Blurbs about the wonderful histories of black men and women who changed the world in spite of adversity.
Debra “Debi” Thomas (1967 – ) as a figure skater was the first African-American to win a Winter Olympic medal in any sport. Born in Poughkeepsie, NY, she grew up and learned to skate in San Jose, CA. First, she won the gold medal at the 1986 World Figure Skating Championship. Then, she went on…
The ability to remain calm and cool under pressure is not a skill that many possess. Civil rights activists such as MLK, Malcolm X, James Baldwin, and Muhammad Ali had to deliver many planned and impromptu speeches, interviews, and debates. They had to have a command of self and the English language. They spoke without…
The Negro Motorist Green Book was authored by Victor Hugo Green. The Green Book was a travel guide for black travelers during the Jim Crow era. The guide was published annually from 1936 – 1966. It was created for black travelers to find establishments that would welcome their business. The travel guide listed businesses in…
The third Monday of January is recognized as a federal holiday to celebrate the birth and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The enactment of the law to celebrate his birthday was not without a fight. Born January 15, 1929, King was assassinated at the age of 39 in 1968. While legislation for a…
Mae Jemison (1956 – ) was the first African-American woman astronaut to go into space in 1992. She went into space aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour as a Mission Specialist. Space Shuttle Endeavour was built to replace Space Shuttle Challenger which exploded seconds after lift-off in 1986. Aboard the fatal Space Shuttle Challenger was Ronald…
Coleman A. Young (1918 – 1997) was the first African-American mayor of Detroit, Michigan. He served as mayor for 20 years from 1974 – 1994. Coleman served in World War II as a Tuskegee Airman as a second lieutenant. He was known for being outspoken against injustice and racial segregation. He protested against segregation while…
Hattie McDaniel (1893 – 1952) made history as the first African-American to win an Oscar. McDaniel was born in 1893 to parents who were former slaves. She was born in the Gilded Age which was after the Reconstruction Era. The Gilded Age was a time when the country experienced rapid growth. However, African-Americans were suffering…
Jesse Jackson is a civil rights activist, minister, and politician. Jesse Jackson marched with Martin Luther King Jr. and was at the hotel with King when he was assassinated in 1968. After King’s death, Jackson continued to fight for black civil rights through the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC). When Jackson split from SCLC in…
The year of 1987 was spectacular for two reasons – LL Cool J and Michael Jackson. Both were at the top of their game and both released singles proclaiming their badness. Back then, being bad was cool and tough. Both artists were in different genres and under different labels, but shared some of the same…
In the month before the March on Washington, there was the Stolen Girls in July of 1963. The Stolen Girls were approximately 15 black girls aged 12-15 who were imprisoned for 45 days without charge. They were imprisoned for marching against the segregation of a movie theater in Americus, Georgia. The march was orchestrated by…
Emmett Louis Till (1941 – 1955) was a 14 year old African-American boy who was lynched in Mississippi. Originally from Chicago, his mother Mamie Till-Mobley, sent him to Mississippi to vacation with extended family members who were sharecroppers. Emmett, his cousin and some local teenager boys went to the corner store for candy. It was…
Shirley Chisholm (1924 – 2005): Shirley Anita St. Hill Chisholm was the first African-American woman to be elected to the U.S. Congress. In 1972, she was the first African-American to have a serious nomination for President of the United States. Before Jesse Jackson, there was Shirley Chisholm. One of Ms. Chisholm’s famous quotes was “If…
