Today In Black History: John Amos
"Good Times," "Roots," and so much more!
Issue #741 Today In Black History, Monday, October 7, 2024
There are no ads or popups in our Substack.
To further support our businesses, please see the “Shameless Plug” information at the end of this article.
If you like us, REALLY like us, please click the “Like” button at the end of this post!
Your “Likes” mean a LOT to us! We appreciate your support!
John Allen Amos, Jr. was born in Newark, New Jersey, on December 27, 1939. Before becoming a household name as an actor, Amos pursued an athletic career, earning a football scholarship to Colorado State University.
Amos was a veteran of the 50th Armored Division of the New Jersey National Guard and Honorary Master Chief of the United States Coast Guard.
In 1964, Amos signed a free-agent contract with the Denver Broncos (AFL 1964). Unable to run the 40-yard dash because of a pulled hamstring, he was released on the second day of training camp.
Amos played for various non-NFL teams in the 1960s, and in 1967, he signed a free-agent contract with the AFL's Kansas City Chiefs (AFL 1967). Coach Hank Stram told him, "You're not a football player; you're a man who is trying to play football."
Amos then started concentrating exclusively on his acting career. He first gained widespread recognition for his role as James Evans Sr. on the groundbreaking sitcom "Good Times" (1974-1976). Portraying the hardworking and principled patriarch of a struggling Black family in Chicago, Amos challenged stereotypes and highlighted the real experiences of some African American families during the 1970s.
John Amos is equally renowned for portraying the adult Kunta Kinte in the groundbreaking television miniseries Roots (1977). Based on Alex Haley's novel Roots chronicles the harrowing journey of an African man who was captured from his homeland as a child and sold into slavery and his descendants' fight for freedom.
Amos also had a recurring role as Admiral Percy Fitzwallace on The West Wing and as the Mayor of Washington, DC, Ethan Baker, in the series The District.
In addition to receiving an Emmy nomination for Roots, Amos was nominated for a CableACE award, an NAACP Image Award, and a DVD Exclusive Award. He won three TV Land Awards for his roles on The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Good Times, and Roots. Amos was also nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award and an NAACP Image Award.
In 2020, Amos was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.
Amos’ extensive body of work spans genres, including notable films such as "Coming to America" (1988), in which he charmed audiences with his comedic timing as Cleo McDowell, and "Die Hard 2" (1990), which showcased his versatility as an actor.
Amos was an accomplished playwright. His one-man show, "Halley's Comet," which he wrote and performed, received accolades for its poignant storytelling and reflection on societal issues.
Amos had two children: a daughter, Shannon Amos, a writer/producer and founder of Afterglow Multimedia, LLC, and a son, Grammy-nominated director K.C. Amos. Shannon and K.C. had an acrimonious relationship, especially over the care given to their father. In 2023, the Colorado Bureau of Investigation looked into accusations of elder abuse.
Amos died of congestive heart failure at a hospital in Inglewood, California, on August 21, 2024, at the age of 84, while under the care of his son, K.C. Amos. His death was not announced until October 1, 2024. His daughter, Shannon, was unaware that he had died until the media reported it. His remains were cremated nine days after his death on August 30, 2024.
Ironically, the esteemed actor who played the King in “Coming To America,” James Earl Jones, passed just a few weeks after John Amos.
Today In Black History
In 1886, Spain abolished slavery in Cuba.
In 1889, William Owen Bush was the first Black elected to the Washington State legislature. He later was elected to a second term.
In 1890, Black inventor H.H. Reynolds was awarded a patent for a bridge safety gate.
In 1985, Lynette Woodward was chosen as the 1st woman player for the Harlem Globetrotters.
In 1991, Law Professor Anita Hill accused Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas of making sexually inappropriate comments to her while both were employed at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
In 1993, Black writer Toni Morrison was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature.
All “We Are Speaking” posts are now free for everyone to read!
Please check out Keith’s SciFi Musings Substack for posts about fantasy, sci-fi, and Afrofuturism!
Our paid subscribers are encouraged to discuss this post in our W.A.S. Chat Community.
Join Pamela Hilliard Owens’s subscriber chat
Available in the Substack app and on the web
You are also welcome to view “We Are Speaking” in Substack Notes. You can also read other Substack publications without subscribing to them when you join Notes.
Did you know that you can listen to each “We Are Speaking” post on the Substack App? Download the app!
Find out all about me, what I do, and where I am online at this link.
Independent Authors and Creative Professionals: Learn to Successful Brand and Market your Books, Products, and Services!
Indpendent Authors: Completing Your Manuscript is Just the First Step. Enroll in the Author and Book Marketing Course.
Creative Professionals: “If you build it, they will come” is not a marketing strategy. Enroll in the Essential Creative Marketing Course.
