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Nat King Cole Was the 1st Black Person to Have His Own Nationally-Syndicated TV Show on NBC
"Ladies and Gentlemen, The Nat King Cole Show!" This was the intro to a TV show only a few people today remember as it aired back in the mid-1950s. The Nat King Cole Sho…

Floyd Norman Was Walt Disney Studio’s First African American Animator
Walt Disney Animation Studios, one of the world's largest and most profitable film studios today, has been around for many decades. Not many know, however, that it took 25 f…

Oscar Micheaux, the First African-American Filmmaker
In 1919, filmmaking history was made when Oscar Micheaux b ecame the first-ever African American to direct and make his own feature film. Micheaux got his start early when he wrot…

Max Robinson, America’s First Black Television Network Anchor
In 1978, history was made as Max Robinson became the first black television anchor in America. Robinson had his heart set on this achievement as far back as 1959 when he " ap…

Cicely Tyson, an Unforgotten Advocate for Strong African-American Women on the Big Screen
Two-time Emmy winner Cicely Tyson achieved groundbreaking success through her many roles in films as strong African-American female characters. According to Elle, after Tyson s…

Garrett Morris Was the First Black Cast Member on 'Saturday Night Live’
After premiering in 1975, Saturday Night Live  grew exponentially to become one of TV’s longest, most adored shows. It has started the careers of many famous actors and sparked …

‘Star Trek’ Makes History With First Ever Black Female Director
Star Trek has always had a diverse cast from George Takei who is Japanese and Nichelle Nichols who is African-American. And, now, the popular TV series has Hanelle Culpepper, i…

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 h…

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 his…

The First Televised Interracial Kiss That Made History and Changed the Entertainment Industry
In November 1968, an episode of the popular science fiction series Star Trek  aired on NBC, and made history when Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and the intelligent Uhura (Nic…

When Hattie McDaniel Won an Oscar, She Was Banned From Sitting With Her Co-Stars
Hattie McDaniel became the first Black Oscar winner in 1940 for her portrayal of a slave named Mammy in the 1939 film Gone With the Wind . Sadly though, when she attended the A…

5 Showstopping Musicals with Black Leading Roles
There is something so captivating about sinking into your seat at a theater and watching stories come to life on the stage before you. These five musicals with Black leading ro…

Rare Footage of Black Couple Kissing in 1898 Silent Film Discovered
Extremely rare footage from an 1898 silent film titled Something Good-Negro Kiss  shows an African American man and woman kissing. The clip is only 29 seconds, and is believed …

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 form…

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 …

Modern Black Film Directors Who Are Flipping the Script
Hollywood has a long history of overlooking the stories of Black people. These modern Black film directors seek to change that. These directors have shattered box office record…

Flip Wilson Was the First Black Comedian to Star in a Successful Variety TV Show
Tyler Perry is a genius and has made history in many ways in film, stage plays and television with his infamous Madea character. However, there were others before him who paved…

That Time Tom Joyner Interviewed Marvin Gaye
Marvin Gaye is an American musical legend, responsible for some of the most iconic Motown hits of all time. His songs live on to this day as all-time classics, still beloved by t…

Ava DuVernay Was the First Black Woman to Direct a $100 Million Film
Ever since she stepped into the role of director, Ava DuVernay has been making history in the film industry. She grew up in Compton where her love for movies developed from wat…

10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Child Star, Tatyana Ali
You likely already know actress Tatyana Ali from her role as the fearless, sassy Ashley Banks on The Fresh Prince of Belair . Here are ten facts about Tatyana you probably didn…