Black In History

Curating the names of influential Black Americans, past & present, and giving them the recognition they deserve. Because Black History is American History.

[blackinhistory]

Gwendolyn Brooks

Poet. Innovator. Cultural icon. Breaking through the constraints of conventional literature, she used the power of poetry to illuminate the rich tapestry of Black life. As the first African American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry and the first Black woman to serve as Poetry Consultant for the Library of Congress, Brooks’s groundbreaking achievements challenged and redefined our cultural landscape. How does her art keep echoing through generations today?

Gwendolyn Brooks was born in 1917 in Topeka, Kansas, and raised in Chicago, where the realities of urban life shaped her early experiences. Growing up in a working-class environment, she witnessed firsthand the struggles and strengths of the Black community. These formative years provided the basis for her honest portrayals of everyday life and social conditions, which in turned influenced and shaped her later literary work.

In her early career, Brooks began publishing poems that captured the spirit of Chicago’s neighborhoods. Her debut collection, A Street in Bronzeville (1945), presented a candid look at the lives of Black residents and broke new ground by highlighting the vibrancy and hardship of the community. This work laid the foundation for her reputation as a poet who spoke directly and powerfully about the realities of race and class.

Her next major work, Annie Allen (1949), further solidified her standing in the literary world. This collection, which won her the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry in 1950 (the first African-American to receive such an honor), combined a social perspective with innovative poetic form. Brooks’s ability to blend personal narrative with broader social commentary was also demonstrated in later pieces such as the widely published poem “We Real Cool,” which connected with readers for its thoughtful depiction of youth and marginalization.

Beyond her published work, Brooks played an active role in the literary community. She organized public readings, led workshops, and mentored emerging writers in Chicago, fostering an environment where diverse voices could be heard. Her efforts helped to build a stronger, more inclusive literary culture that connected art with everyday social struggles.

Breaking institutional barriers, Brooks made history as the first Black woman to serve as Poetry Consultant for the Library of Congress. In this role, she worked to broaden the appeal and reach of poetry, ensuring that the art form addressed contemporary issues and reached a wider audience. Her work in this position reflected her commitment to both artistic excellence and public service.

Her career was marked by numerous prestigious accolades. In addition to the Pulitzer Prize, Brooks was honored with awards such as the National Medal of Arts, the MacArthur Fellowship, and the NAACP Spingarn Medal. These recognitions underscored her influence as a writer and her dedication to addressing themes of social justice, race, and identity.

Brooks passed away on December 3, 2000, but her legacy endures through her body of work and the impact she had on American literature and culture. 

Photo Source: Chicago Literary Archive Source: Wikipedia Source: The Poetry Foundation Source: Britannica Source:  Academy of American Poets

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Gladys West

Overcoming racial and gender barriers, she charted a course that led her to become a “hidden figure” behind the ubiquitous Global Positioning System (GPS). West’s work has had a profound impact on how we navigate the world today. Her story illuminates often-overlooked contributions of diverse voices in scientific progress. So, how's her work connected to the present?

Gladys West was born in 1930 in rural Sutherland, Virginia. Her family was an Black farming family and she spent much of her childhood working on the farm, surrounded by sharecroppers. Despite the challenges, she excelled in school and was determined to get an education. West's childhood on a farm instilled in her a deep understanding of precision and calculation. Despite limited resources and societal constraints, she excelled in academics, graduating with a mathematics degree from Virginia State University and went on to earn two master's degrees and a PhD. Her talent propelled her to the Naval Surface Warfare Center, where she embarked on a remarkable 42-year career. It was also there she met her husband, Ira, married in 1957, and had 3 children. She was the 2nd Black woman ever hired, and 1 of 4 Black employees, her husband included.

There, with the backdrop of Cold War tensions and burgeoning space exploration, West tackled complex mathematical problems related to satellite geodesy. This specialized field, equivalent to deciphering Earth's celestial fingerprint, held the key to precisely pinpointing locations in space. West's meticulous calculations, particularly for the groundbreaking Seasat and GEOSAT satellites, became the invisible scaffolding upon which the modern GPS system was built.

For decades, her contributions remained largely unacknowledged due to her race and gender. Yet, the accuracy and efficiency of her work spoke volumes. The precise models she developed for Earth's gravitational field and its subtle variations due to tides and other forces became the bedrock of GPS calculations. Today, whether navigating city streets or pinpointing remote wilderness locations, we unknowingly benefit from West's invisible hand.

Recognition finally arrived later in life. In 2018, the Air Force Space and Missile Pioneers Hall of Fame inducted West, acknowledging her transformative impact. That same year, the BBC included West among its "100 Women," recognizing her groundbreaking contributions. Just three years later, the Royal Academy of Engineering in the UK bestowed upon her their highest individual honor, the Prince Philip Medal, cementing her place as a pioneer in her field. But her legacy extends far beyond accolades. Gladys West stands as a beacon of inspiration, not just for aspiring mathematicians, but for anyone facing systemic barriers. Her story reminds us that the path to groundbreaking discoveries is often paved by those who defy expectations and chart their own unique course.

