Billy: The enslaved African American charged with treason!
Billy was an enslaved African American who became a principal in a court case during the American Revolution (1775–1783). In 1781, the Prince William County...
Category : Biographies
David Nelson Crosthwait Jr.: Inventor and leader in electrical and mechanical engineering
David Nelson Crosthwait Jr. was an African American electrical and mechanical engineer and one of the leaders in the United States in the field of...
Aaron Douglas: Major artist of the Harlem Renaissance
Aaron Douglas (May 26, 1899—February 2, 1979) was an African American painter and graphic artist who played a leading role in the Harlem Renaissance of...
William H. Carney: First Black American to merit the Medal of Honor
William Harvey Carney was an African American soldier during the American Civil War who received the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Battle...
Tom Feelings: Visual storyteller with an African perspective
Tom Feelings (May 19, 1933 – August 25, 2003) was a well-known artist, cartoonist, children’s book illustrator, author, teacher, and activist. From the dawn of...
Oliver Lewis: Winner of the First Kentucky Derby
Oliver Lewis became the first jockey to win the Kentucky Derby, America’s longest continuous sporting event on May 17, 1875. His time of two minutes...
Laura Wheeling Waring: Portrait artist of prominent African Americans
Laura Wheeler was an African-American artist and educator, best known for her paintings of prominent African Americans including W.E.B. Du Bois and Marian Anderson. A...
Matilda Evans: Medical Pioneer of South Carolina
Matilda Arabella Evans was the first African American woman licensed to practice medicine in South Carolina. She became a powerful advocate for improved health care...
Olivier Le Jeune: First recorded Black person in Canada
In 1628, the first Black person known to have lived in Canada was a native of Madagascar. He was kidnapped and sold between the ages...
Mary Eliza Mahoney: The first African American professional nurse in the United States
In 1879, Mary Eliza Mahoney became the first Black graduate nurse in the United States. Mary Eliza Mahoney was born on May 7, 1845, in...