Mathias De Sousa: The first African-American in Maryland
Mathias de Sousa, possibly of African and Portuguese ancestry, is considered the first known Portuguese immigrant on record to have settled in North America. He...
Tag : History Maker
James Weldon Johnson: Author of “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing”
James Weldon Johnson was an African-American writer, who distinguished himself in civil rights, diplomacy, education, journalism, law, literature, and music. In 1900, Johnson wrote the...
Walter Rodney: The Afrikan-Caribbean Revolutionary Scholar and Activist
“Walter Rodney was Most Rare. He is an exemplar. He belongs in that rare category of Marcus Garvey, CLR James, George Padmore and Frantz Fanon.”...
McHenry Boatwright: An African-American Bass-Baritone Opera Singer
John McHenry Boatwright was one of the leading baritone-bass opera singers in America. Boatwright made numerous appearances as a recitalist, and a soloist with orchestras...
Cudjoe Kossula Lewis: The “last African-American ancestor?”
Born in Africa as Oluale Kossula, he died in America in 1935 as Cudjoe Lewis. Ouale Kossula was considered the last person born in Afrika...
Paul Belloni Du Chaillu: The “African” Zoologist who became known as the first modern European to confirm the existence of gorillas
“In such a wild country as Africa one does not go far without adventures. The traveler necessarily sees what is strange and wonderful, for every...
Isaac Burns Murphy: One of the Greatest American Jockeys of All Time
Isaac Burns Murphy was an African-American Hall of Fame jockey, who is considered one of the greatest riders in American Thoroughbred horse racing history. Murphy...
Walter Tull: Black British War Hero
Walter Tull was the British Army’s first ever Black officer. Tull, who was a professional footballer at the outbreak of the first world war, gained...
Anna Mac Clarke: A Military Pioneer
Anna Mac Clarke was the first African American woman to be a commanding officer of an otherwise all European regiment when the United States military...
Henry Johnson: Buffalo Soldier
After the civil war, regiments of African-American soldiers served on the western frontier, battling Native-Americans and protecting European settlers. They became known as Buffalo Soldiers....