Photo Source: Wikimedia Source: Wikipedia Source: BBC Source: Britannica Source:  Atlanta Black Star

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Isaac Burns Murphy

Considered one of the greatest jockeys in history, he won three Kentucky Derbies between 1884 and 1891. This feat wasn’t matched by another jockey until 1945. His career win record at 34% has yet to be equaled in American horse racing. He also was the first person to be inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. Why did his name fall into obscurity?

Born 1861 in Fayette county, Kentucky, Murphy had humble beginnings. His father died during the Civil War serving as a Union solider, and Murphy’s mother moved the family back to Lexington, Kentucky to work as a laundress. He was first introduced to horses by one of her customers that owned a racing stable. A young Murphy cleaned the stalls and exercised the horses. Eli Jordon, a black trainer at the stable, took 14-year-old Murphy under his wing and trained him to ride.

It wasn’t unusual at the time for jockeys and trainers to be predominantly Black in the south. The tradition took root from early colony days, where wealthy White men had slaves care for their thoroughbred horses. In the first 28 years of the Kentucky Derby (1875), 15 of the winners were Black.

Murphy’s profile started picking up steam in 1877 after winning 19 races and receiving 4th place in his first Kentucky Derby. Murphy won his Kentucky Derby in 1884, then twice more in 1890 and 1891. The feat of winning the Kentucky Derby three times in one’s career was unheard of. Another jockey wouldn’t come close for another 54 years. He’s also the only jockey to have ever won the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks, and the Clark Handicap within the same year (1884). In Chicago, Illinois, Murphy won the American Derby, the most prestigious race in the nation at the time, four times (1884, 1885, 1886 and 1888). Over his career, he would win 628 out of 1,412 races. Murphy’s racing win average of 34% is the best a jockey’s ever achieved in history to date.

His success also correlated to significant financial gains too. At the height of his career, Murphy was the highest paid jockey in the U.S. His purchase of a mansion in Lexington, KY, even made The New York Times.

Later in his career, due to discrimination and alcohol abuse, Murphy’s popularity waned and was forced to retire in 1895. In 1896, Murphy died of heart failure and was buried in an unmarked grave that time forgot. But he wasn’t the only Black rider to fall into obscurity. Black men across the whole racing industry started losing promotions and opportunities. This was due to discrimination and a desire to segregate the sport. Today's landscape is quite different; racers are predominantly white now. The first Black man to receive a mount since 1921, rode in 2000.

However, Murphy’s legacy does live on. Since 1995, the National Turf Writers Association gives an award in Murphy’s name to the jockey with highest winning percentage for the year. 

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Source: Britannica.com Source: Wikipedia Source: Smithsonian Mag Source: Black Past Source: America Comes Alive

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Mary Beatrice Kenner

She changed the world of feminine care with the invention of the sanitary belt, the precursor to the self-adhesive maxi pad. She also has five patents covering various household items, including an improved version of the bathroom tissue holder. What else did she invent?

Born 1912, in Monroe, North Carolina, Kenner had a pretty positive childhood. Her father and maternal grandfather always encouraged Kenner and her sister’s creativity. The grandfather (unnamed) actually invented a tricolor train light. Her family’s support led to her thirst for discovery and invention later in life.

Kenner’s first invention was the sanitary belt (sanitary napkin) and later included a moisture-proof napkin pocket. This is considered by most to be the first form of modern menstruation protection, which led to the creation of the maxi pad in the 70’s. While maxi pads were self-adhesive, the sanitary belt incorporated an elastic belt that kept pads in place. Though she invented the device 30 years earlier, it wasn’t patented until 1956. This was due the taboos surrounding feminine hygiene and racial discrimination. The first company to even show interest in her invention rejected it after discovering Kenner was Black.

(Sanitary Belt patent via USPTO)

In 1982, Kenner received a patent for an improved version of the bathroom tissue holder. Her design kept the loose end of the tissue roll away from the body and kept it in a more accessible position.

(Bathroom tissue holder via USPTO)

Other inventions by Kenner include a back washer mounted on shower walls and the carrier attachment for an invalid walker.

Even with her successes, Kenner went on to live a modest life. She worked as a professional floral arranger and managed her own small business in Washington, DC. She saw ways to improve people’s lives and claimed her work was not for the money. Kenner died January 13, 2006.

Interesting note—The famous young adult novel, “Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret,” references the "sanitary belt" before getting an update to "sanitary pad" in the 90’s.

Photo/Source: The Source Source: Wikipedia Source: For The Love of Women Source: ThoughtCo Source: Black America Web Source: Google Patents

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Lloyd Hall

Meet the man responsible for helping to make the modern preservation of food and other products a reality for billions of people across the world today. While his research helped to combat spoilage and rancidity in food, he earned 59 U.S. patents too. Oh, and also improved the bacon-curing process (you’re welcome for that one). So, what else did he do?

Born 1894 in Elgin, Illinois, Hall first discovered an affinity for chemistry in high school. Being one of five Black students, he graduated top of his class in 1912, and attended Northwestern University. There, he studied pharmaceutical chemistry and received a B.S. in Science and later an M.S. in Science from the University of Chicago.

