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 aninfluence on King’s thinking and other things. Malcom X was a 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.
