Kwabena Albert “Rainey” Cheeks, martial arts champion and activist, dies at 74

Kwabena Albert “Rainey” Cheeks, a prominent Taekwondo grandmaster, minister, and HIV/AIDS activist, has died at the age of 74. He passed away at Georgetown University Hospital due to complications related to a kidney transplant following a battle with cancer.

Cheeks was a significant figure in both the martial arts and social justice communities. As a competitive athlete, he earned a bronze medal for the United States at the inaugural 1973 World Taekwondo Championships in Seoul and achieved a ninth-degree black belt. He also noted winning at Madison Square Garden as a career highlight.

Beyond sports, Cheeks was a dedicated leader in Washington, D.C. He founded Inner Light Ministries in 1993 and was a long-time advocate for people living with HIV and AIDS. He also played a role in the local LGBTQ community, helping to open the ClubHouse in Petworth in 1975 to provide a gathering space for Black gay residents.