Garrett Morgan Uses His Newly Invented Gas Mask to Rescue Trapped Men
In 1916, 32 men were trapped in a mine near Lake Erie. Garrett Morgan saw an opportunity to prove his fireproof hood worked – and went in to rescue them.
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams Performs First Open Heart Surgery
Dr. Daniel Hale Williams was one of the few African-American surgeons of the early 1890s. He performed the first successful open-heart surgery at Provident Hospital in Chicago in 1893. James…
Nat Turner’s Slave Rebellion of 1831
Born into slavery, Nat Turner was an enslaved African American preacher with an indomitable spirit. Deep within the hearts of his fellow enslaved brethren, he planted the seeds of hope…
Slavery in the American Colonies
In the 17th century, as the British colonies in the Americas were getting established in places like Jamestown, VA, the system of chattel slavery was also developing. Today, we’ll learn…
William Monroe Trotter – Editor, Realtor, Co-Founder of the Niagara Movement
William Monroe Trotter was a newspaper editor and a realtor in Boston, Massachusetts. He was famous in black history for strongly advocating for African American Civil Rights and also founded…
Henry McNeal Turner – First African American Chaplin in the US Military
Henry McNeal Turner, a black preacher, politician, and human rights advocate holds a major place in African American history for his tireless effort to see that blacks become free, return…
Mary Edmonia Lewis – First African-American and Native-American Sculptor to Achieve National Recognition
Mary Edmonia Lewis also called “Wildfire” was the first African American sculptor in black history to gain recognition both nationally and internationally. Lewis was born on July 4, 1844, in…
Duke Ellington – One of the Originators of Big Band Jazz
Duke Ellington, an iconic figure in black history, was a songwriter, pianist, and leader of his music band. He brought so much recognition to jazz music and scored thousands of…
John Brown Russwurm – America’s First Black Newspaper Publisher
John Brown Russwurm was an abolitionist who understood the power of the media. He published the first newspaper in American History owned by blacks and used it as a means…
Countee Cullen – Poet, Playwright, Writer During the Harlem Renaissance
Countee Cullen (formerly known as Countee LeyRoy Porter) was an award-winning African American poet, novelist, and playwright during the Harlem Renaissance. He wrote in a traditional style, praised the beauty…