How many of these heroes are still with us? Only a couple, right? Truly legendary, as were the Tuskegee Army Nurses and support personnel. I heard Sanford was St. Louis Red, but I remember the story. Malcolm recounted it in his autobiography. He mentioned being friends with Billie Holliday as well.
Plenty of stories about notable Black folks either knowing or crossing paths with one another and usually before any of them were known entities to the rest of the world. Segregation will usually do that though.