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African-American History

THE 1ST COLLEGES TO EDUCATE AFRICAN AMERICANS
Lists of the first colleges to provide educational opportunities for African Americans.
MAJOR ROBERT LAWRENCE: 1st African American Astronaut Designee
Profile of Major Robert H. Lawrence, who became the first African American astronaut designee in 1967. Although he never went on a space mission, he was an excellent pilot and pioneer in the space program.
BISHOP HENRY MCNEAL TURNER
Profile of Bishop Henry Tuner, political and social activist. He was a Bishop in the AME church, publisher of the Christian Recorder and Chaplain of African American troops during the Civil War.
ALLEN ALLENSWORTH: Founder of California Town
Profile of Allen Allensworth, who founded the town of Allensworth in California, between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The town was a thriving enterprise with a post office, railroad station and hotel.
AFRICAN AMERICAN INVENTORS-Part 2
List of some 19th century and early 20th century African American inventors. Many of their inventions are earlier versions of products in use today.
19th Century African American Inventors-Part 1
A listing of 19th century African American inventors and innovations who developed products to make their work easier and safer. This is the first of two parts.
BIDDY MASON: Entrepreneur, Humanitarian
Profile of Bidd Mason, the first African American woman to own land in Los Angeles, and co-founder of the Los Angeles chapter of the First African Methodist Episcopal Church.
GWENDOLYN BROOKS: 1st African American to receive Pulitzer Prize
A profile of Gwendolyn Brooks, who became the first African American to receive the Pulitzer Prize in 1950.
BLACK HISTORY MONTH: Quotable Quotes
In commemoration of Black History Month, some quotes about history from prominent African Americans are presented.
CARTER G. WOODSON: Father of Black History
Profile of historian Carter G. Woodson, creator of Black History Month, celebrated each year in February to highlight and present the achievements of African Americans.
BISHOP BENJAMIN TUCKER TANNER
Profile of Bishop Benjamin Tucker Tanner, an electrifying speaker and prolific writer, father of the famous black painter, Henry Owassa Tanner.
RACISM AFFECTS AFRICAN AMERICANS' HEALTH
Stress and frustration as a result of living in a racially biased society is a danger to the health of its victims.
AFRICAN AMERICAN BUSINESSWOMEN FACE DOUBLE JEOPARDY
African American businesswomen face the double jeopardy of race and gender bias in the workplace, they need mentoring programs to help them cope with this dilemma.
PATRICIA ROBERTS HARRIS
Profile of Patricia Roberts Harris, the first black female cabinet member, first black female ambassador and first black female to serve in the United Nations.
W. C. HANDY, Musician and Composer
Profile of W. C. Handy, author of the famous "St. Louis Blues," a musician and pioneer in the promotion of the blues.
WILLIAM "BILL" PICKETT: Pioneer Cowboy
Profile of William "Bill" Pickett, the iventor of bulldogging, also known as steer wrestling, and the first black to be inducted into the National Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame.
BENJAMIN O. DAVIS, SR.
Profile of Benjamin O. Davis, Sr., who in 1940 became the first African American to become a U.S. Brigadier General. He received the Distinguished Service Medal, and a commemorative stamp was issued in his honor in 1997.
Dr. Charles Drew, Pioneer in Blood Research
Profile of Dr. Charles R. Drew, who discovered that plasma could be dried and developed techniques for storing and transfusing blood.
Maggie Walker: 1st U.S. Woman Bank Founder
Profile of Maggie Walker, the first U.S. woman bank founder and president, an astute businesswoman who founded St. Luke Penny Savings Bank.
CRISPUS ATTUCKS: African American Patriot
Profile of Crispus Attucks, the first black to die for America's freedom in what is known as the Boston Massacre.
IRA ALDRIDGE: Great African-American Actor
Profile of Ira Aldridge an internationally acclaimed nineteenth century Shakespearian actor. He was an avid abolitionist and the first actor to be knighted.
