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38 Black Celebrities Who Died in 2016

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Dr. Frances Cress Welsing (March 18, 1935 – Jan. 2, 2016)

Psychiatrist and scholar Dr. Frances Cress Welsing died at 80 years old of a reported stroke she had days before. Touted as the Queen Mother of Black Consciousness, the author published major writings on racism, including “The Cress Theory of Color-Confrontation” and “The Isis Papers: The Keys to the Colors,” the latter of which stirred controversy for its views on whites feeling threatened by Black people. During her time on staff at Howard University, Welsing published “The Cress Theory of Color-Confrontation and Racism (White Supremacy),” which discussed global white supremacy that feeds oppression out of white fear.

Gloria Naylor (Twitter/Associated Press)

Gloria Naylor (Twitter/Associated Press)

Gloria Naylor (Jan. 25, 1950 – Sept. 28, 2016)

Author Gloria Naylor, who wrote the critically acclaimed novel “The Women of Brewster Place,” died of heart failure at 66 years old.

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