Sports & Entertainment
Johnny Grier, the NFL’s First Black Referee
For as long as there has been American football, there have been referees. Some of the…
History & Exploration
Jane Cooke Wright, M.D., an African American Who Pioneered The Advancement of Cancer Medicine
Born just after World War II, Jane Cooke Wright was exposed to greatness at a young ag…
Public Service
Despite Being Born a Free Black Woman, Sarah Parker Remond Fought Against Slavery
Born as a free black woman in 1894, Sarah Parker Remond had a more stable life as a ch…
Geography
Meet William Leidesdorff, America’s First Biracial Millionaire
Born in 1810, William Leidesdorff was a biracial West Indian immigrant who grew up in …
History & Exploration
Sojourner Truth Was 29-Years Old When She Escaped Slavery with Her Young Daughter
Born into slavery, Sojourner Truth was a legendary abolitionist and fighter for equal …
Writing & Publishing
Frances Watkins Harper, a Black Poet and Speaker Who Fought Against Slavery
As a daughter to free black parents, Frances Watkins Harper was one of few black child…
Writing & Publishing
David Ruggles, the Owner of America’s First Black-Owned Bookstore
During the early 1800s, the United States was still growing and the spread of business…
History & Exploration
James Forten, a Black Inventor and Shipping Businessman in the 1800s
On August 2nd, 1776, America declared itself a new country through the signing of the …
History & Exploration
The Infamous Letter That Frederick Douglas Wrote to Harriet Tubman
In the late 1800s, slavery was at its height as figures like Harriet Tubman and Freder…
Music & Arts
Floyd Norman Was Walt Disney Studio’s First African American Animator
Walt Disney Animation Studios, one of the world's largest and most profitable fi…
Writing & Publishing
A Black Man Named Alexander Pushkin is Considered to be the Father of Russian Literature
Born in 1799, Alexander Pushkin would one day grow up to become who many consider to b…
Music & Arts
This 11-Year Old is the Youngest Fashion Designer Ever to Present at New York Fashion Week
The fashion business has broken societal norms by the dozen, but 11-year old Kheris Ro…
Public Service
In 2017, BP Appointed its First Ever Black Female CEO
BP, a world-class multinational oil and gas company, changed its direction of leadersh…
Sports & Entertainment
Jack Johnson, the First African American Boxer to Be a Heavyweight Champion
Boxing is a sport that has been around since ancient times, starting in the Olympics a…
History & Exploration
Meet David Harris, the First Black Pilot For a Commercial Airline
Up until 1964, the skies above America were populated only by white pilots. Although t…
History & Exploration
Richard Greener, the First Black Student to Graduate from Harvard
Established in 1636, Harvard Law School is an Ivy League university that prides itself…
Public Service
Janice Bryant Howroyd, the First Black Woman to Own and Run a Billion-Dollar Company
In 1976, Janice Howroyd began her journey to becoming the first black woman to own and…
History & Exploration
Oscar Micheaux, the First African-American Filmmaker
In 1919, filmmaking history was made when Oscar Micheaux b ecame the first-ever Africa…
Sports & Entertainment
Jennifer King, the First Black Woman to be a Full-Time NFL Coach
In Jan uary of 2021, the NFL went an entirely new and exciting direction with its sta…
Sports & Entertainment
Max Robinson, America’s First Black Television Network Anchor
In 1978, history was made as Max Robinson became the first black television anchor in …