Though very qualified, Hall faced frequent discrimination while searching for employment. He eventually landed his first job at the Chicago Department of Health. During WWI, he served as assistant chief inspector of powder and high explosives in the Ordinance Department of the U.S. Army. After the war, Hall worked in various labs before becoming president and chemical director of a consulting laboratory, Chemical Products Corporation.

In 1929, Hall became chief chemist at Griffith Laboratories, where he would stay until retirement in 1959. It was there that many of his innovations would be developed in the field of food science. In the early 1920’s many companies struggled to find ways to cheaply and safely preserve food. While at Griffith, he would invent the “flash-drying” method for curing and preserving meats. This revolutionized the meat-curing industry.

Hall was the scientist to discover that certain spices in the pre-seasoning process food packers used actually deteriorated preservation. In response, he developed a method utilizing ethylene oxide and a vacuum chamber that sterilized the bacteria in the spices. His discovery opened the door to inventing various food products as well. This method is actually still utilized throughout the world by many industries on items like bandages, dressing, drugs, sutures, and cosmetics.

Hall also invented new uses of antioxidants to prevent the spoiling of fats and oils. One of his biggest legacies however? Improving the process of curing bacon. Not only did it shorten the curing time from weeks to hours, but enhanced the appearance and safety of the meat.

After his retirement, Hall was consultant to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N. He died January 2nd, 1971, but his legacy lives on. He was inducted into the Inventors’ Hall of Fame in 2004. 

Photo/Source: American Chemical Society Source: Encyclopedia.com Source: Wikipedia Source: Webfiles.uci.edu Source: Blackinventor.com

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Nearis Green

So who taught a young Jack Daniel how to distill what would become the world’s best-selling whiskey? Until recently the public assumed that credit belonged to Dan Call, a Tennessee preacher & distiller. But actually, it was Call’s slave, “Uncle Nearis”. As you can imagine, it’s a complicated story for the brand.

Born in 1820, there isn’t too much documentation to the life of Nearis Green. Unfortunately, his history is only known indirectly through his protégé, Jasper “Jack” Daniel, founder of Jack Daniel’s Whiskey.

As a boy in the 1850s, an orphaned Daniel was taken in by Dan Call, a preacher, grocer, and whiskey distiller. The story goes that Call saw potential in Daniel, grooming and teaching him how to run his whiskey still. The actual truth is that during this period, Nearis Green, a slave, acted as Call’s master distiller. It was under Green’s tutelage that Jack Daniel learned the whiskey-making craft. It’s noted that Call told young Daniel “Uncle [Nearis] is the best whiskey maker that I know of.”

After the end of slavery with the ratification of the 13th Amendment in 1865, Daniel started his own distillery. He also employed three of Green’s sons. Green had other passions he followed after gaining his freedom; he toured the world with an acapella group, the Fisk Jubilee Singers. They even performed Swing Low, Sweet Chariot in front of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom. 

In 2016, celebrating the 150th year anniversary of Jack Daniels, the company decided to fully embrace the complicated origins of their brand and bring Green’s story more into the public eye. Many slave distillers, like Green, aren’t well documented in the archives is because they didn’t have the right to be recognized at the time. Green’s noted year of death is 1890.

Photo/Source: NY Times Source: NPR Source: Wikipedia Source: Washington Post Source: The Telegraph Source: NearisGreen.com

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Wilma Rudolph

She overcame polio and debilitating sickness as a child to become the first American woman to win three gold medals in one Olympics. Her record-breaking achievements even earned her the monicker of the “fastest woman in the world.” How’d she do it?

Born 1940 in St. Bethlehem, Tennessee, Rudolph started at a disadvantage. Child 20 of 22 in a large & impoverished family, she contracted infantile paralysis from the polio virus at the age of four. As a result, Rudolph was fitted with a brace for her crippled left leg and foot. Her mother drove 90 miles every week to take her to therapy for years. She was finally able to lose the brace at the age of nine, and although having to wear an orthopedic shoe for 2 years after, eventually became a star basketball player on her school’s team.

It wasn’t long until Ed Temple, Tennessee State coach, took notice. He saw a natural talent and recruited Rudolph to train in his summer program for track and field. At only 16, she earned a spot on the U.S. Olympic track & field team and came home with a bronze medal from the 1956 Melbourne games. She also won a gold medal at the Pan American games in the 4 x 100 m relay in 1959.

In 1960, she continued her winning streak at the summer Olympic games in Rome. She was the first woman to win three gold medals in one Olympics, and broke some records while doing it. Rudolph won the 100 m dash in 11 seconds flat, setting a new world record. However, since the run was “wind-assisted”, the record was not credited as such. She was credited though with setting the Olympic record in the 200 m dash at 23.2 seconds. Rudolph earned a third medal in the 4 x 100 m relay, as well setting another world record at an impressive 44.5 seconds. She was United Press Athlete of the Year in 1960 and Associated Press Woman Athlete of the Year for 1960 and 1961.

Rudolph would retire from competition in 1962, but continued receiving honors. She was inducted into the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983, honored with the National Sports Award in 1993, and inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in 1994. She would as a track coach at Indiana's DePauw University and serve as a U.S. goodwill ambassador to French West Africa.

Rudolph would die of brain cancer at the age of 54 in 1994 in Nashville, Tennessee.

