list of 20 historical African-Americans plus ron’s role model

Dorothy Irene Height was an American civil rights and women’s rights activist. She focused on the issues of African-American women, including unemployment, illiteracy, and voter awareness. (March 24, 1912 – April 20, 2010)

“Quiet Storm” Vaughn Harper was an American broadcast announcer and DJ for WBLS, the black music radio station in New York. (March 1, 1945 – July 9, 2016)

Melvin Edward “Slappy” White was an American comedian and actor. He worked with Redd Foxx on the Chitlin’ Circuit of stand-up comedy during the 1950s and 1960s. (September 27, 1921 – November 7, 1995)

Arthur Robert Ashe, Jr. was an American professional tennis player who won 3 Grand Slam Singles titles. (July 10, 1943 – February 6, 1993)

Kenny Barron is an American jazz pianist, who has appeared on hundreds of recordings. (Born June 9, 1943)

Angela Basset is an American actress, director, producer, and activist known for her film roles portraying real life figures. (Born August 16, 1958)

Ruth Alston Brown, née Weston, was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes known as the “Queen of R&B”. “Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean” was one of her 1950s Hits. (January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006)

George Washington Benson is an American guitarist, singer, and songwriter. He began his professional career at the age of 19 as a jazz guitarist. (Born March 22, 1943).

Andre Keith Braugher is an American actor who is best known for his roles as Detective Frank Pembleton on the series “Homocide: Life on the Street” and Captain Raymond Holt in the series “Brooklyn Nine-Nine”. (Born July 1, 1962)

Byron Louis Cage is an American gospel recording artist. (Born December 15, 1962).

Elizabeth Catlett was an American and Mexican graphic artist and sculptor best known for her depictions of the African-American experience in the 20th century, which often focused on the female experience. (April 15, 1915 – April 2, 2012)

Ernest Crichlow was an American social realist artist. Ernest Chrichlow, Romare Bearden, and Norman Lewis were Co-Founders of the Cinque Gallery. Ronald Bunn, ROUTES Publisher is 2nd cousin to Ernest. (June 19, 1914 – November 10, 2005)

Frankie “Hollywood” Crocker (December 18, 1937 – October 21, 2000) was an American disc jockey who helped grow WBLS, the black music radio station in New York.

Andrae Edward Crouch was an American gospel singer, songwriter, arranger, record producer and pastor. (July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015)

Billy Daniels (Aka William Boone Daniels) was an American singer who was known for his hit “That Old Black Magic” and as a pioneer on 50’s television being one of the first African-Americans to be on that platform. In 1977, he was given a star on the “Hollywood Walk of Fame”. (September 12, 1915 – October 7, 1988)

David Norman Dinkins was an American politician, lawyer, and author who served as the 106th Mayor of New York City. (July 10, 1927 – November 23, 2020)

Althea Neale Gibson was an American tennis player and professional golfer. She was one of the first black athletes to cross the color line in international tennis and win a Gram Slam. (August 25, 1927 – September 28, 2003)

Aretha Louise Franklin was an American artist, singer, and civil rights activist who began her career singing gospel and after major hits in the 60’s, she was given the title “Queen of Soul”. (March 25, 1942- August 16, 2018)

Benny Golson is an American Jazz saxophonist, composer, and arranger who was a part of big bands Lionel Hampton and Dizzy Gillespie. He went on to be a writer and arranger for film/television. (Born January 25, 1929)

Berry Gordy Jr. (Aka Berry Gordy III) is an American record executive, product, songwriter, and film producer who founded the highly successful Motown Record Label. (Born November 28, 1929)

Alex Haley (Aka Alexander Murray Palmer Haley) was an American writer/author of the 1976 book titled “Roots” that was adapted by ABC into a record-breaking television series. (August 11, 1921 – February 10, 1992)

* * * * *

My role model is Warren J. Bunn (1914-1986) , he was also my uncle. Within the Bunn Clan we used to call him „Big Bunn“— he earned that title. Whenever one of us had a financial or emotional need, he was always available to help.

However, he was also a Union leader at the Squibb company, a Multi-Term president of the Brooklyn Branch of the NAACP and an active supporter of John F. Kennedy‘s presidential campaign.

At that time, Earl G. Graves, Sr. was his Administrative assistant and Warren introduced him to Robert Kennedy who, at the time, had been campaigning in Brooklyn for his brother’s presidential bid. This contact enabled Earl Graves later to start publishing the Black Enterprise Magazine, still in print today.

During the Montgomery Boycott Warren also gave Martin Luther King, Jr. strategic advice and materiel support.

„Big Bunn“ will always be the someone, many of us will be forever grateful for having known him.