Kofi Ghanaba (Guy Warren): The Divine Drummer who pioneered Afro-jazz
“The reuniting of African-American jazz with its African roots.” Kofi Ghanaba, also known as Guy Warren, was one of the most influential Ghanaian musicians of...
Category : Black Firsts
Sugar Ray Robinson: “Pound for pound” the best boxer in history
Sugar Ray Robinson is considered one of the greatest boxers of all time. Robinson held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, and by...
Mary Elizabeth Carnegie: Nursing Legend
Mary Elizabeth Carnegie was a ground-breaking nurse, educator, and author who championed the cause of African American nurses. She was the first Black nurse to serve as...
John Willis Menard: The First African American elected to Congress
John Willis Menard, an African American journalist, civil rights leader, editor, and poet became the first African American elected to Congress, but was not seated...
Harriet E. Wilson: The first female African-American novelist
Harriet E. Wilson is considered the first female African-American novelist, as well as the first African American of any gender to publish a novel on...
Rose Fortune: Pioneer Black Canadian Businesswoman
Rose Fortune (March 13, 1774-February 20, 1864), a Black Loyalist originally from the US, is best-known for her talent as a businesswoman at a time...
Blanche Kelso Bruce: African American Senator during the 19th Century
[dropcap size=small]B[/dropcap]lanche Kelso Bruce was the first African American to serve a full term in the U.S. Senate, representing Mississippi as a Republican from 1875...
Augusta Savage: African-American Sculptor
“I have created nothing really beautiful, really lasting, but if I can inspire one of these youngsters to develop the talent I know they possess,...
William Sanders Scarborough: The first African American classical scholar
[dropcap size=small]W[/dropcap]illiam Sanders Scarborough is generally thought to be the first African American classical scholar. Born into slavery, Scarborough became a world-respected scholar of Greek...
John “Black” Caesar: Australia’s First Bushranger
John Caesar (1764 – 15 February 1796), nicknamed ‘Black Caesar’ was the first Australian bushranger and one of the first people of African descent to...