"Winning is great, sure, but if you are really going to do something in life, the secret is learning how to lose. Nobody goes undefeated all the time. If you can pick up after a crushing defeat, and go on to win again, you are going to be a champion someday." -Wilma Rudolph

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Source: Wikipedia Source: ESPN Source: Biography.com Source: Olympic.org

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Henrietta Lacks

Though she died of cervical cancer in 1951, her cells were discovered to have unique properties. These immortal “HeLa” cells were instrumental in developing the polio vaccine as well as other key scientific landmarks including cloning, gene mapping, and in vitro fertilization. Yet, her story has raised controversial questions about the ethics surrounding privacy & patient consent. Who was this unrecognized woman?

Born 1920 in Roanoke, Virginia, Lacks grew up with humble beginnings. When Lacks’ mother died, her father moved the family to Clover, Virginia, where she stayed with her grandfather in a log cabin. That cabin was once the slave quarters on a plantation owned by her white great-grandfather. Living there, she worked as a tobacco farmer while meeting her cousin and future husband, David Lacks. Over the course of their marriage, they would have five children together and eventually move to the Baltimore, Maryland area.

Months after having their last child, Joseph, Lacks was diagnosed with cervical cancer at Johns Hopkins hospital in early 1951. It was the only hospital in the area that treated black patients at the time. While receiving cancer treatment, doctors removed two samples of tissue from her cervix without Lacks' knowledge or permission, and sent them to Dr. George Otto Gey. He was a researcher (among many others) who had been attempting to grow tissues in cultures for decades with no success. 

But, Lacks’ cells were special and demonstrated very unique properties; they could survive much longer and were more durable than average cells, which only lasted days in comparison. Her cells were the first “immortal” human cells ever grown in culture. While Henrietta Lacks died at the age of 31 on October 4th, 1951, a part of her would continue to live on through science. Gey was able to isolate and reproduce Lacks’ cells, creating the “HeLa” immortal cell line. This detail was important because those same cells were used to conduct many experiments, key to the medical research process.

HeLa cells have been used across the world in many scientific breakthroughs related to cancer, AIDS, radiation, and gene-mapping research, among as others. The most notable “other” was Jonas Salk developing the famous polio vaccine in 1954 using a strain of the HeLa line. Over 10,000 patents were registered involving Lacks’ cells, and launched a multi-billion dollar industry.

Questions of consent and privacy were voiced by the Lacks family, as Henrietta nor her family gave permission for her tissues to be collected and used for medical research and commercial applications. What makes things more complicated is that at the time of collection, this practice was common and consent was not required or sought. In 2013, the genome of the HeLa cell line was released; this concerned the Lacks family, as it was their private genetic information being shared with the public. But, the family and National Institutes of Health came to an agreement which allowed some control over access to their DNA sequence.

Oprah Winfrey, partnering with HBO Films, is set to release a movie chronicling Henrietta’s story on April 22nd, 2017. The Radiolab Podcast aired a segment chronicling her journey as well.

Photo Source: Wikipedia Commons Source: Wikipedia Source: Smithsonian Mag Source: Biography.com Source: Radiolab.org

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Shirley Chisholm

Before Hillary Clinton or even Barack Obama, there was Shirley Chisholm. Fourty-five years ago, Chisholm became the first African-American woman to run for president. Although that’s a historic accomplishment, that’s only the beginning to her story.

Born 1924 in Brooklyn, New York, Chisholm spent most of her earlier years with her grandmother in Barbados. Chisholm graduated from Brooklyn College in 1946. She earned a master’s degree from Columbia University in elementary education. Even though many recognize her for being a social activist, Chisholm started her professional career as a teacher. She then served as director at Hamilton-Madison Child Care Center from 1953 to 1959. Afterwards, Chisholm worked as an educational consultant for New York City’s Bureau of Child Welfare until 1964.

Making history is what Chisholm did best. In 1968, she was the first African-American woman elected to Congress, where she served seven terms. At first, they assigned her to the House Forestry Committee, but she demanded a reassignment. Instead, they placed her on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, which led her to be on the Education and Labor Committee. She also became one of the founders of the Congressional Black Caucus and the Congressional Women’s Caucus.

Chisholm broke history again a few years later when she was elected to Congress. In 1972, she announced that she would be running for the Democratic nomination for the president of the United States.

“I am not the candidate of Black America, although I am Black and proud. I am not the candidate of the woman’s movement of this country, although I am a woman and I am equally proud of that.” –Shirley Chisholm

Many African-American women showed their support for her campaign. Yet, sexism and discrimination kept her from consolidating the women and minority vote. In the end, Chisholm won 152 votes, which wasn’t enough to secure her nomination. That didn’t stop her, though. After she left Congress in 1983, she taught at Mount Holyoke College.

Chisholm was married to Conrad Chisholm from 1949 to 1977. She then married Arthur Hardwick, Jr. in 1986. She is the author of two books, Unbought and Unbossed (1970) and The Good Fight (1973).

On January 1, 2005, Chisholm died before she could see the historic Democratic race between Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama in 2008.  

