Today In Black History: James Earl Jones
The EGOT "Voice" of the past 70 years dies at age 93.
Issue #720 Today In Black History, Monday, September 9, 2024
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James Earl Jones was born on January 17, 1931, in Arkabutla, Mississippi, to Ruth Connolly and Robert Earl Jones. Overcoming a severe stutter in his youth, Jones found solace and a powerful means of expression through poetry and drama, setting the stage for his future success. Jones graduated from the University of Michigan.
Jones’s resonant, commanding voice became one of the most recognizable in the world. His portrayal of Mufasa in Disney’s "The Lion King" and his role as the voice of Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" franchise have secured his place in the pantheon of great American actors.
Jones’s theater career began in the late 1950s. His performances in Shakespearean plays garnered critical acclaim, and he became a regular on the Broadway stage. His portrayal of Paul Robeson in “Paul Robeson” and Troy Maxson in August Wilson’s “Fences” are particularly noteworthy, earning him two Tony Awards for Best Actor.
In 1969, he became the first African American actor to receive a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his role in “The Great White Hope,” a performance that also earned him an Academy Award nomination.
James Earl Jones’s contributions to the arts have been recognized with numerous awards and honors. He is a recipient of the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors, a Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement, and an Honorary Academy Award. His induction into the American Theater Hall of Fame and the receipt of the National Medal of Arts further underscore his profound impact on American culture.
James Earl Jones is one of only twenty-one actors who achieved EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards) status.
James Earl Jones died on September 9, 2024, at his home in Pawling, New York, at the age of 93.
CNN said in a statement that Jones "was the voice of CNN and our brand for many decades, uniquely conveying instant authority, grace, and decorum through speech. That remarkable voice is just one of many things the world will miss about James."
Jones's alma mater, the University of Michigan, paid tribute to him by posting a "We Are Michigan" video narrated by Jones on X. The NAACP, SAG-AFTRA, The Public Theater, and MLB also paid tribute to Jones. The Empire State Building in New York City was lit up to look like Jones’s iconic Darth Vader villain from “Star Wars.”
Today In Black History
In 1913, the Black newspaper, the Cleveland “Call & Post” was established.
In 1913, it was reported that 51 Blacks were lynched.
In 1933, the 1st Negro League All-Star Game was played at Comiskey Park, with the West beating the East 11-7.
In 1956, the public schools of Louisville, Kentucky were integrated.
In 1960, Abebe Bikila of Ethiopia ran barefoot and won the Gold Medal, the first ever for Africa, at the Rome Olympics.
In 1961, Jomo Kenyatta returned to Kenya from exile to lead his country.
In 1962, Supreme Court Associate Justice Hugo Black vacated an order of a lower court ruling that the University of Mississippi had to admit James H. Meredith, a Black Air Force veteran.
In 1973, world-renowned Black artist Henry Ossawa Tanner was commemorated on a U.S. postage stamp.
In 1974, the African nation of Guinea-Bissau gained its independence from Portugal.
In 2018, John Legend became the first Black male EGOT (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony) winner.
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