December 13, 1967 Eric Marlon Bishop (Jamie Foxx), stand-up comedian, actor and singer, was born in Terrell, Texas. Foxx began performing stand-up in 1989 and changed his name to Jamie Foxx, choosing the surname as a tribute to Redd Foxx. In 1991, he joined the cast of the television show “In Living Color” and from […]
Tag Archives | Academy Award
September 15th in African American History – The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama
September 15, 1963 The 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was bombed by members of the United Klan of America. Addie Mae Collins (14), Denise McNair (11), Carole Robertson (14) and Cynthia Wesley (14) were killed in the blast, and 22 other people were injured. Outrage at the bombing resulted in violence across Birmingham […]
September 12th in African American History – Jennifer Kate Hudson
September 12, 1981 Jennifer Kate Hudson, recording artist and actress, was born in Chicago, Illinois. Hudson got her start in performing at the age of seven singing in the church choir. She came to prominence in 2004 as one of the finalist on the television show, “American Idol”. In 2006, she made her film debut […]
August 14th in African American History – Maria Halle Berry
August 14, 1968 Maria Halle Berry, actress, former model, and beauty queen, was born in Cleveland, Ohio. Prior to becoming an actress, Berry won Miss Teen All-American in 1985, Miss Ohio USA in 1986, and she was first runner-up in Miss USA 1986. That same year, she became the first African American entrant in the […]
August 11th in African American History – Viola Davis
August 11, 1965 Viola Davis, stage and film actress, was born in St. Matthews, South Carolina. Davis graduated from Rhode Island College with a major in theatre in 1988. She also attended the Juilliard School for the Performing Arts from 1990 to 1994. Davis won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress […]
August 9th in African American History – Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr.
August 9, 2008 Isaac Lee Hayes, Jr., musician, songwriter, singer and actor, died. Hayes was born August 20, 1942 in Covington, Tennessee. He began his career in the early 1960s as a session player, songwriter, and producer at Stax Records. Along with his partner David Porter, Hayes wrote a string of hits for the artists […]
July 15th in African American History – Forest Steven Whitaker
July 15, 1961 Forest Steven Whitaker, actor, producer and director, was born in Longview, Texas. Whitaker’s family moved to Los Angeles in 1965 due to racism. While in high school, Whitaker took voice lessons, performed in musicals, and caught the “acting bug.” Whitaker was accepted into the Music Conservatory at the University of Southern California […]