Photo Source: Library of Congress Source: Biography.com Source: Huffington Post Source: Smithsonian Mag Source: Smithsonian Mag Source: History.com Writing: maryyalyssa

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The Triple Nickles

Also known as the 555th Parachute Infantry Division, the men in this elite unit were the first Army smokejumpers in the military during WWII, Black or otherwise. Why haven’t you heard of them? Well, their clandestine mission was to secretly fight the forest fires created by thousands of incendiary balloon bombs sent across the Pacific by the Japanese, the only known attack on U.S. mainland during WWII. Who were these guys? And why was this a secret?

Activated 1943, Fort Benning, Georgia. Walter Morris was a Sergeant overseeing a unit of Black soldiers at Fort Benning, where White soldiers trained to be Airborne Parachutists. Segregation and discrimination during this period was going strong; so most of the Black soldiers were treated more like servants as opposed to Army. Morris sought to build their self-esteem by replicating the White soldiers’ training regime during their off hours.

However, the War Department (now known as the Defense Department today), was toying with the notion of establishing an all-Black Paratrooper unit. Morris soon became the officer in charge of training America’s first Black parachutists, the 555th Parachute Infantry Division. The training program started with 20, and 17 graduated, with Morris becoming the first of his unit to earn the “wings”. The all-Black 555th was also made up of key personnel from Fort Huachuca, Arizona as well. All unit members were volunteer only. The 555th’s nickname designation, the “Triple Nickles” originated from their numerical designation (and alternative old English spelling of nickel).

Now while this was an accomplishment in itself, the Triple Nickles still faced discrimination from military leadership. WWII European Theater Commanders cited “simply having no use” for the Black jumpers. The real reason was the complication of segregation in the military and avoiding dealing integrating Black and White soldiers. Unofficially as well, some thought Black soldiers didn’t have the “intestinal fortitude” to jump out of moving planes.

The critics would be soon proven wrong.

During the winter of 1944-45, the Japanese launched 9000 incendiary “fire” balloons across the Pacific to the west coast of the United States. 1,000 of the balloon bombs reached the cost (with 300 witnessed), being the only known military attack to hit the U.S. mainland during WWII. While the intent was to target west coast cities, more than anything, these bombs were effective at creating forest fires. The U.S. Forest service needed help.

When the 555th were finally deployed, they had no idea where they were headed; it was top secret. Assuming the destination would be Europe, the soldiers were surprised when they secretly landed in Oregon instead. They received additional training in smokejumping, which was only introduced by the Forest service in 1939. Smokejumping was/is dangerous business. The Triple Nickles had to be quickly retrained as firefighters and were expected to parachute right into the thick of the fire; they jumped into mountain terrain with only shovels, axes, and basic supplies and could only return to base when they got the fire under control. The mission was codenamed “Operation Firefly”. They were the first Army Smokejumpers as well as the first Black paratroopers.

It wasn’t until recent years that these men got the recognition they deserved; during the war, the government wanted to keep the unit and the missions they carried out a secret to hide the efficacy of the Japanese attacks on U.S. soil. During the unit’s operation, they performed 1,200 jumps and only had one fatality.

Photo Source: National Archives Source: Wikipedia Source: CNN Source: History.Army.Mil Source: USARAK Source: UH.edu

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Dorothy Height

An unsung hero in the civil & women’s rights movement, she was a key organizer for the “March on Washington” with MLK Jr, was a president of the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years, and received both the Presidential Medal of Freedom & Congressional Gold Medal. She even scored a Google Doodle. What?

Source: Time

Born 1912, Richmond, Virginia. Though receiving a scholarship and admission to Barnard College in 1929, Height’s enrollment was denied due to the unwritten policy of only admitting 2 Black students every year. Instead, she enrolled in New York University and earned a bachelor’s and master’s in educational psychology. Height would also pursue post graduate work at Columbia University.

Height became involved with the YMCA/YWCA as an adult in Harlem, developing a number of social programs and causes under the organization (and joined the national staff in 1944). From there making contacts within the civil rights circles, she would go on the become the president of the National Council of Negro Women in 1957, and would stay president until 1997.

Height became a lead figure in the civil rights movement, consulting with high profile figures at the height of their influence, such as Eleanor Roosevelt, President Dwight D. Eisenhower, President Lyndon B. Johnson MLK Jr, A. Phillip Randolph, and others. As a key organizer for the “March on Washington”, she was present on stage during MLK Jr’s “I have a Dream” speech.

In her later years, Height was the chairperson of the Executive Committee of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the largest civil rights organization in the U.S. In 1994, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the highest honor a civilian can receive in the U.S.), and the Congressional Gold Medal in 2004. She was also a special stage guest for Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration in 2009. The following year, Height would die of health complications at the age of 98. In March, 2014, Google would honor Height’s 102nd birthday with one of their famous illustrated “Google Doodles”.

Photo Source: Wikimedia Commons Source: Wikipedia Source: Time Source: Biography.com

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Jackie Mabley

Generally considered the first female stand-up comedy superstar, she overcame much to become billed as “The Funniest Woman in the World.” She was the first woman to be featured at the Apollo. In 2013, she also was the subject of an HBO documentary by Whoopi Goldberg. From most sources she was also known as openly lesbian (and during the early 20th century no less), making her a pioneer in that regard as well, considering the time period. So how funny was she? See for yourself.

