Culture
Thomas W. Boyde Jr. was a pioneering architect who holds the distinction of being Rochester’s first African American architect. His academic journey was prestigious and rigorous; he studied Civil Engineering at Brown University before transferring to Syracuse University, where he graduated with a degree in Architecture in 1928. This combination of engineering and design knowledge […]
Minister Franklin Florence was a pivotal civil rights leader and the founding president of FIGHT, an acronym for Freedom, Independence, God, Honor, Today. Arriving in Rochester in 1959, he served as the pastor of the Reynolds Street Church of Christ, where he became a prominent figure in the local social justice movement. Following the 1964 […]
“Midge and Dr. Freddie Thomas were a powerhouse couple who dedicated their lives to the intellectual and spiritual growth of Rochester’s youth. Dr. Freddie Thomas was a trailblazing scientist who worked at Eastman Kodak and the University of Rochester, but his most important work happened in his living room. He and his wife, Midge Thomas, […]
Halle Berry is sharing an insight into her relationship with Van Hunt, just days after the couple confirmed their engagement. Berry confirmed she and Hunt were engaged after almost six years of dating during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, Feb. 5. Speaking exclusively to PEOPLE at the Los Angeles premiere of her latest film, Crime 101, […]
Minister Raymond Scott was a central figure in Rochester’s civil rights movement, most notably serving as the president of FIGHT (Freedom, Independence, God, Honor, Today). He stepped into leadership during a volatile era in the city’s history, particularly following the 1964 uprising and through the mid 1970s. Scott was a prominent advocate for police reform […]
Dr. Walter Cooper is a distinguished research scientist, educator, and civil rights activist who has had a profound impact on the Rochester community. In 1956, he made history as the first African American to earn a PhD in physical chemistry from the University of Rochester. Following his academic achievements, he began a successful career at […]
Constance “Connie” Mitchell was a transformative figure in Rochester’s political and civil rights landscape. In 1961, she became the first African American and the first woman elected to the Monroe County Board of Supervisors (now the Monroe County Legislature), representing the city’s Third Ward. Throughout her two terms, she focused on improving living conditions, expanding […]
Cab Calloway was a world renowned jazz singer, bandleader, and actor who spent his formative years in Rochester. His family lived at 153 South Washington Street in the Third Ward, a neighborhood that served as the center of Black life and culture in the city during that era. It was here that Calloway’s musical foundation […]
Howard Coles was a pioneering journalist, historian, and community advocate who spent his life documenting and championing the Black community in Rochester. In 1934, he founded the Frederick Douglass Voice, which became one of the longest-running African American newspapers in New York State. Through the publication, Coles addressed critical issues such as housing discrimination, employment […]
WDKX Holiday Stream