Black people have went through a lot throughout history slavery, discrimination,
lynching, adversity, racism, and more. But through all this black people excel and evolve
over time. According to the Center for Law and Social Policy, “Black labor has been foundational to the growth of America and our economy.”

Alexander Miles was a black inventor in the mid to late 1800’s. His most notable
invention is an automatic elevator. George Washington Carver was a black inventor in
the late 1800’s and early 1900’s. Some of his inventions include a crop rotation
technique enabling the soil to be re-established, and a Jessup Wagon (a mobile school)
to teach other farmers what he had learned. Garret Morgan was a black inventor from
the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s. A few of his inventions include a traffic light and gas
mask. In the early 1900s, Madame CJ Walker was a black entrepreneur and
philanthropist and became the first female self – made millionaire. Walker made her
million by thriving in the hair care business. She had a hair product to address black
women’s scalp and hair. Fredrick McKinely Jones was also a black inventor in the
early 1900’s. He has invented a lot of different things, like a machine used at a movie
box office to get your change, a portable air cooling unit, etc.

Clara Luper was a black civic leader, schoolteacher, and a pioneering leader from the
mid to late 1900’s. She fought to desegregate Oklahoma, increase voting rights, and
many other things. Jane Bolin was the first black female judge. Thurgood Marshall
was the first black male Supreme Court Judge. Max Robinson was a black newscaster
from the mid to late 1900’s. According to Britannica, “Max Robinson, was an American
television journalist and the first African American man to anchor a nightly network
newscast.” He has paved the way for many black newscasters, like Tamron Hall, Malika
Andrews, and many more.

Bessie Coleman was the first black female aviator in the early 1900’s. Mae Jemison
was a black engineer, physician, and NASA astronaut. She was the first African –
American woman to go to space. Katherine Johnson was a black NASA
mathematician and aerospace technologist. She was regarded as the human calculator.
Her intelligence played a huge role in sending the astronauts to the moon for the first
time and their safe return. Johnson along with Dorothy Vaughn (mathematician and
computer programmers) and Mary Jackson (mathematician and aerospace engineer)
made such a big impact, they had a movie made about them called Hidden Figures.

Martin Luther King Jr was a black activist, political philosopher, and Baptist minister.
He led the March on Washington for freedom and equality and had much help in the
process. John Lewis was a speaker at the march and became a legislator. Benjamin
Mays gave the benediction at the march. Some think that Mays might have had an
influence on King’s thinking and other things. Malcom X was an black revolutionary
Muslim Minister, and human right activist. He spoke about black empowerment and
nationalism.

Jackie Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball (MLB) player. He battled
racism and discrimination Althea Gibson was the first black Tennis player. In 1956, she
was the first African-American to win a Grand Slam in Tennis. Fritz Pollard was the first
black coach in the NFL in 1921. Earl Lloyd was the first black NBA player and coach in
the mid to late 1900’s.

Quincy Jones was a black record producer, composer, arranger, conductor,
bandleader, trumpeter, and music icon. Jones has made a major impact in the music
and movie industry. Jones has worked with a lot of celebrities like Michael Jackson,
Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles etc. Hazel Scott was a black singer and jazz and classical
pianist. She was the first African-American to host her TV Show The Hazel Scott Show.
George Washington Johnson was a black singer and recording artist. According to
the Library of Congress, “In 1890, George W. Johnson became the first African
American to record commercially.” Lincoln Perry was a black vaudevillian(combination
of dance, comedy, and song), film actor, and comedian. He was thought of as the first
black actor, and he was also a millionaire.

These extraordinary and gifted people have paved the way for future African-Americans
to come and make a difference. The people I’ve talked about in this story are few of
many historical figures in history, so I encourage you to do your own research and
celebrate Black history.