Frederick Douglas Patterson, born in 1871, was a prominent figure in African American history, known for his significant contributions in the field of transportation. He holds the distinction of being…
Category: Historical Figures
The 1920 Ocoee Massacre, a stark reminder of the deep-seated racism that plagued American society.
In 1920, during the height of racial tension and discrimination in the United States, a courageous African American named Mose Norman dared to challenge the deeply ingrained prejudices of his…
The 761st Tank Battalion, AKA the “Black Panthers” of WWII
The 761st Tank Battalion was a segregated unit of the United States Army during World War II composed primarily of African American soldiers. The battalion was activated in April 1942…
Selma-to-Montgomery Marches and the 1965 Voting Rights Act. Two pivotal events in the American civil rights movement
The 1965 civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama became a turning point in the struggle for racial equality, galvanizing support for the civil rights movement and leading to…
One of the Wealthiest People in Los Angeles Was a Black Woman, and Her Name Was Biddy Mason
Historical stories of Black wealth tend to be few and far between. Most know of the story of the self-made millionaire Madame C.J. Walker, and amazing as that story is,…
The women who stood with Martin Luther King Jr. and sustained a movement for social change
The Conversation March 12, 2023 Historian Vicki Crawford was one of the first scholars to focus on women’s roles in the civil rights movement. Her 1993 book, “Trailblazers and Torchbearers,” dives into…
Why Ed Sullivan Matters to Black History
Because he was such an icon, he was able to have Black artists on TV when they were often not welcomed nor wanted elsewhere. Published on February 1, 2023 By Kevin Powell…
Many Black Americans helped pave the way in transportation
FreightWaves celebrates some of the most influential African Americans in transportation industry history Brielle Jaekel · Friday, February 24, 2023 The most notable African American in relation to the transportation…
How The All-Black 54th Massachusetts Regiment Changed History During The Civil War
By Kaleena Fraga | Edited By Jaclyn Anglis Published February 7, 2023 Updated February 10, 2023 Immortalized in the 1989 movie Glory, the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry Regiment was one of the most storied…
Remembering Bayard Rustin, Civil Rights Leader and Gay Activist
By: Jerald Podair | Feb 1, 2023 As I began writing “Bayard Rustin: American Dreamer,” my biography of the 20th-century radical leader and activist, one of my colleagues cautioned me not to “fall in love.”…