Ralph Bunche (1903-1971) was a diplomat, peace negotiator, advisor to presidents and the first African American to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Bunche was raised by his maternal grandmother, a strong women who was proud of her race and heritage. She raised him to be strong as well and to also be proud of his […]
John S. Rock was the first black attorney admitted to the United States Supreme Court Bar. Rock was born to free parents in Salem, New Jersey on October 13, 1825. Education was very important to the family, and though not wealthy, his parents were able to provide enough so he wouldn’t have to start working
Who was Fannie Lou Hamer? She was born to sharecropper parents on October 6, 1917 in Montgomery County, Mississippi. The family worked on a plantation and at the age of six Fannie Lou was already helping in the cotton fields. Hamer’s life change in 1962 when she attended a meeting and met several civil rights
Who was James Beckwourth? He was an explorer, scout, fur trapper and mountain man. James Beckwourth (1798-1866) was born into slavery in Virginia. He gained his freedom when he was manumitted by his slave owner who was also his father. According to legend Beckwourth was well liked and respected by Native Americans and was made
Benjamin Fletcher (1890-1949) was a union leader and organizer in the early 1900’s. He joined the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW) while employed as a dockworker in Philadelphia in 1912. The IWW, nicknamed Wobbly, was the one union that welcomed members from all races and treated them fairly and equally. Fletcher was active in
Organizing and managing logistics for the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a massive undertaking. While most people are familiar with the March and Dr. King’s famous speech, little is known about the man behind the scene, the man responsible for coordinating the March and ensuring that all the parts came together
Larry Doby was the second African American to play major league baseball and the first to play in the American League. Doby was born in Camden, South Carolina on December 13, 1923. He moved to New Jersey and attended Eastside School in Paterson where he played baseball, football and basketball. After high school he attended
In July 1775 the Second Continental Congress established the US postal system. Enslaved men, who worked for transportation contractors were among the first postal service mail carriers. Women began carrying mail in 1845. The first black woman to carry mail for the United States postal service was Mary Fields, “Stagecoach Mary.” Fields was born into
Though less known than others, she was an important figure in the fight for equal rights and should be included in all lessons on civil rights and lessons on women’s rights. Mary Church Terrell was born Mary Eliza Church on September 23, 1863 in Memphis, Tennessee to parents who were former slaves. She attended Oberlin
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Who Was Ella Baker? Ella Baker, although less known than others, was an important civil rights leader during the 1950s and 60s. Background Ella was born in Norfolk, Virginia on December 13, 1903. Her grandmother was once held in slavery. When Ella was growing up, her grandmother often talked to her about slavery and how
