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February is Black History Month. This year marks 100 years since this annual tradition of celebrating African American life, History and rich culture started. PanCAN is proud to celebrate the progress made possible by Black leaders throughout history this month and always.
Unfortunately, Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer than any other racial or ethnic group. While more research is needed to fully understand the root causes of this disparity, studies suggest it may be driven by systemic racism, environmental factors, limited access to nutritious food and barriers to high-quality healthcare.
Sadly, many of our greatest Black leaders have passed away from pancreatic cancer, highlighting the urgent need to fight this disease in the Black community. Here, we celebrate six of those amazing leaders, all of whom left lasting legacies that inspire all.
John Lewis
John Lewis (1940 – 2020)
Civil rights icon and long-time congressman John Lewis passed away from pancreatic cancer on July 17, 2020, less than a year after announcing his diagnosis.
Lewis was one of the central figures in the fight to enact civil rights legislation in the 1960s as an original Freedom Rider, chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and organizer of the march from Selma, AL. He joined Dr. Martin Luther King in the March on Washington in 1963, speaking before the crowd of 250,000 when he was just 23 years old.
The Civil Rights Act was signed into legislation in 1964.
In 1986, Lewis was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, serving nearly 35 years, continuing the fight to cause what he called “good trouble” – including through his recent pancreatic cancer treatment. Among his many achievements and awards, Lewis was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian honor, in 2011 by President Barack Obama.
D’Angelo
Photo by Gregory Harris for The New Yorker.
D’Angelo (1974 – 2025)
Pancreatic cancer took R&B legend D’Angelo on October 14, 2025, at the age of 51. He was a trailblazer in the neo-soul movement, masterfully blending soul, gospel, funk and jazz to create a sound that touched audiences around the world.
His debut album, Brown Sugar (1995), introduced his extraordinary voice and vision, earning critical acclaim and multiple Grammy nominations. Voodoo (2000) further cemented his status as a musical innovator, with the iconic single “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” becoming a defining moment in R&B history.
Aretha Franklin
Aretha Franklin (1942 – 2018)
Aretha Franklin, 18-time Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter best known for hits like “Respect,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman” and “Spanish Harlem,” died of pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer on August 16, 2018, at the age of 76.
Known as the “Queen of Soul,” Rolling Stone magazine named her the greatest singer of all time twice.
Franklin used her fame for good, providing funding for civil rights groups and performing at various protests and fundraising events.
Sheila Jackson Lee
Photo by Antranik Tavitian for The Houston Landing.
Sheila Jackson Lee (1950 – 2024)
United States Representative Sheila Jackson Lee of the 18h Congressional District of Texas passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2024, just a month after sharing her diagnosis.
A relentless champion of the people, she served for more than 30 years and fought for important issues like human rights, criminal justice and racial justice. Her victories on Capitol Hill made an impact on all Americans – from establishing the Juneteenth Federal Holiday to reauthorizing the Violence Women Act.
Tony Brown
Tony Brown (1967 – 2022)
Veteran NBA referee Tony Brown was diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer 18 months before he passed from the disease.
Basketball was always part of his life, playing in high school and beyond. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance from Clark Atlanta University, a historically Black college and university.
PanCAN was lucky enough to partner with him and the National Basketball Referee Association to raise awareness and critical funding for patients like him.
In an interview with The Undefeated, he said, “One source of information is PanCAN, a wonderful organization dedicated to fighting pancreatic cancer. In the process of educating myself, I’ve made changes in my life.”
Quincy Jones
Photo by Drew Gurian for AP.
Quincy Jones (1933 – 2024)
Legendary music producer, songwriter, composer and performer Quincy Jones passed away at the age of 91 from pancreatic cancer.
Over the course of his seven-decade career, he composed numerous film scores, produced some of the most successful albums of all time and received many accolades and awards. He earned 80 Grammy nominations, winning 28 Grammy Awards throughout his vast career.
Some of the most notable songs he produced include Michael Jackson’s "Billie Jean," "Beat It," "Thriller," "Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough" and "Rock with You," Frank Sinatra’s “Fly Me to the Moon” and Lesley Gore’s It’s My Party” and “You Don’t Own Me.”
He collaborated with Aretha Franklin on her album “Hey Now Hey (The Oher Side of the Sky),” which included the song “Angel.”