Born “Loretta Mary Aiken” 1894, Brevard, North Carolina. Coming from a big family (one of 16 children), Mabley had a horrific childhood. At age 11, her father, a volunteer firefighter, died while on the job. In 1910, her mother was run over a truck. By age 14 she had already been sexually assaulted twice resulting in two children being put up for adoption.

It was around this time that Aiken ran away to join the African-American vaudeville circuit as a comedian. Her stage name “Jackie 'Moms' Mabley”, inspired from a fellow performer who was her boyfriend for a short time (the moms came later on, as she became a mentor for younger comedians). In the 1920s, she worked with duo Butterbeans & Susie for a time and grew in popularity. As her presence grew over the years, she would move her act to New York City, and worked her way into television, movies, and stage performances over her career. She appeared on both the Ed Sullivan Show and The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour.

In the 1930s, Mabley became the first woman comedian to be featured at the Apollo Theater, and would appear on their stage more than any other performer. Her routines were a clever mix of social commentary on bigotry and the struggles of African-Americans, and raunchy stand up touching on female sexuality, edgy at the time. Through various indirect accounts and sources, Mabley was also considered “out” as a lesbian for most of her adult life, making her a gay pioneer as well (I’ve yet to find an absolute definitive source, but thought it should be noted as most online sources with this entry state it as fact).

Mabley recorded over 20 albums of comedy routines over her career, and even became the oldest person ever to have a US Top 40 hit with a cover song she recorded in 1969 at the age of 75.

In 2013, Whoopi Goldberg created a (partially kickstarted) documentary for HBO, “Whoopi Goldberg Presents Moms Mabley”, detailing the comedian's life with rare footage and interviews.

*edit* Read my note addressing a Tumblr user's comment on this particular entry regarding Mabley's sexuality.

Photo Source: CBS – Wikimedia Commons Source: Biography.com Source: Wikipedia Source: WMFU.org Source: HBO Source: Washington Post Source: Huffington Post

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Jesse Eugene Russell

Considered the “father of 2G communications”, he pioneered and is responsible for the field of digital cellular communication and digital signal processing technology. This man fundamentally affected the way the modern cellphone works and how we talk to each other today. How did this man change our lives?

Born 1948, Nashville, Tennessee. Though coming from a large family and economically/socially challenged neighborhood, Russell overcame those odds to attend Tennessee State University where he earned a B.S. in electrical engineering in 1972. Interesting to note, Russell is the first African American to be hired directly from a “Historically Black University” by AT&T Bell Labs after earning his B.S. He would go on to earn a Master of Electrical Engineering from Stanford in 1973.

Continuing his work at Bell Labs, some of his greatest contributions involve his part in introducing the U.S. (and by extension, the world) to digital cellular technology. Until his involvement, AT&T’s Cellular Radio division was sort of bleeding money. The company had this technology, but the only practical consumer application at the time was for car phones. Russell suggested the idea of taking the phones out of the car and putting them on the people, thus creating truly mobile phones. Only problem was, there were more people than cars, and the specific spectrum these car phones were on wouldn’t be able to handle the bandwidth.

Fortunately for the team, Russell had already become the leading expert in digital signal processing. Russell came up with a few solutions to this technical problem; this included completely digitizing speech, which significantly reduced bandwidth by using certain modulation schemes and allowed 4 times the number of people on the same spectrum. The technology took approximately from 1984-1988 for Russell and Bell Labs to complete, and was the first digital cellular system in any place in the world. Hear it from the man himself:

Russell had a successful career at Bell Labs, climbing to leadership positions such as the Director of the AT&T Cellular Telecommunication Laboratory (Bell Labs), Vice President of Advanced Wireless Technology Laboratory (Bell Labs), Chief Technical Officer for the Network Wireless Systems Business Unit (Bell Labs), Chief Wireless Architect of AT&T, and Vice President of Advanced Communications Technologies for AT&T Laboratories. He also struck out on his own as current CEO of incNETWORKS (starting in 2000), one of the tech leaders in MicroLTE product platforms for 4G.

He also has over 100 patents under his belt over the course of his career, including some big ones:

Advanced multi-network client device for wideband multimedia access to private and public wireless networks

Broadband cable telephony network architecture IP ITN network architecture reference model

Wireless communication base station

Wireless terminal having digital radio processing with automatic communication system selection capability

Wireless communication system having base units which extracts channel and setup information from nearby base units

Mobile data telephone

Base station for mobile radio telecommunications systems

Photo Source: Tennessee State University Source: Wikipedia Source: Vimeo Source: Hudson Valley Press

[blackinhistory]

Walter Lincoln Hawkins

Honored as a polymer chemistry pioneer, he patented a special coating for communications cable, making universal telephone service possible. Maintaining and creating modern telephone systems was easier to do and millions could be connected. He revolutionized the communications industry (while also making family nagging much easier across long distances). How did he do it?

Born 1911, Washington, D.C. As a child, Hawkins had a fascination with engineering, mechanical tinkering, and how things worked. He even built a radio from scratch just so he could listen to local baseball games. Graduating from high school, Hawkins attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he earned a degree in chemical engineering. Hawkins would then earn a master’s in chemistry from the famous Howard University (1934), a doctorate from McGill University (1939), and a postdoctoral fellowship at Columbia University.

