Aviation & Space
Robert H. Lawrence Jr. was the First Black Man to be Trained As an Astronaut
Born and raised in Illinois, Robert H. Lawrence Jr. took a running start in his academ…
Civil Rights
Martin Luther King Jr. Was Once Stabbed During a Book Signing
Prior to his death in 1968, Martin Luther King Jr. survived a close brush with death m…
Film & TV
Quincy Jones Composed the Theme Song for the Popular 70’s “Sanford and Son” TV Sitcom with Redd Foxx
As one of history's most influential record producers, Quincy Jones has decades of…
Music & Arts
Michael Jackson Wrote "We Are the World" with Lionel Richie
"We Are The World" is a seven-minute ballad that was written by both Michael…
Civil Rights
The First African-American Congresswoman Survived Multiple Assassination Attempts When Running for President
American history is overrun by stories of presidential elections conducted and won by …
Sports & Entertainment
John Baxter Taylor, The First African-American Olympic Gold Medalist
Born in 1882, John Baxter Taylor Jr. grew up in Philadelphia. There, Taylor studied at…
Technology
Meet the Black Woman Who Helped Create Shockwave, Which Led to Animated GIFs
In the age of social media, cryptocurrency, and video streaming, it's easy to forg…
Sports & Entertainment
Bryant Gumbel Was the First Black Person to Host a TV Network’s Morning Show
With a humble background working in sales, Bryant Gumbel made his name known in the va…
Music & Arts
Stevie Wonder was the First Black Artist to Win a GRAMMY for “Album of the Year”
Released in 1973, "Innervisions" carries some of the most iconic tunes creat…
Music & Arts
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 s…
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 …
