• How Has Racism Impacted Society?

    Why does the word "racism" have negative connotations of cruelty
    and inequality throughout the black community?

    Let's explore this subject further.

  • Black History Image Gallery

    Black and white photo of African-American male standing at a water fountain while holding a cup to his mouth.
    Black and white photo of Caucasian former president surrounded by a group of Caucasian men.

    Images attribution: Courtesy of ©Canva

    Red, green, yellow and white text and photo collage of marches, activists and influencers during the African-American civil rights movement

    Image created by Charlene Shelmire

  • Featured Black History Icons

    Historymakers who contributed to the black culture and stood for justice in profound ways.
    Black and white photo of a young African-American civil rights male leader wearing a suit and tie.

    Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.

    Gifted orator, courageous freedom fighter, minister, leader, civil rights activist

    "I Have a Dream" is a public speech that was delivered by American civil rights activist and Baptist minister Martin Luther King Jr. during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963.

    In the speech, King called for civil and economic rights and an end to racism in the United States.

    Delivered to over 250,000 civil rights supporters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the speech was one of the most famous moments of the civil rights movement and among the most iconic speeches in American history.

    Black and white photo of stoic-faced African-American male wearing a suit and bow tie.

    Frederick Douglass

    Intellectually gifted abolitionist, eloquent speaker, prolific writer, civil rights leader

    Frederick Douglass was an eloquent speaker, skilled writer, anti-slavery newspaper editor, and radical abolitionist.

    His bold stance on injustice has deeply resonated with independent thinkers and civil rights advocates who were unrelenting in their push for change.

    The following inspiring quote captured my attention because its meaning is profound, transparent, and relevant.


    Quote: "I prefer to be true to myself, even at the hazard of incurring the ridicule of others, rather than to be false, and to incur my own abhorrence.” -Frederick Douglass, author
    African-American female standing at a podium wearing a dark colored jacket and earrings.

    Maya Angelou

    A brief synopsis of her life and legacy

    Legendary wordsmith, Maya Angelou was a force to be reckoned with in the literary field of poetry. She was a highly respected professional Pulitzer Prize and Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient who was recognized for weaving personal stories of struggle and resilience.

    Maya Angelou was distinguished for her eloquent speech, profound storytelling ability, and vibrant smile. She was frequently invited to perform her dramatic poem recitations, which often left audiences in awe.

    "Maya published seven autobiographies, three books of essays, several books of poetry, and is credited with a list of plays, movies, and television shows spanning over 50 years. She received dozens of awards and more than 50 honorary degrees. Angelou's series of seven autobiographies focuses on her childhood and early adult experiences. The first, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" (1969), tells of her life up to the age of 17 and brought her international recognition and acclaim."

    Among her most notable and popular pieces of work was a poem from her third volume of poetry entitled, "Still I Rise. This iconic and inspirational poem was one of Angelou's most popular literary contributions.

    African-American female standing at a podium wearing a dark colored jacket and earrings.

    Fannie Lou Hamer

    Bold civil rights activist, organizer, freedom fighter

    Bold and courageous as a lion, Fannie Lou Hamer, was a strong advocate for justice and fought long during the civil rights movement. She was even brutally beaten for standing up for the rights of others.

  • African-American Scientists and Inventors

    Pioneers and Influencers
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    Rod Adkins

    An electrical engineer credited with advancing the personal computer and earned a dual degree. He was the first African-American to serve as a senior vice president at IBM, and he helped to develop the IBM ThinkPad laptop.

    Photo attribution: By Rducre - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=161798061

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    Harold Amos

    African-American department chair microbiologist at the Harvard Medical School. Mr. Amos graduated summa cum laude and was the first African-American faculty member to receive a Harvard Centennial Medal award in 2000.

    Photo attribution: By Unknown photographer - This image was released by the National Cancer Institute, an agency part of the National Institutes of Health, with the ID 2125 (image) (next)., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=128375095

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    Alice Ball

    She was the first University of Hawaii African-American chemist to receive her master's degree in pharmaceutical chemistry, and she also developed a technique to make an injectable and absorbable chaulmoogra oil for the very first effective treatment of Hansen's disease (leprosy). Along with her instructor, she co-authored a 10-page article in a scientific journal in 1914.

    Photo attribution: By Unknown author - http://www.hawaii.edu/offices/bor/distinction.php?person=ball, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=10635615

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    Valerie L. Thomas

    This woman of color, Valerie L. Thomas, a former scientist, innovator, and NASA research contributor, was the mastermind behind a patented breakthrough invention, the illusion transmitter, which is used in television technology. She's notably a trailblazing inspiration to all aspiring scientists, inventors, entrepreneurs, and the entire African-American community.

    Photo attribution: By Adam Cuerden