The McClain sisters comes from an artistic family. Their father, Michael McClain, is a music producer who produced Solange Knowles' debut album Solo Star (2002). Their mother, Shontell McClain, is a songwriter and former screenwriter.

They also have a brother named Gabriel McClain. He is an actor, known for Hubie Halloween (2020), Daddy's Little Girls (2007) and Thriii Feat. Messenger: My Sanity (2020)

02/01/2026

1930 Wiley College Debate Team - The Great Debaters
Students from the debate team went on to actively participate in the Civil Rights Movement. James Farmer Jr. went on to found the Congress of Racial Equality and become a leader in the Civil Rights Movement.
Wiley College is a four-year, private, historically black, liberal arts college located on the west side of Marshall, Texas. Founded in 1873 by the Methodist Episcopal Church's Bishop Isaac Wiley and certified in 1882 by the Freedman's Aid Society, it is notable as one of the oldest predominantly black colleges west of the Mississippi River.
Henrietta Bell Wells (October 11, 1912 – February 27, 2008) was the first female member of the debate team at historically black Wiley College in Texas. She was born Henrietta Pauline Bell on the banks of Buffalo Bayou in Houston, Texas to a West Indian single mother.
During her year on the team, Wiley beat some of the top historically black colleges including Tuskegee University and Howard University. They also made history by participating in the first college debate between white and African American students in 1930 when they debated students from the Law School at the University of Michigan. Despite the team’s success, Ms. Bell was only able to participate on the debate team for one year because financial pressures forced her to work in order to continue her education.
Bell married fellow Episcopalian Rev. Wallace L. Wells and went on to be a social worker and teacher in Gary, Indiana; Houston, Texas; Birmingham, Alabama and New Orleans, Louisiana. Their assignment in Gary, Indiana included the building of architecturally significant St. Augustine's Episcopal Church in Gary, Indiana. Mrs. Wells also served as the Dean of Women at Dillard University in New Orleans. She died 27 February 2008 in Baytown, Texas.
The character Samantha Booke in the 2007 movie, The Great Debaters, played by Jurnee Smollett, was loosely based on Wells. Wells stated that she had told Denzel Washington, who directed the film, to also play her team's coach, Melvin B. Tolson, in the film.
Bell is buried in Paradise North Cemetery in Houston, Harris County, Texas

02/01/2026

Thomas Calhoun Walker (1862-1953)
Teacher, lawyer, and government official Walker was born into slavery on June 16, 1862, in a small cabin at Spring Hill in Gloucester County, Virginia. On January 1, 1863, when Walker was just a few months old, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation freeing all slaves. Walker’s parents, despite their new liberty, chose to stay and work on plantations around Spring Hill.
Walker’s former owner and master died, and his son Lieutenant William J. Baytop took over the plantation. Lieutenant Baytop and his wife had no children of their own and convinced Walker’s parents to let them keep him while he was young. The Baytops treated young Walker well. They named him Thomas after his biological father and Calhoun after South Carolina Senator John C. Calhoun. When he was a few years older, Walker’s father sent for him, and the Baytops returned him to his family.
Walker and his family lived near Edge Hill where they rented a two-room shed and a kitchen. The boy’s childhood ended at the age of 10 when he began working odd jobs to help support his family. Walker desperately wanted an education, but his father said that at age 10 he was too old to learn. At 13 he could neither read nor write. But young Walker persisted and finally learned to read when a Sunday School teacher gave him a spelling book called “John Common’s Book.”
As a teenager, Walker scraped together 92 cents and journeyed to Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia, in hopes of obtaining a higher education. Unfortunately, due to his limited education and resources, Walker was unable to pass Hampton’s entrance exam and was denied admission. Walker refused to give up and returned to Hampton, persuading the school’s founder, General Samuel J. Armstrong, to make an exception and allow him to enroll. Armstrong did on the condition that he be given work to do on campus during the day and attend classes at night.
In 1883 Walker began studying law. He made little progress until he began studying under former Confederate General William B. Taliaferro in 1887. Walker had trouble gaining law books so the General granted him unlimited access to his private library.
Thomas Calhoun Walker was admitted to the Virginia Bar in 1887. During his long career, he worked tirelessly to defend fellow African Americans, taking on a number of cases of black men falsely accused of ra**ng white women. He also entered politics. In 1891 at the age of 29, he was elected to the Gloucester County Board of Supervisors. In 1896, President William McKinley appointed Walker as Virginia’s first black Collector of Customs.
In 1934 President Franklin D. Roosevelt appointed Walker as advisor and consultant of Negro affairs for the Virgin

01/31/2026

Sophia Danenberg is the first African American and black woman to climb to the summit of the World’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest in Nepal. She has also successfully climbed other mountains including Mount Tasman in New Zealand, Mount Rainier in Washington state, and Mount Kenya in Kenya.

01/31/2026

Lawrence Brooks - Oldest WWII veteran aged 110, holding a photo of himself.

01/31/2026

Whitney Elizabeth Houston was an American singer, actress, and model, born on August 9, 1963, in Newark, New Jersey. She rose to fame in the 1980s and became one of the most successful and influential female artists of all time.

Houston's musical talent was evident from a young age; she sang in church choirs and learned to play the piano. In the early 1980s, she began performing as a backup vocalist for artists like Chaka Khan and Jermaine Jackson. Her big break came in 1985 when she released her debut album, "Whitney Houston," which became the best-selling debut album by a female artist at that time.

Throughout her career, Houston achieved numerous milestones, including seven consecutive number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Her powerful voice, vocal range, and emotive delivery captivated audiences worldwide. Some of her most iconic songs include "I Will Always Love You," "Greatest Love of All," and "I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)."

In addition to her music career, Houston also ventured into acting, starring in films such as "The Bodyguard" and "Waiting to Exhale." She received critical acclaim for her acting abilities as well as her musical talent.

Despite her professional success, Houston faced personal struggles, including issues with substance abuse and a tumultuous marriage to singer Bobby Brown. These struggles took a toll on her career and personal life, leading to legal issues and public scrutiny.

Tragically, Whitney Houston passed away on February 11, 2012, at the age of 48. Her death was ruled as an accidental drowning, with heart disease and co***ne use listed as contributing factors. Despite her untimely passing, Houston's legacy continues to live on through her timeless music and influence on future generations of artists

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