The Best Black Female Authors of the 20th Century

America owes so much of its rich literary tradition to these three women: Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, and Zora Neale Hurston. Today, we celebrate their contributions as three of the best Black female authors of the 20th century.

Striking a Chord: The History of Blues Music

The musical genre of the blues has been around for as long as any of us can remember, but - like anything else - it has its roots. The history of the blues traces back over a century and a half to post-Civil War America, originating with freed slaves. Though slavery was abolished in 1865, Americans in the Deep South still found ways to obtain free labor. Free Black men were placed in prison farms, which served as inspiration for many blues songs. Jim Crow laws continued to incite violence against African Americans; as they had for centuries, Black musicians told the stories of their pain through song.

8 Famous Black Talk Show Hosts You Should Know

Day time talk shows, a guilty pleasure for us all, has given rise to some of the most famous people in the world. Media empires have been built on the backs of this simple format. When it’s time to sit on the couch and tell the world your most intimate secrets, these famous Black talk show hosts were there to catch it all.

Bessie Coleman Was the First Black Woman to Become a Licensed Pilot

Bessie Coleman was raised by a poor family in a time of discrimination and segregation, but this didn't stop her from becoming the first Black woman to become a licensed pilot. In fact, her passion for aviation was inspired by the stories of soldiers who had been returning from World War I.

Phillis Wheatley Was Just 12-Years Old When She Became the First Black Female Author to Be Published

Phillis Wheatley, known for her literature and poetry work, had quite an interesting experience in her early life. She was kidnapped from her home in West Africa when she was just 9 or 10 years old, and sold to the Wheatley family in Boston, Massachussetts. But they were they ones who taught her to read and write in English, and encouraged her to write poetry when they discovered that she had a talent for it.

Almost 40% of Slaveowners in America Were White Women

White women had a much bigger role in American slavery than most people think. In fact, historian Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers says that slave‑owning women were sophisticated economic actors who directly engaged in and benefited from the South’s slave market.

The First Black Medal of Honor Winner: William Carney

There have been 88 Black Medal of Honor winners, and William Carney was the first to merit the award. Although he was actually the twenty-first African American to physically receive the medal, his actions on the Civil War battlefield occurred before those of the twenty other men, so he is generally considered the first Black person to merit the country’s highest award.

4 Influential Black Playwrights Throughout History

Art often imitates life and that is indeed the case with many stage plays and musicals. Drawing on personal life experiences and the world around them, these four Black playwrights throughout history created some of the most influential works in American theatre. Their works are poignant and have stood the test of time, quickly becoming classics in the literary world.

4 Black Screenwriters You Should Know About

We all have a favorite TV show - one that we can’t wait to watch every week. We become so invested in the story and characters that we sometimes prioritize watching the newest episode over other life tasks. Although we don’t tend to think about it much, behind every scene and line of dialogue is a writer who initially put those words on a page. These Black screenwriters have created some noteworthy works and have a few interesting stories of their own to tell.

Dr. Carter G. Woodson: Historian, Publisher, Pioneer

At a time when no one cared about documenting African-American contributions to the world, Carter G. Woodson did, and he became known as the “Father of Black History.” Born in 1875 into a large family of former slaves in Virginia, Woodson was not able to attend school regularly as a child - he was needed to help on the family farm. Even though neither of his parents could read or write, he credits his father’s influence with shaping his life. His father said, “Learning to accept insult, to compromise on principle, to mislead your fellow man, or to betray your people, is to lose your soul.”