Don Cornelius

Don Cornelius was a television pioneer, bringing Black music to the mainstream
February 2, 2019/by Gaius Chamberlain

Don Shirley

Don Shirley is one of the most gifted musical geniuses of the 20th Century
December 8, 2018/by Gaius Chamberlain

Ella Baker

Ella Baker, renown as a civil rights pioneer, struggled against sexism within the movement
November 23, 2018/by Gaius Chamberlain

Malcolm X

Malcolm X was one of the most influential activists in the history of the United States
January 28, 2018/by Gaius Chamberlain

Matt Baker

Matt Baker is often considered the first known successful Black comic book artist
January 14, 2016/by Gaius Chamberlain

Charlie Sifford

Charlie Sifford was a pioneer in the world of golf, the first Black to play on the PGA tour
January 13, 2016/by Gaius Chamberlain

Willie O’Ree

Willie O’Ree was a hockey trailblazer, the first Black player in the NHL
January 13, 2016/by Gaius Chamberlain

Bayard Rustin

Bayard Rustin was an unknown hero of the civil rights movement of the 1960's
February 1, 2015/by Gaius Chamberlain

Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was the most well-known Black abolitionists in the US
January 22, 2015/by Gaius Chamberlain

Matthew Henson

Mathew Henson was the co-discoverer of the North Pole along with Admiral Perry
January 18, 2015/by Gaius Chamberlain

Jesse Owens

Jesse Owens became an American hero, winning four gold medals in the Olympics
January 16, 2015/by Gaius Chamberlain

Johnny Bright

Johnny Bright was one of the greatest players in college football and CFL history
January 14, 2015/by Gaius Chamberlain

Wendell Scott

Wendell Scott was a pioneer in the sport of auto racing, the first Black NASCAR driver
January 13, 2015/by Gaius Chamberlain

Maya Angelou

Maya Angelou was the voice of the nation, both as an author, actress and social activist
June 4, 2014/by Henrietta Cast

Nina Simone

Nina Simone spoke for a generation of young people during the turbulent 1960's
May 23, 2014/by Henrietta Cast

Percy Julian

Percy Julian was a giant in the field of synthetic chemistry and cortisone
January 26, 2014/by Gaius Chamberlain

Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.

Adam Clayton Powell was the most significant Black political figure of his time
January 16, 2014/by Gaius Chamberlain

Hank Aaron

Hank Aaron was an all-time great hitter in Major League Baseball and home run king
December 29, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

Sam Lacy

Sam Lacy was a pioneer in the field of sports reporting, using his column as a bully pulpit
December 23, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

Rosa Parks

Rosa Parks helped to set off the civil rights movement, refusing to give up her bus seat
February 7, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

Oprah Winfrey

Oprah Winfrey has gone from being a tv anchor to becoming a media mogul
January 21, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

Wendell Smith

Wendell Smith acted as the voice of Black America, fighting against MLB segregation
January 19, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

Satchel Paige

Satchel Paige is remembered as one of the greatest pitchers to ever play baseball
January 16, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

Marian Anderson

Marian Anderson was one of the most gifted and admired singers of the 20th Century
January 6, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

Bessie Coleman

Bessie Coleman was a pioneer and innovator as a woman in the field of aviation
January 5, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

Bass Reeves

Bass Reeves is a legend of the west, one of the first Black lawmen in the region
January 3, 2013/by Gaius Chamberlain

Josephine Baker

Josephine Baker was a famed entertainer, a singer, dancer and French WWII spy
June 23, 2012/by Henrietta Cast

Doris Miller

Doris Miller is the Black cook who became a hero during the attack on Pearl Harbor
January 25, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr.

Benjamin O. Davis, Jr. was the first Black United States of America Air Force General
January 25, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain

Joe Louis

Joe Louis became the first Black hero for the whole United States as a boxing champion
January 14, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain

Larry Doby

Larry Doby was the first Black player in Major League Baseball’s American League
January 11, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain

Langston Hughes

Langston Hughes was one of the greatest writers/poets of the Harlem Renaissance
January 10, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain

Thurgood Marshall

Thurgood Marshall was the first Black Justice of the United States Supreme Court
January 10, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain

William Hastie

William Hastie had a distinguished career as a politician, educator and jurist
January 8, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain

Wilt Chamberlain is recognized as one of the greatest basketball players in history
January 1, 2012/by Gaius Chamberlain

Harriet Tubman

Harriet Tubman was an escaped slave who helped other slaves escape to freedom
December 16, 2011/by Henrietta Cast

Jackie Robinson

Jackie Robinson broke the color line in baseball & became a political & social pioneer
December 8, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain

Elijah McCoy

Elijah McCoy’s scale of his ingenuity and the quality of his creations bear his name
November 26, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain

Jan Matzeliger

Jan Matzeliger invented the automated shoe laster and revolutionized the shoe industry
November 25, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain

Lewis Latimer

Lewis Latimer drafted patents anddesigned a long-lasting carbon filament for light bulbs
November 25, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain

Fred Jones

Fred Jones is considered one of the history’s most significant and diverse inventors
November 24, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain

Lloyd Hall

Lloyd Hall was a pioneering chemist, helping to improve food industry health conditions
November 23, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain

Charles Drew

Charles Drew pioneer the field of blood plasma research and the modern blood bank
November 22, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain

George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver was a pioneering agricultural scientist and researcher
November 20, 2011/by Gaius Chamberlain