Today in Black History: December 25th

December 25, 2025

This article commemorates the December 25th birthdays of three influential African Americans across different eras and fields. Octavia Victoria Rogers Albert, born in 1853 as an enslaved person in Georgia, became an educator and author who documented the testimonies of formerly enslaved individuals in her groundbreaking book "The House of Bondage. " Cab Calloway, born in 1907, transformed into a jazz legend who popularized scat singing and achieved fame at Harlem's Cotton Club with his charismatic performances.

Who is affected

Octavia Victoria Rogers Albert (formerly enslaved author and religious leader)
Formerly enslaved people who gathered at Albert's home in Houma, Louisiana
A.E.P. Albert (Octavia's husband) and their daughter
Cab Calloway (jazz musician and bandleader)
Future jazz greats mentored by Calloway
Rickey Henderson (baseball player)
Nine MLB teams Henderson played for during his career

What action is being taken

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Why it matters

These three individuals represent significant contributions to American culture and history. Albert's work preserving firsthand accounts of slavery provides invaluable historical documentation of lived experiences that might otherwise have been lost. Calloway's innovations in jazz, particularly popularizing scat singing, helped define the swing era and influenced generations of musicians. Henderson's revolutionary approach to the leadoff position and his record-breaking achievements fundamentally changed how baseball was played and understood.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint