While there are only seven names on this list, there are hundreds of thousands of unsung stories waiting to be discovered. That is the true heart of The Block, to amplify and share the stories of our community.
It is our duty to keep Black stories alive and pass them down to each generation, and be mindful that we don’t know what we don’t know. We must educate ourselves with the lived experiences and moments of those who came before, so they’re never lost in the shuffle of life again.
Sister Rosetta Tharpe -“Godmother of Rock n Roll”
Known best as the Godmother of Rock n Roll, Tharpe made music for people who needed an escape from their present reality. Though her music was not inherently rock as we know it today, her gospel mix became the genesis of rock music that influenced legends like Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, and Little Richard. But, it’s not all that surprising when you learn that even Elvis has Black women writing for him.
Rose Marie McCoy – Songwriter
Though her own singing career never took off, McCoy has writing credits that span from Elvis to Nat King Cole to James Brown. McCoy successfully collaborated with songwriters through her career making the Billboard charts and even seeing a published song achieve a Grammy nomination. Several labels tried and failed to obtain her talent, because she vowed to remain an independent talent, so she could be in control of her music.
Gwendolyn Brooks- Poet and 1st Black Pulitzer Prize Winner in Literature
Gwendolyn Brooks showcased ordinary Black people in everyday culture, and normalized their life and every day feelings. She engaged in real conversations about the struggles that Black women faced, but did so in the most exquisite manner. It wasn’t just writing, Brooks understood the complexities of poetry and showcased them, so they were relatable and easily understood. Her work as a teacher influenced more young creatives and made a space for young women today like Amanda Gorman.
Gordon Parks- 1st Black person to direct a major motion picture
While Park started as a photographer, he is credited for being the first Black person to produce and direct major motion pictures. What would movies look like today without the telling and retelling of Black stories with Black people in the decision-making chairs. Known best for his film Shaft, Parks created “blaxploitation,” which became a subgenre focused on making the Black community and the people in it, marketable. This subgenre also integrated a new wave of soul and artistic design that created a new feel in the overall film. Parks unknowingly created a brand-new movement within the film industry, one that would live on for decades to come.
Max Robinson- 1st Black news anchor for a broadcast network, and founder of NABJ
Though we live in a world where now it may be normal to see people of color on our news screens, Robinson was fired once for removing a screen, showing his face, in Virginia in 1959. It took another 10 years for Robinson to make the local news station in Washington, DC making him the first Black anchor on a local TV news program. In 1978, ABC was looking for a third anchor and Robinson was hired making him the first Black anchor for a national news syndicate.
Esther Jones- Black Woman behind Betty Boop
Though her stage name is “Baby Esther,” she is most recognized for being the inspiration behind the caricature of Betty Boop. The complicated trial of Kane v. Fleischer revealed that the idea that Helen Kane was the inspiration may be false. After uncovering the mystery, it was discovered Kane stole Jones’ vibe from the start. The trial revealed that Kane attended Jone’s performance and began to imitate her signature sound. While no official report has been made, there is supported evidence that Jones was the original boop-oop-a-doop singer.
Jean-Michel Basquiat- Artist
He is more well known now as his art is gaining more attention, but Basquiat is far more than a street and commercial artist. Part of the neo-expressionism movement, Basquiat created art with stark dichotomies; these pieces awarding him the opportunity to be the youngest to show at the Whitney Biennial in New York. To date, his black skull with red and yellow rivulets is the most expensive painting ever purchased, having sold for $110.5 million dollars. His work lives on in the 21st century, and his estate has partnered with brands such as Target and COACH.
