Jazz Singer Billie Holiday Was Only 44-Years Old When She Died

Billie Holiday is one of the most famous jazz singers in history. However, her difficult life came to an end at a far-too-early age.

Meet the First Black Patient To Receive a Full Face Transplant

After a severe car crash in Los Angeles disfigured Robert Chelsea's body, surgeons were able to help him get back to a somewhat normal life. His face, however, was almost destroyed due to the intense flames that engulfed him before he could escape. Doctors suggested a full face transplant, and Chelsea agreed to be put on the waiting list.

Meet the First Black Actor to Win an Oscar

Sidney Poitier was an actor, film director, writer and American diplomat. Most notably, he was the first African American actor (not actress) in history to win an Oscar — but he was nominated twice.

Malcolm X Murder Case Reopened By DA's Office After Netflix Documentary Reveals New Evidence

Thanks to the findings of a powerful Netflix documentary, the Manhattan District Attorney's office is reexamining the circumstances surrounding the 1965 murder of civil rights icon Malcolm X. In the six-part documentary called Who Killed Malcolm X?, activist Abdur-Rahman Muhammad argues that two of the men convicted for his murder couldn’t have been at the scene of the crime.

The Author of “The Count of Monte Cristo” Was Black

The Count of Monte Cristo is a popular film that was produced in 1975 and again in 2002, starring actors Jim Caviezel and Luis Guzmán. Many people, however, don't know that the film was based on a popular novel of the same title, and that it was written by a Black French writer named Alexandre Dumas.

14-Year Old Marsai Martin is the Youngest Black Executive Producer in Hollywood History

Marsai Martin is a teen actress and singer best known for playing the role of Diane Johnson in the popular comedy series Black-ish. In 2019, at just 14-years old, she made history when she became the youngest Black executive producer in Hollywood history with the film Little.

Meet the First Black Woman to Win a Nobel Peace Prize

Wangari Muta Maathai, also known as "Tree Woman", was an activist and ecologist from Kenya. For her remarkable work, she became the first Black woman to win a Nobel Peace Prize.

Macon B. Allen Was the First African American to Become a Lawyer

Macon Bolling Allen had a long journey, but he went far. Allen was born free in 1816. He worked as a schoolteacher after learning to read and write, but later moved to Portland Maine. While working for General Samuel Fressenden in Portland, Allen was able to study law. He hoped to join the Maine Bar Association, but the organization originally rejected him since at the time black people were not considered citizens.

Billboard Magazine Used to Refer to R&B Songs as “Race Records”

In the beginning of the record industry's history, music was primarily marketed toward middle and upper class white Americans. In the early 1900's, the United States was still segregated and it wasn’t until the 1920s when African American artists began to record music with major record labels. Shortly after that, their sales began to take off but these early recordings were referred to as “race records” by Billboard Magazine.

Meet the First African American to Become a Chess Grandmaster

Maurice Ashley is the first African American ever to be awarded the world title of Chess Grandmaster, the highest title a player can attain. Born and raised in St. Andrew, Jamaica, he was introduced to chess by his brother who would often play the game with his friends.