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Greenwood, Okla.: The Legacy of the Tulsa Race Riot
Editor’s note: Here’s the story of a sad chapter of American history, pulled from The Root’s archives. J.B. Stradford, the son of a freed Kentucky slave, rose to prominence in Oklahoma during the early 1900s as one of the key developers of the all-black Tulsa enclave Greenwood. A lawyer and businessman, Stradford owned the 65-room…
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Blues Legend B.B. King Dead at 89
B.B. King, the legendary singer-guitarist-composer who became one of the greatest success stories among African-American blues artists, died Thursday in Las Vegas. He was 89. His attorney, Brent Bryson, told the Associated Press that King died peacefully in his sleep at his home. It had recently been reported that King, who suffered from diabetes, was…
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Muhammad Ali, From Fiery Young Man to Serene Survivor, Dead at 74
One of boxing’s most legendary fighters, Muhammad Ali, died Friday, June 3, in Arizona after being hospitalized for respiratory problems. He was 74. Ali had long been in decline as a result of the Parkinson’s symptoms he developed soon after his boxing career ended. As celebrated as he was for his performance inside the ring—amassing 56…
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Al Jarreau, a Unique Musical Stylist, Dead at 76
Renowned for his unique vocal style and musical expressiveness, Al Jarreau died Sunday, Feb. 12, at the age of 76, just a week after being admitted to the hospital for exhaustion. The seven-time Grammy Award winner was the second vocalist in music history to receive the coveted award in three categories: jazz, pop and R&B.…
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Chuck Berry, the Father of Rock ’n’ Roll, Dies at 90
Singer, guitarist and songwriter Chuck Berry, a giant in the history of rock ’n’ roll whose turbulent private life was marked by a rocky relationship with the legal system, died Saturday at the age of 90. The St. Charles County Police Department in Missouri confirmed Berry’s death in a Facebook post. Officers responded to a…
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Comedian and Civil Rights Activist Dick Gregory Dead at 84
Comedian Dick Gregory—who attacked racism through a biting and satirical style of comedy, and was equally well-known for his civil rights activism and advocacy of an austere health regimen—died Saturday, Aug. 19, at the age of 84. Gregory’s family confirmed his death with a post on Instagram. Born Oct. 12, 1932, in St. Louis, Gregory…
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Robert Guillaume, TV’s Benson, Dead at 89
Best known for his role as Benson DuBois in the television series Soap and the spinoff Benson, Robert Guillaume was an accomplished operatic singer and stage actor. He was also a sensitive man whose turbulent personal life reflected a troubled childhood. He died Tuesday at the age of 89 from complications of prostate cancer. Born…
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Gifted Singer and Actress Della Reese Dead at 86
From the clubs to stages, Della Reese captured audiences with her melodic voice and ballads that crossed many genres, including jazz, blues and gospel. The songstress, who also displayed her talents as a character actress on TV and the big screen, died Sunday evening at age 86, People reports. Born July 6, 1931, Delloreese Patricia…
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Joe Jackson, Controversial Patriarch of a Musical Dynasty, Has Died at 89
Joseph Walter Jackson, who aspired to be a musician himself, instead became the mastermind behind the most successful musical family in pop history, attracting much controversy along the way. He died Wednesday morning in Los Angeles, according to TMZ. He was 89. Family sources told TMZ that Jackson died of cancer. He was surrounded by…
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Nobel Prize Winner Toni Morrison, One of America’s Greatest Writers, Has Died at 88
A writer’s life and work are not a gift to mankind; they are its necessity. —Toni Morrison text In describing the literary greatness of Toni Morrison—winner of the 1993 Nobel Prize in literature, the first awarded to an African-American woman—the Nobel Foundation said that Morrison “in novels characterized by visionary force and poetic import, gives…
Black News and Black Views with a Whole Lotta Attitude
