

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
Images attribution: Courtesy of ©Canva
Image created by Charlene Shelmire
Featured Black History Icons
Historymakers who contributed to the black culture and stood for justice in profound ways.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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
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
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
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
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