ROBERT SENGSTACKE ABBOTT: Pioneer Publisher
Profile of Robert Sengstacke Abbott, founder, publisher and editor of the newspaper, the Chicago Defender. He is remembered as one of the major black spokesmen of his time.
Marian Anderson: One of the World's Greatest Singers
Profile of Marian Anderson, who became the first African American to sing an important role at the Metropolitan Opera as a regular company member.
FANNIE LOU HAMER: Grass-Roots Organizer
Profile of Fannie Lou Hamer, grass-roots organizer, political and civil rights activist, field secretary for the Student Non-violent Coordinating Committee.
SHIRLEY CHISHOLM: Congresswoman
Profile of Shirley Chisholm, the first African American women elected to Congress, and first woman to be considered as a presidential candidate.
WILMA RUDOPH: Oympic Gold Medalist
Profile of African American Wilma Rudolph, the first American woman to win three Olympic gold medals.
IDA B. WELLS: Civil Rights Activist
Profile of Ida B. Wells, known as Mother of the Civil Rights Movement and pioneer of the anti-lynching crusade.
JOHN BAXTER TAYLOR: 1st African-American Olympic Gold Medalist
Profile of Dr. John Baxter Taylor, Jr., the first African American to win a gold medal at the Olympics.
ALICE COACHMAN: 1st African American Woman Olympic Gold Medalist
Profile of Alice Coachman, who became the first African American women to win the Olympic Goal medal in 1948. She was also the first American woman to win a gold medal in track and field.
CONGRESSWOMAN BARBARA JORDAN
Profile of Congresswoman Barbara Jordan, who in 1976 became the first African American to give a keynote speech at a major party's political convention.
RALPH BUNCHE: 1st African American Nobel Peace Prize Recipient
Profile of Ralph Bunche,outstanding United Nations Official, the first African American to receive the Nobel Peace Prize,and the first African American to receive a doctorate in political science.
JOHN MERCER LANGSTON: Abolitionist, Lawyer, Congressman
A profile of John Mercer Langston, who was a prominent 19th century African American lawyer, abolitionist, educator and congressman. He was co-founder and Dean of Howard University's Law School.
GEORGE VASHON: Abolitionist, Lawyer and Educator
A profile of George Vashon, the first African-American graduate of Oberlin College, the first first African-American to become a lawyer in New York, and a college president.
NORMA SKLAREK: The First African American Woman Architect
A profile of Norma Sklarek, the first African American woman to become a licensed architect and the first African American woman to be named a Fellow by the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
RICHARD GREENER: Harvard's First African American Graduate
In 1870, Richard Greener became the first African American to graduate from Harvard. He later became a distinguished lawyer, educator and U.S. Consul and Diplomat.
THE BATON ROUGE BUS BOYCOTT OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT
The 1953 Baton Rouge Bus Boycott started the direct action phase of the Civil Rights Movement in the U.S.
HIRAM REVELS: The First African American U.S. Senator
A profile of Hiram Revels, a politican, minister and educator who became the first African American United States senator.
SUSIE KING TAYLOR: AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR NURSE
Profile of a brave teenager who nursed wounded soldiers without being paid.
GARRETT MORGAN: Inventor of the Gas Mask and Traffic Signal
A profile of African-American, Garrett Augustus Morgan,inventor of the gas mask and automated traffic signal.
DAISY LEE BATES: Civil Rights Activist
A profile of Daisy Lee Gaston Bates, whose name is synonymous with segregation and the first against legal and social obstacles to educational opportunity for African-American youth.
C.A. SCOTT: A LEGEND OF THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESS
A profile of C.A. Scott, the longest editor and publisher of a newspaper, black or white, in the history of the U.S.
THE FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PHYSICIANS: THREE PIONEERS
A profile of three pioneer African-American physicians: James Derham, James McCune Smith and David Jones Peck
FANNY JACKSON-COPPIN, A Priceless Gift to Humanity
A profile of the first African-American woman to become principal of a school