Sarah Vaughan's Birthday Is Today

The extraordinary jazz vocalist Sarah Vaughan (1924-1990), known as "The Divine One," was born on this day. Vaughan, a native of Newark, New Jersey, where there is a street named for her, would have celebrated her 101st birthday.

James Baldwin's One Hundredth Birthday

Today, August 2, would have been the 100th birthday of the eloquent and influential author James Baldwin (1924-1987) . One good way to commemorate his centennial year is to read a book or essay by or about him.

James Baldwin's 90th Birthday

This year will mark what would have been James Baldwin's 90th birthday. I wish he was still with us.

Happy Birthday To Me!

Today is my birthday. A new year and a new beginning.