Gwendolyn Brooks: The Poet Who Turned Black City Life into Literature
Gwendolyn Brooks became the first Black author to win a Pulitzer Prize, capturing the rhythms, struggles, and beauty of Black life in Chicago. Her poetry transformed everyday city experiences into lasting American literature.
Sarah E. Goode: The First Black Woman to Receive a U.S. Patent
In 1885, Sarah E. Goode became the first Black woman to receive a U.S. patent for her invention, a folding cabinet bed designed to maximize space. Her innovation reflected both ingenuity and the realities of urban life in post-Reconstruction America.
Mae Jemison: The First Black Woman Astronaut and More Than a First
Mae Jemison, the first Black woman in space, went from Chicago classrooms to NASA astronaut, doctor, and STEM leader, learn how her life story inspires kids, families, and educators today.
Sojourner Truth: More Than the Quote We Keep Repeating
Sojourner Truth is often remembered for one powerful phrase, but her life extended far beyond a single speech. As an abolitionist, women’s rights advocate, and traveling preacher, she reshaped conversations about race and gender in 19th-century America.
16 Interesting Facts About Bessie Coleman
Bessie Coleman became the first Black woman and first Native American woman to earn a pilot’s license. From learning French to training abroad, these fascinating facts reveal how she broke barriers in aviation history.
Harriet Tubman: 15 Facts You Probably Didn’t Know
Harriet Tubman is widely known for leading enslaved people to freedom, but her life extended far beyond the Underground Railroad. From serving as a Union spy to advocating for women’s suffrage, these lesser-known facts reveal the full scope of her legacy.
Claudette Colvin: The Teen Who Refused to Give Up Her Seat Before Rosa Parks
Nine months before Rosa Parks, 15-year-old Claudette Colvin refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Her arrest helped lay the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement, even if her story was later overshadowed.
Alice Ball: The Unsung Hero Who Changed Medicine
Alice Ball developed the first effective treatment for leprosy in the early 20th century, transforming medical care for patients worldwide. For years, her breakthrough was credited to others before her legacy was restored.
Black Women in History: A Comprehensive Timeline 1711-2022
From 1711 to 2022, Black women have shaped American history through resistance, leadership, creativity, and courage. This timeline highlights key moments that reveal the depth of their influence across centuries.
Amelia Boynton Robinson: Trailblazing Black Woman Behind Selma and the Voting Rights Act
Amelia Boynton Robinson organized in Selma, survived Bloody Sunday, and helped secure the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
Key Facts About Civil Rights Activist and Leader Ella Baker
Ella Baker was one of the most influential yet often overlooked leaders of the Civil Rights Movement. Known for her belief in grassroots organizing and collective leadership, she helped shape major civil rights organizations and empowered a generation of young activists.
Why Ida B. Wells Is Significant to Black History
Ida B. Wells was a fearless journalist, educator, and anti-lynching activist who exposed the truth about racial violence in America. At a time when speaking out could cost her life, she used her pen as a weapon for justice and helped shape the early Civil Rights Movement.