Ella Fitzgerald Was the First Black Person to Ever Win a Grammy

Despite living during a time when music in America was divided into two categories — popular music and race music — the iconic singer, Ella Fitzgerald, still managed to become the first Black artist to win a Grammy.

This Black Woman Lawyer Took Down America's Most Powerful Mafia Boss in the 1930s

Eunice Carter, born in 1899, was raised in a world of stultifying expectations about race and gender, yet by the 1940s, her professional and political successes had made her one of the most famous Black women in America.

Did a Black Woman Named Amelia Bassano Lanier Secretly Write Shakespeare's Plays?

It has been rumored for years that a Black woman named Amelia Bassano Lanier was the female writer who is responsible for all of William Shakespeare's plays. Is this true? Well, to answer that question we first need to properly introduce and identify who exactly this woman was.

Born a Slave, He Later Became America's First Black Deputy U.S. Marshal

Bass Reeves was born in July 1838 and spent his early life as a slave. However, he later became America's first Black deputy U.S. Marshal working mostly in territories throughout both Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Meet the Family of 7 Brothers and Sisters Who Are World-Renowned, Classical Music Geniuses

The Kanneh-Mason siblings are all talented classical musicians on the rise. All in all, they are 7 seven brothers and sisters ranging in age from 10-years old to 23-years old - all of whom play either the violin, the piano, or the cello to a very high standard.

What Sparked the L.A. Riots? A 15-Year Old Black Girl Was Killed For "Stealing" Orange Juice

On the morning of March 16, 1991, 15-year old Latasha Harlins was killed by the owner of a convenience store in South Central Los Angeles. She had gone in to buy some orange juice, but Soon Ja Du, the Korean owner, assumed she was stealing and she shot her, even though the innocent girl had cash in her hand. This sparked the beginning of the L.A. riots.

This Black Soldier Saved 200 Men's Lives in World War II, But Never Received a Medal of Honor

Waverly Woodson, Jr. was a medic from Philadelphia who served in World War II with the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, the only Black combat unit to participate in D-Day. As one of the first Black soldiers to make it onto Omaha Beach in Normandy on June 6, 1944, Woodson ended up saving the lives of more than 200 soldiers of both Black and white soldiers that day.

Black Woman Who is Deaf and Blind Graduates From Harvard Law School

Being both blind and deaf didn't stop 25-year old Haben Girma from making history when she graduated from Harvard Law School earning her J.D. in 2013. She is now a global icon that uses her talents to advocate for people with disabilities.

Woman Identified as the Last Known Survivor of the Transatlantic Slave Trade

Matilda McCrear has been identified as the last known survivor of the transatlantic slave trade. Dr. Hannah Durkin, a lecturer at Newcastle University, is being credited for uncovering McCrear's history.

This Toothpaste Brand Owned By Colgate Has a Very Racist History

Colgate owns a toothpaste brand called Darlie, which once had a logo that featured a smiling white man in blackface. The popular brand has long been criticized for using racist imagery. Originally, it was sold using the racial epithet "Darkie".