On this 24th day of Black History Month, we honor the extraordinary heritage of Madam C.J. Walker — born Sarah Breedlove — a trailblazing entrepreneur, philanthropist, and activist who became the first widely recognized self-made female millionaire in America. Orphaned at the age of 7 and widowed by 20 with a young daughter, Walker worked…
We have some devastating news. Former WNBA All-Star and two-time champion Kara Braxton passed away on February 21, 2026, following a single-vehicle crash on Interstate 285 near Atlanta. Authorities reported that Braxton, 43, was driving a 2023 Ford Mustang when her vehicle struck a concrete median wall around 5 p.m. The car continued against the…
We are honored to celebrate Jerry Lawson during Black History Month — a true pioneer who changed the gaming world forever. Born on December 1, 1940, in New York City, Lawson was a self-taught electrical engineer who grew up inspired by agricultural scientist George Washington Carver. As a young man, he repaired televisions and experimented with…
Hollywood is set to celebrate one of its most powerful and enduring voices. On Thursday, February 26, 2026, at 11:30 a.m. PT, legendary actor and director Bill Duke will receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6201 Hollywood Boulevard. The honor marks the 2,837th star in the Motion Pictures category and coincides with Duke’s…
On this 22nd day of Black History Month, we celebrate Dr. Marian Croak — a pioneering engineer and inventor whose work transformed communication technology worldwide. Dr. Croak is best known for developing Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) while at AT&T Bell Labs in the 1980s and 1990s. This breakthrough technology allows voice and video calls…
On the 21st day of Black History Month, we proudly honor Thomas L. Jennings, a trailblazer whose ingenuity and courage left an indelible mark on American history. On March 3, 1821, Jennings became the first African American to receive a U.S. patent—an extraordinary achievement not only for its innovation but also for its timing. Jennings’…
On this 20th day of Black History Month, we proudly recognize Valerie L. Thomas (born 1943) — a pioneering NASA scientist, physicist, and inventor whose groundbreaking work helped shape modern imaging technology. A physicist by training, Thomas played a vital role at NASA, where she managed image-processing systems for the Landsat program, helping enable some of…
On this 19th day of Black History Month, we proudly celebrate Dr. Charles R. Drew — a pioneering surgeon, visionary medical researcher, and humanitarian whose work transformed modern medicine. Dr. Drew revolutionized the way blood plasma is processed, preserved, and stored, making transfusions safer, more efficient, and widely accessible. His innovations laid the foundation for modern…
Jacksonville rapper Lil Poppa, born Janarious Mykel Wheeler, has died at the age of 25. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed that an autopsy was conducted on Thursday (Feb. 19), one day after Poppa was pronounced dead shortly after 11 a.m. in Fulton County, Georgia. His death was ruled a suicide. Poppa first gained…
This Black History Month, we spotlight Alice H. Parker, an African American inventor from New Jersey whose groundbreaking 1919 patent helped reshape the future of indoor heating. While hers was not the first furnace ever created, Parker’s invention marked one of the earliest gas-powered central heating systems — a bold step away from inefficient fireplaces…
