Category: Black Excellence

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoffrey_Holder

Geoffrey Lamont Holder (August 1, 1930 – October 5, 2014) was a Trinidadian-American actor, dancer, musician, director, choreographer, and artist.^[2][3] He was a principal dancer for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, before his film career began in 1957 with an appearance in Carib Gold. For his theatre work, he won two Tony Awards, Best Direction of a Musical and Best Costume Design in a Musical for the original Broadway production of The Wiz.

https://www.npr.org/sections/goats-and-soda/2025/04/25/g-s1-62501/time-magazine-icon-most-influential-angeline-murimirwa

Angeline Murimirwa of Zimbabwe has really racked up kudos for her work as head of CAMFED, a charity that has enabled millions of girls in five African countries to stay in school — and thrive with the help of mentors. Murimirwa is one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people of 2025.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradford_Blackmon

Bradford Jerome Blackmon (born December 21, 1988)^[1] is an American attorney and Democratic Party politician from Mississippi. A son of state representative Edward Blackmon Jr. and state senator Barbara Blackmon, he was elected in 2023 to succeed his mother in the Mississippi State Senate.^[2][3]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jake_Blount

Jake Blount is an American musician and writer based in Providence, Rhode Island.^[1] He specializes in the traditional music of African Americans,^[2] and his work has been described as “Afrofuturist folklore.”^[3] Blount, while initially recognized for his skill as an old-time banjo player and fiddler,^[4][5] is a versatile multi-instrumentalist and vocalist who has described his music as “genrequeer.”^[6] He often performs most of the parts on his recordings, and fluently employs modern instruments and production techniques in his performances of centuries-old repertoire.^[7] His work critiques popular notions of genre^[6] and linear time,^[8] and usually centers themes of social and environmental justice.^[7]

https://www.elijahmanley.com/about

Born and raised in the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s historic Sistrunk community, Elijah Manley knows firsthand the struggles that too many families in South Florida still face today. Raised by a hardworking single mother and growing up in deep poverty, Elijah experienced chronic homelessness, food insecurity, and the harsh realities of living paycheck to paycheck. He understands what it’s like to go to school hungry, to live without electricity, and to wonder where his family would sleep at night.

https://www.npr.org/sections/the-picture-show/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5379904/biscuits-and-banjos-music-festival-photos

Dedicated to Black music reclamation and exploration, Biscuits & Banjos is a new music festival curated by Grammy-winning artist Rhiannon Giddens. The festival took place this past weekend in Durham, N.C., and featured artists like Taj Mahal, Infinity Song, Rissi Palmer and a Carolina Chocolate Drops reunion. It also incorporated Durham’s Black history with a walking tour of Black Wall Street, panel discussions, square and line dancing, and a juke joint-themed party with drag performances.

https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/herbert-charles-smitherman-sr-1937-2010

Dr. Herbert Charles Smitherman Sr. was a chemist and the first African American to be employed at Proctor & Gamble as a doctorate-level employee. He helped improve formulas for products such as Crest toothpaste, Bounce fabric softeners, Folgers’ coffee, and Safeguard soap.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/centenarian-bennie-fleming-reflects-on-her-dedication-to-a-life-of-service

For our “Hidden Histories” series as Women’s History Month draws to a close, Rhode Island PBS Weekly’s Michelle San Miguel introduces us to Bennie Fleming, a 100-year-old woman who embodies what it means to live a life of service — even when that service wasn’t always welcome.