HAMPTON, VA - 1980: NASA space scientist, and mathematician Katherine Johnson poses for a portrait at work at NASA Langley Research Center in 1980 in Hampton, Virginia.
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The Niagara Movement
Dr William Edward Burghardt Du Bois (1868 - 1963), 82-year old anthropologist and publicist, co-founder of the National Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP) who has been nominated as the American Labor Party candidate for Senator from New York. Photo: Getty Images Keystone
Did you know that there was a precursor to the NAACP, called the Niagara Movement. In 1905, civil rights activists W.E.B Dubois and William Monroe Trotter founded the Niagara Movement to oppose segregation and demand voting rights. It was named after the Niagara falls, which was nearby where they held their first conference.
Rosa Parks
American Civil Rights activist Rosa Parks poses as she works as a seamstress, shortly after the beginning of the Montgomery bus boycott, Montgomery, Alabama, February 1956. ( Photo: Getty Images Don Cravens
While we all know the story of how Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white bus driver — there’s so much more to her! Did you know that even before her iconic refusal to move from her seat, Parks was a dedicated civil rights activist and secretary of the local NAACP chapter? Parks, who said she didn’t move because she “was tired of giving in,” continued to fight for civil rights and was even arrested a second time for organizing the bus boycotts.
Shirley Chisholm
A headshot of African American educator and U.S. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm, 1973. Chisholm was the first black woman elected to the U.S. Congress and the first woman to run for president in 1971 Photo: Getty Images Hulton Archive
Representative Shirley Chisholm is best known for being the first Black woman in Congress. But did you know she was also the first Black woman to run for in the Democratic presidential primary and the founder of the Congressional Black Caucus and the National Women’s Political Caucus?
The Lightbulb!
Photo: Getty Images TKP HIBURAN / 500px
Did you know that Lewis Howard Latimer invented a carbon filament that allowed lightbulbs to last significantly longer than the paper in Thomas Edison’s design — leading to the modern lightbulb we use today.
George Washington Carver
Photo: Getty Images Bettmann
George Washington Carver was a brilliant Black scientist who unlike the story goes did not invent Peanut Butter. He did however invent hundreds of uses for peanuts and revolutionized agricultural practices across the United States!
The Ironing Board
Photo: Getty Images Henrik Sorensen
Sarah Boone, a Black woman, invented the ironing board.
Phillis Wheatley & Poetry
A first edition of the book “Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral”, by Phillis Wheatley, while she was enslaved to Mr. John Wheatley of Boston. Frontispiece features an oval portrait of Wheatley by Scipio Morehead, seated at a desk holding a quill pen. Along the top of the portrait are the words [PHILLIS WHEATLEY, NEGRO SERVANT TO MR. JOHN WHEATLEY OF BOSTON]. Poet Phillis Wheatley (c.1753-1784) was the first African-American author of a published book of poetry. Born in West Africa, she was sold into slavery as a child and transported to North America. The Wheatley family who bought her encouraged her poetry, and she was emancipated by them shortly after the publication of her book. Artist Unknown. Photo: Getty Images Heritage Art/Heritage Images via Getty Images)
Portrait of NASA human computer and African-American mathematical pioneer Katherine Johnson (1918-2020) at NASA Langley Research Center, 1983. Image courtesy NASA. Photo: Getty Images Smith Collection/Gado
Colorized portrait depicts American historian, author, and journalist Carter Godwin Woodson (1875 - 1950), 1895. It was Woodson’s work as an African American scholar that led to the celebration, in 1926, of ‘Negro History Week,’ the precursor to modern-day Black History Month. Photo: Getty Images Science Source/Photo Researchers History
Carter G. Woodson sparked the impetus for Black History Month with Black history week — which coincided with Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.
Bryant Gumbel
NEW YORK CITY - JANUARY 15: TV Journalist Bryant Gumbel, Singer Patti LaBelle and Activist Roy Innis attend the Congress of Racial Equality (CORE) Sixth Annual Martin Luther King Ambassadorial Reception and Awards Dinner on January 15, 1990 at Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers in New York City. Photo: Getty Images Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection
If you don’t know this broadcaster, you should. In 1981, Bryant Gumbel made history as the first Black person to host a network morning show as host of the Today Show. He was the host for years until moving on to become a brilliant sports journalist.
The History of Juneteenth
WASHINGTON DC, UNITED STATES - JUNE 19: People gather to celebrate Juneteenth in Black Lives Matter Plaza near the White House in Washington D.C. Juneteenth marks the significant day of June 19, 1865, when a Union general proclaimed freedom for all enslaved individuals in Texas, in accordance with federal law. Photo: Getty Images Celal GüneÅ/Anadolu Agency
Original Caption) 3/2/1940- Los Angeles, CA: Actress Hattie Mc Daniel is shown with the statuette she received for her portrayal in “Gone With The Wind.” The award was for Best Supporting Role by an Actress, and was made at the 12th annual Academy Awards ceremony. Photo: Getty Images Bettmann / Contributor
In 1940, Hattie McDaniel became the first Black person to win an Oscar for performance in “Gone With The Wind.”
Traffic Lights
Photo: Getty Images Alan Schein
Did you know traffic lights were invented by a Black woman, named Marie Van Brittan Brown!
Henrietta Lacks
BALTIMORE, MD - MARCH 22: A photo of Henrietta Lacks, sits in the living room of her grandson, Ron Lacks, 57, n Baltimore, MD on March 22, 2017. Photo: Getty Images Jonathan Newton/The Washington Post
Henrietta Lacks was a young Black mother who received treatment for cervical cancer. Without her consent researchers studied her cells — which ended-up playing a crucial role in the study and development of countless treatments and vaccines, including the COVID-19 vaccine.
Althea Gibson
Althea Gibson kisses the cup she was rewarded with after having won the French International Tennis Championships in Paris. Photo: Getty Images Bettmann
We’ve all heard of Serena Williams, but Althea Gibson should be a household name too. She as the first Black tennis player to win a Grand Slam.
The First African American Woman Self-Made Millionaire
Portrait of American businesswoman, philanthropist, and activist Madam CJ Walker (born Sarah Breedlove, 1867 - 1919), 1913. She is widely considered the first female, self-made millionaire in the United States. Photo: Getty Images Addison N. Scurlock/Michael Ochs Archives
Madame C.J Walker was the first African American woman to become a self made millionaire after creating her own line of hair products.
First African American Gold Medalist
25th July 1908: The start of the 400 Metres race at the 1908 London Olympics with William Robbins, John Taylor and John Carpenter, all of the USA, and Wyndham Halswelle of Great Britain (2nd from left). Photo: Getty Images Topical Press Agency
In 1908, John Taylor became the first African American to win a gold medal at the Olympics. He won the 4x400 meter relay.
First Black Woman Gold Medalist
(Original Caption) Alice Coachman of the Tuskegee Institute Club is seen as she wins the high jump event at the National Women’s Track and Field meet. Photo: Getty Images Bettmann / Contributor
In 1948, Alice Coachman became the first Black woman to win a gold medal for doing the High Jump.
Black NFL History
CANTON, OH - AUGUST 7: Grandson Fritz Pollard III (L) and Inductee Steven Towns pose with his bust during the 2005 NFL Hall of Fame induction ceremony on August 7, 2005 in Canton, Ohio. Photo: Getty Images Jonathan Daniel
In 1920, Bobby Marshall and Fritz Pollard became the first Black men to play in the NFL. Pollard went on to become the first Black coach in the NFL.
