We’re taking a look back on the lives and legacies of some of the most influential Black leaders, artists and changemakers who died in 2025.
Viola Fletcher
May 5,1914-Nov. 24, 2025 (Age: 111)
Fletcher was best-known as the oldest survivor of one of America’s most tragic race massacres targeting the town of Tulsa, Okla. Surviving the brutality of the attack, Fletcher would go on to remind and reveal the details of this tragic event in her memoir, “Don’t Let Them Bury My Story: The Oldest Living Survivor of the Tulsa Massacre In Her Own Words.” She is survived by her son, Ronald Fletcher, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
D’Angelo
Feb. 11, 1974- Oct. 14, 2025 (Age: 51)
Michael Eugene Archer, better known as D’Angelo, was a visionary R&B artist and a pioneer of neo soul. With his music and art reaching millions of people, Archer rose to fame with hits like “Brown Sugar” and his third and final LP, “Black Messiah.” The artist was previously romantically linked to the soul singer Angie Stone who died in a car crash in March 2025. Archer battled cancer, according to a statement from his family. Archer is survived by his sons Michael Eugene Archer II, whom he shared with Stone, Morocco, and daughter Imani.
Malcolm-Jamal Warner
Aug. 18, 1970- Jul. 21, 2025 (Age: 54)
Malcolm-Jamal Warner, most known for his role as Theo Huxtable in “The Cosby Show,” passed earlier this year. The American actor and poet was known throughout many households in the nation through his various roles in shows such as “Sons of Anarchy” and “The Resident.” He is survived by his wife Tenisha Warner and their daughter who was not publicly named to maintain her privacy.
Assata Shakur
July 16, 1947-Sep. 25, 2025 (Age: 78)
Assata Shakur was a member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army. In 1977, Shakur was accused of allegedly killing a New Jersey State Police trooper after being pulled over for a broken taillight. Though she was apprehended, Shakur maintained her innocence. However, her sentence was never fully carried out. Black Liberation Army members, posing as visitors, freed her from incarceration in 1979. Shakur would then flee to Cuba after being granted asylum by Fidel Castro. She lived out her days spreading the word of peace and freedom from oppression. “We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains,”-Shakur wrote in “Assata: An Autobiography.” She is survived by her daughter Kakuya Shakur.
George Foreman
Jan. 10, 1949 – Mar. 21, 2025 (Age: 76)
George Foreman was one of the world’s greatest athletes known in households across the for his skills in the boxing ring. Foreman stunned the world by winning Olympic gold in 1968 and claiming the world heavyweight title twice. Foreman boasted an astonishing total of 76 wins including 68 knockouts. After his retirement in 1997, Foreman popularized the George Foreman Grill, a popular cooking device. Foreman is survived by 11 of his 12 children. His daughter, Freeda, preceded him in death.
Angie Stone
Dec. 18, 1961 – Mar. 1, 2025 (Age: 63)
Angie Stone was an American soul singer and songwriter. Known for hits such as “No More Rain” and “Wish I Didn’t Miss You,”, Stone’s music reached fans across the world. Her career is filled with collaborations with musical greats such as Prince, Anthony Hamilton, and Patti LaBelle. Stone was born in Columbia, South Carolina and was a successful student and athlete. In the latter part of her career, Stone performed in movies and Broadway shows alike. Stone, who died after a car accident in March, is survived by her daughter, Diamond, her son, Michael, and two grandchildren.
Ananda Lewis
Mar. 21, 1973 – June 11, 2025 (Age: 52)
Ananda Lewis was an American broadcast journalist and video jockey (VJ). Born in Los Angeles, Lewis attended Howard University. After graduation, she hosted BET’s “Teen Summit.” Lewis hosted MTV shows such as “Total Request Live” and “Hot Zone.” She later hosted her own talk show, “The Ananda Lewis Show.” During her time hosting, she interviewed celebrities such as Destiny’s Child, Brandy, and Britney Spears with artists such as Prince singing her praises. In 2020, Lewis revealed that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She is survived by her teenage son.
Danielle Spencer
Jun. 24, 1965 – Aug. 11, 2025 (Age: 60)
Danielle Spencer was an actress from Trenton, New Jersey. Spencer was most known for her role as Dee Thomas in ABC’s “What’s Happening!!” Spencer earned a doctorate in veterinary medicine from Tuskegee University in 1993. After reprising her role as Dee Thomas in the continuation of the original show “What’s Happening Now!!”, Spencer became a veterinarian in 1996. Spencer is survived by her mother, Cheryl Pelt and her brother, Jeremy Pelt, a jazz trumpeter.
Contact Staff Writer Malik Simon at 317-762-7847.
Malik Simon is a Staff Writer for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Memphis, TN, he graduated from Mississippi Valley State University with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies concentrating on journalism. Before joining the Recorder, he wrote for the Devil’s Gazette newspaper at MVSU and served as a freelance content and video editor. He seeks to use media to help communities flourish through literacy and factual reporting.
