Obituaries
Gospel legend Richard Smallwood, 8-time Grammy nominee, dies at 77 after kidney failure. Pioneered contemporary gospel sound.
Pioneering Black Park Ranger Betty Reid Soskin, 104, championed marginalized voices & ensured underrepresented histories were not forgotten.
As we’ve come to understand year after year, day after day even, death is unfortunately an inevitable part of life. Still, as much of a fact as that may be, the blow of experiencing loss never gets any easier, nor does reporting on the subject in Black culture.
Viola “Mother” Ford Fletcher, one of the last living survivors of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died in Tulsa at the age of 111.
Jimmy Cliff’s international breakthrough came in 1972 after starring and recording the soundtrack for the cult classic film “The Harder They Come.”
Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin, formerly known as H. Rap Brown, a Black revolutionary who preached armed resistance, dies at 82.
Activist, revolutionary, Black Panther Party leader and member of the Black Liberation Army (BLA), Assata Olugbala Shakur, has died at age 78, according to her daughter, Kakuya Shakur, meaning the ancestors have gained a fierce warrior in the fight against white supremacy. Shakur, born JoAnne Deborah Byron on July 16, 1947, in the Flushing neighborhood of […]
Esaw Snipes-Garner became a community activist after her husband, Eric Garner, was killed in an act of police violence.
Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel died Monday at 94. He leaves behind a legacy of working to change the lives of Black people in America.
We are sad to report that Jerry “The Iceman” Butler, the original lead singer of The Impressions who went on to a successful career as a solo artist and in politics, passed away at age 85. Butler’s assistant and “niece at heart,” Marty, exclusively confirmed the news to TMZ, saying he passed away from natural […]
Kultida Woods, mother of legendary golfer Tiger Woods, has died at the age of 80, according to Tiger himself. He announced the news via a statement on his X account. Tiger described his mother as “biggest fan” and “greatest supporter” in his heartfelt message about Kultida’s passing: “My Mom was a force of nature all […]
Notable People Who Have Passed Away in 2025 UPDATED: January 4th 2025 3:00PM The year 2025 brings reflection as the world continues to lose remarkable individuals who influence and inspire through their talents, vision, and dedication. These figures leave a lasting impact across the arts, sciences, business, public service, and more, shaping lives and communities […]