In 1942, Hawkins made history when he accepted a position at the prestigious AT&T Bell Laboratories, becoming the first African American to do so. Over the course of his 34-year career, he focused his specialty on polymers and plastics.

In 1956, along with his colleagues at Bell Labs, Hawkins patented a special polymer that could be used in cable insulation that made universal telephone service possible. The coating could withstand changes in temperatures and other environmental factors while reducing the cost of building and maintaining modern telephone systems across long distances. Prior to the the revolutionary discovery, lead coating was originally used to sheathe communications cable; this was toxic, heavy, and expensive. Others had tried to come up with alternative plastic coatings, but they were too brittle and couldn't withstand environmental factors.

Hawkins' design contained a chemical additive composed of carbon and antioxidants that prevented the polymer from breaking down in severe weather conditions, while being cheaper to produce. His discovery of the chemical stabilization required to create the polymer for the sheathe benefited millions and expanded telephone service across the world.

During the 60s, Hawkins was named head of Plastics Chemistry R&D and Assistant Director of the Chemical Research Laboratory. He later became Supervisor of Applied Research, and then in 1972, department head. Hawkins earned 18 U.S. patents and 129 foreign patents. His contributions also included to methods & techniques for recycling and reusing plastics. In 1975, Hawkins became the first Black engineer to be inducted into the National Academy of Engineering. He was also awarded the National Medal of Technology by George H.W. Bush in a White House ceremony before his death in 1992.

Photo Source: Don Bartletti, © 1992 Los Angeles Times Source: Wikipedia Source: MIT Source: Invent Now Source: CPNAS.org Source: RPI.edu

[blackinhistory]

Coretta Scott King

Married to one of the most influential civil rights leaders of our era, but a legend in her own right. She continued MLK Jr.’s legacy by founding the King Center, and was also the leader of a successful campaign in making her husband’s birthday a national holiday. Not only was she involved in civil rights for minorities, but human rights all around; this included LGBT and women’s rights. What’s her story?

Born 1927 (her maiden name ‘Scott’), Heiberger, Alabama. As a child and young adult, education and music was a big part of King’s life. She graduated valedictorian from her high school in 1945. While in school, she played trumpet, piano, and sang in the chorus. King was attended Antioch college, a historically white school, and studied music. During this time she became involved with the school’s chapter NAACP and their Race Relations and Civil Liberties Committees. King graduated with a B.A. in music and education.

After earning a scholarship to attend the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston, she would meet her future husband through a mutual friend. Amusingly enough, she wasn't too crazy about him after their first date. Coretta at first thought he was short and physically unimpressive; however, that soon changed after witnessing Martin's resolve and continuing to date:

“When he talked, he grew in stature ... and (in) moral stature. ... This young man became increasingly better looking as he talked. ... He seemed to know exactly where he was going and how he was going to get there.”

The Kings were later married in 1953. After earning her degree in voice and piano, King moved with her husband to Montgomery, Alabama in 1954. Although her original dreams were becoming a classical singer, King gave up her personal ambitions to devote her time to the civil rights cause.

Coretta stood alongside her husband through all the victorious and dangerous moments of their civil rights career. This includes the shooting of their home after the integration of the Montgomery bus service in 1955, and surviving a bombing at the same home in 1956, where both times she was present.

During the Kennedy administration In 1962, King served as delegate for the Women’s Strike for Peace Conference in Geneva, Switzerland. She took a role in international politics even before her husband’s protest of the Vietnam War in 1967.

In the aftermath of her husband’s assassination in 1968, King decided to take over her husband’s place and continue leadership within the civil rights movement. In 1974, she founded and became co-chair of the Full Employment Action Council, an organization dedicated to a national policy of fully employment and equal economic opportunity, regardless of class, gender, or race. She also established the “King Center for Nonviolent Social Change”, a memorial dedicated to MLK Jr. and Coretta’s philosophies for nonviolent social change and advancement of civil rights (established in 1968, opened to the public in 1981). She served as CEO for 27 years before transitioning leadership to her son in 1995.

After years of leading the campaign, King successfully helped to establish MLK Jr. Day when Ronald Reagan signed the legislation observing Dr. King’s birthday as a national holiday in 1983.

She would also broaden her scope of the movement to include other forms of bigotry, including gay and women’s rights. Here’s a quote from a speech she gave in 1998 at a hotel in Chicago:

“Homophobia is like racism and anti-Semitism and other forms of bigotry in that it seeks to dehumanize a large group of people, to deny their humanity, their dignity and personhood."

Mrs. King would die in 2006 at the age of 78 of complications from her ovarian cancer. Four out of five of the living U.S. presidents attended. King had created a legacy not only for her husband, but for herself as well.

Photo Source: Library of Congress – Wikimedia Commons Source: Wikipedia Source: Investors.com

[blackinhistory]

Langston Hughes

Considered the leader of the "Harlem Renaissance", he was an American poet, activist, playwright, novelist, and writer. He’s also considered one of the innovators of “jazz poetry”.

