Discover the notable alumni of Fisk University. The list includes people like W. E. B. Du Bois, Ida B. Wells, Marion Barry, James Weldon Johnson & Nikki Giovanni. This list of notable alumni is loosely sorted by popularity and has people from different domains of life, such as writers, intellectuals & academics, activists, musicians and media personalities etc.
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Birthdate: February 23, 1868
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Great Barrington, Massachusetts, United States
Died: August 27, 1963
W. E. B. Du Bois was an American civil rights activist, sociologist, and Pan-Africanist. Du Bois played an instrumental role in fighting for full civil rights for people of color around the world. A co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, Du Bois also played an important role as the leader of the Niagara Movement.
2
Ida B. Wells(Women's Rights Activist and Civil Rights Leader)
Birthdate: July 16, 1862
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Holly Springs, Mississippi, United States
Died: March 25, 1931
Civil rights and women's rights activist Ida B. Wells is remembered for speaking up against the lynching of Blacks in the U.S. She was born a slave and freed by the Emancipation Proclamation. She later co-founded the NAACP. She also co-owned and wrote for Memphis Free Speech and Headlight.
3
Johnny Lewis(Actor)
Birthdate: October 29, 1983
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
Died: September 26, 2012
Height: 5'10" (178 cm)
Recommended Lists:4
Kym Whitley(Comedian)
Birthdate: June 7, 1961
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Shaker Heights, Ohio, USA
Recommended Lists:5
Nikki Giovanni(Poet, Writer)
Birthdate: June 7, 1943
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Knoxville
6
W. C. Handy(Composer)
Birthdate: November 16, 1873
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Florence, Alabama, United States
Died: March 28, 1958
Recommended Lists:7
Mathew Knowles(Businessperson)
Birthdate: January 9, 1952
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Gadsden, Alabama, United States
Birthdate: March 6, 1936
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Itta Bena, Mississippi, U.S.
Died: November 23, 2014
Recommended Lists:9
Mandisa(Singer)
Birthdate: October 2, 1976
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Citrus Heights
10
John Hope Franklin(Historian, University teacher, Author, Professor, Writer)
Birthdate: January 2, 1915
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Oklahoma
Died: March 25, 2009
Historian and academic John Hope Franklin is best remembered for his work on the American Civil War era and Black history. A Harvard alumnus, he initially taught at various universities and first gained attention with his book From Slavery to Freedom. He had also won the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Recommended Lists:11
Nella Larsen(American Novelist Who is Considered as the Most Important Novelist of the Harlem Renaissance)
Birthdate: April 13, 1891
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
Died: March 30, 1964
Nella Larsen was an American novelist who also worked as a librarian and nurse. Among her literary work were her novels, Quicksand and Passing; the latter was adapted into a film of the same name in 2021. Larsen's work has gained renewed interest since the 20th century. Today, she is recognized as the most important novelist of the Harlem Renaissance.
12
Melvin Tolson(Poet)
Birthdate: February 6, 1898
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Moberly, Missouri, United States
Died: August 29, 1966
Recommended Lists:13
Diane Nash(Human rights activist)
Birthdate: May 15, 1938
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, United States
14
Constance Baker Motley(Senior Judge of the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York)
Birthdate: September 14, 1921
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut, United States
Died: September 28, 2005
Recommended Lists:15
Otis Boykin(American Inventor and Engineer)
Birthdate: August 29, 1920
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, United States
Died: March 26, 1982
16
Judith Jamison(Dancer)
Birthdate: May 10, 1943
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Recommended Lists:17
Aaron Douglas(Painter)
Birthdate: May 26, 1899
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Topeka, Kansas, United States
Died: February 2, 1979
18
Jimmie Lunceford(Saxophonist)
Birthdate: June 6, 1902
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Fulton, Mississippi, United States
Died: July 12, 1947
Recommended Lists:19
Robert McFerrin(American Operatic Baritone Who Became the First African-American to Perform at 'Metropolitan Opera')
Birthdate: March 19, 1921
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Marianna, Arkansas, United States
Died: November 24, 2006
Robert McFerrin was an American operatic baritone. In 1955, he performed at the famous Metropolitan Opera, becoming the first African-American to do so. He was also the first African-American to win the Auditions of the Air contest at the Metropolitan Opera. Robert McFerrin is credited with inspiring a generation of African-American singers.
20
Mary Frances Berry(Historian)
Birthdate: February 17, 1938
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Nashville, Tennessee, United States
Recommended Lists:21
George Padmore(Writer, Journalist)
Birthdate: June 28, 1903
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Arouca, Trinidad and Tobago
Died: September 23, 1959
22
Johnnetta Cole(Anthropologist and educator)
Birthdate: October 19, 1936
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Jacksonville, Florida, United States
Recommended Lists:23
Charles Diggs(Politician)
Birthdate: December 2, 1922
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Detroit, Michigan, United States
Died: August 24, 1998
24
Terry Adkins(Artist)
Birthdate: May 9, 1953
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Washington, D.C., United States
Died: February 8, 2014
Recommended Lists:25
Etta Zuber Falconer(Educator)
Birthdate: November 21, 1933
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Tupelo, Mississippi, United States
Died: September 19, 2002
26
Fatima Massaquoi(Writer)
Birthdate: December 25, 1912
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Gendema, Pujehun, Sierra Leone
Died: November 26, 1978
Recommended Lists:27
Ron Walters(Author)
Birthdate: July 20, 1938
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Wichita, Kansas, United States
Died: September 10, 2010
