Category: Historical Figures
How Pittsburgh’s Freedom House Pioneered Paramedic Treatment
March 1, 20155:19 PM ET Heard on All Things Considered ERIKA BERAS Twitter In the 1960s, Pittsburgh, like most cities, was segregated by race. But people [more…]
SERGEANT WILLIAM HARVEY CARNEY: FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN AWARDED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR
POSTED BY JAE JONES – SEPTEMBER 10, 2022 Sergeant William Harvey Carney was the first African American to be awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor. He was [more…]
How a High School Teacher Changed Early 20th-Century Insect Science
Systemic racism kept him from a position in higher education—but it didn’t stop Charles Henry Turner from rewriting our understanding of bees, ants, and cockroaches. [more…]
The Proud Legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers
In 1866, an Act of Congress created six all-black peacetime regiments, later consolidated into four –– the 9th and 10th Cavalry, and the 24th and [more…]
For Pilot Bessie Coleman, Every ‘No’ Got Her Closer to ‘Yes’
Despite fierce obstacles in her path, the Black female aviator became a hero that would pave the way for generations to come by David Kindy [more…]
How Edmonia Lewis Changed The Art World Forever
By Sarah January/June 11, 2022 Over the centuries the art world has seen many iconic sculptors. From Michelangelo to Picasso, Donatello to Rodin, these artists [more…]
How Emmett Till’s murder inspired Rod Serling to create the original ‘Twilight Zone’ series
Frustrated by censors, Serling went a different route, with great success. Annie Reneau The original “Twilight Zone” series was unlike anything anyone had ever seen [more…]
Joseph H. Rainey 1832–1887
Joseph Rainey was sworn in on December 12, 1870—first African American to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. Born enslaved, Joseph Rainey was the [more…]
Siren of the Resistance: The Artistry and Espionage of Josephine Baker
Iconic entertainer of the Jazz Age, famous for her risqué performances, Josephine Baker responded to the start of World War II by becoming a spy [more…]
Charity Adams Earley
1918-2002 Commanding officer of the first unit of WAC African Americans to go overseas. Her unit was the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion. By Dr. Kelly [more…]