Born 1902, Joplin, Missouri. Hughes’s parents divorced during his childhood, so he spent a lot of time living with his grandmother as his mother traveled looking for work. During elementary school he got his first exposure to poetry, as he was elected “class poet”. His interest grew even more in high school, writing short stories, plays, and even wrote his first piece of jazz poetry, “When Sue Wears Red”.

After graduating high school in 1920, Hughes spent some time living abroad in Mexico with his father before attending Columbia University in 1921. His first critically acclaimed piece of poetry, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers” was published in The Crisis magazine, an impressive feat around the age of 19. It was during this time he became apart of the emerging “Harlem Renaissance” movement. Hughes would drop out of Columbia (citing racial prejudice) and took odd jobs around New York and traveled across the world as a steward on a freighter. Hughes landed in Paris for a while, continuing to craft and publish his poetry.

Returning to the U.S. in 1924, Hughes met American poet Vachel Lindsay while he was working as a busboy at a hotel in Washington, D.C. Acting as mentor, Lindsay would bring Langston’s work to a larger audience helping him to win competitions and publishing his poetry.

Langston earned a scholarship to Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) where he would continue his work. Coincidentally, Thurgood Marshall, who would become the first Black Associate Justice of the Supreme court of the United States, was a fellow alumnus and classmate of Hughes during his time as an undergraduate. Hughes’s first book of poetry, “The Weary Blues”, was published in 1926. It was well received. After graduating in 1929, he would publish his first novel, “Not Without Laughter”. It was considered a commercial success and won the Harmon Gold Medal for literature.

Making a name for himself, Hughes traveled across the country and world doing lectures throughout the 30s. In 1935 he received a Guggenheim Fellowship. In the 40s, he contributed to a column in the Chicago defender, addressing topics related to racism and the struggles of working-class Black population. He continued to publish poetry anthologies, novels, and plays throughout the 50s and 60s.

Hughes died in 1967 from complications with prostate cancer. His ashes were placed underneath the entrance of the Arthur Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem. He would also be remembered through his an award created in his honor, the “Langston Hughes Medal”, which was first awarded in 1973.

The works he created over the years represented his complicated views about race relations, the Black human condition, and how as a people they fit into the American experience overall. Hughes's work demonstrated a pride in African-American identity & culture through wit, comedy, and intense, objective insights of modern society. His written words and contribution to American culture would become his final legacy.

Photo Source: Library of Congress – Wikimedia Commons Source: Wikipedia Source: Biography.com

[blackinhistory]

John Robert Fox

This WWII soldier called in an artillery strike to save an Italian village. The twist? The only way to save the town from enemy occupation was to call in the strike on his position, meaning certain death. He made the ultimate sacrifice, and saved an entire village while taking down 100 enemy soldiers in the process (and the day after Christmas, of all days). However, discrimination at the time prevented Black soldiers from receiving the “Medal of Honor”. That was corrected in the 90s, and he was one of only 7 black soldiers from WWII to receive that honor. What happened?

Born 1915, Cincinnati, Ohio. Serving under Cannon Company, 366th Infantry Regiment, 92nd Infantry Division, better known as the famous “Buffalo Soldiers”, 1st Lieutenant Fox had been acting as a forward observer for the 598th Field Artillery Battalion the past few weeks in December of 1944. They were stationed in the town of Sommocolonia, Italy.

On the evening of Christmas day, German soldiers disguised in civilian clothes secretly infiltrated the village. By the next morning, Sommocolonia was mostly in enemy hands and attacks had begun. Fox and company were outnumbered, as most of the Allied forces had already pulled back due to the increasingly hostile territory, with the exception of Fox and other volunteers. He and his men directed American artillery fire to slow the enemies’ advance.

It soon became evident, however, that more drastic measures would have to be taken if Fox wanted to turn the tide. With each strike he called in over the radio, the bombs would hit closer to his position until he calmly asked the Fire Direction Command to strike on his position.

The operator was stunned. He thought it was a mistake. Command warned Fox that the next strike would be directly on top of his position. He quickly clarified so there was no confusion:

"There are hundreds of them coming. Put everything you've got on my OP!"

The American forces solemnly followed through with the strike. A few days later, after a counter offensive attack (not possible without Fox's order), the Allied forces retook Sommocolonia. They recovered Fox’s body, some of his men, and approximately 100 enemy soldiers who died from the explosive barrage of shell fire.

Though quite a few would consider this sacrifice legendary, he received no honors from the military for decades. Discrimination from the white military leadership at the time prevented Black soldiers from receiving certain awards, if any. In 1982, Fox posthumously received the “Distinguished Service Cross”. During the 90s, a congressional investigation was opened and determined that seven Black soldiers from WWII were denied consideration for the Medal of Honor, the U.S. nation’s highest military honor, based solely on their race. In a ceremony led by President Bill Clinton in 1997, these seven soldiers were awarded the medal. This included Fox.

It’s also interesting to note the town of Sommocolonia didn't forget Fox’s sacrifice; the citizens had erected a monument honoring Fox and the other soldiers who died protecting their home.

Photo/Source: Congressional Medal of Honor Society Source: Wikipedia Source: Ancestry.com Source: Defense.gov Source: US News Online/Wiz Worx