Branford Marsalis, born on August 26, 1960, is a legendary jazz saxophonist. He comes from a musical family, with his father, Ellis Marsalis Jr., being a well-known jazz pianist, and his brothers—Wynton, Delfeayo, and Jason—being accomplished musicians as well. Branford has made significant contributions to jazz through his work with his own groups and collaborations with jazz greats like Art Blakey, Miles Davis, and others. He’s known for his virtuosity and versatility, blending elements of classical music and modern jazz in his playing.

Valerie Simpson, born on August 26, 1946, is a celebrated American singer, songwriter, and producer, best known as half of the musical duo Ashford & Simpson. Along with her late husband, Nickolas Ashford, she contributed significantly to the world of R&B, soul, and pop music. Some of their most iconic hits include “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” “Solid,” and “Reach Out and Touch (Somebody’s Hand).” Their legacy continues to inspire and influence many artists across genres.

On August 26, 1943, Congressman William L. Dawson of Chicago was recommended as the Democratic Party’s vice-presidential candidate.  At that time, Dawson was the only African American serving in Congress.  Despite this recommendation, he was not selected as the vice-presidential nominee. Dawson went on to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1943 until his death in 1970,  and became the first African American to chair a standing committee in Congress.

Katherine G. Johnson was a pioneering mathematician and aerospace technologist whose work at NASA was crucial in the success of several space missions. She was born on August 26, 1918, in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. Johnson’s calculations of orbital mechanics were critical in the success of early space missions, including John Glenn’s orbital flight in 1962.

Her contributions to NASA, particularly her work in calculating flight trajectories and the path for the first American in space, Alan Shepard, and later, the Apollo moon landings, were groundbreaking. Despite facing racial and gender barriers, Johnson’s work had a profound impact on space exploration.

She was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2015 and has been honored in many ways for her trailblazing role in science and mathematics. Her legacy was also highlighted in the movie Hidden Figures, which chronicles her life and the lives of other African-American women who worked at NASA during the Space Race.

George Washington, founder of the town of Centerville (later Centralia), Washington in 1875, dies

Hale Woodruff, born on August 26, 1900, was an influential African American artist and educator. He is best known for his role in founding the Atlanta University Art Exhibition, which provided a platform for African American artists in the 1940s. Woodruff was deeply committed to promoting African American art and culture. His work and contributions to the art world were significant during a time when racial inequality was pervasive in the United States. He also made an impact as a teacher, shaping the careers of many artists, and is recognized for his murals, paintings, and his leadership in the arts community.

On August 26, 1874, a horrific event took place in Tennessee where sixteen African Americans were lynched. This was part of a larger pattern of racial violence and terror during the Reconstruction era and beyond. The motivations behind these lynchings were often rooted in racial animus, as well as attempts to maintain white supremacy and control over the Black population after the Civil War.

Lynching was tragically common in the post-Reconstruction South, where groups like the Ku Klux Klan and others would engage in extrajudicial killings, often targeting Black men for alleged offenses ranging from economic competition to social interactions with white people. These acts of violence were intended to intimidate the Black community and deter efforts toward achieving equality and civil rights.

This specific incident, along with others like it, highlights the deeply entrenched racial violence and oppression in the South during this time period. It serves as a stark reminder of the long and painful struggle for racial justice in the United States.