Black History Month

President Gerald Ford

1928 - 2014

Maya Angelou was an American poet, memorist, and civil rights activist. Over the span of 50 years she has published seven autobiographys, books of poetry, plays & movies, and television shows.

1924 - 1987

James Baldwin was an American writer and activist. He was know for his voice in the American Civil Rights Movement, with literature such as ¨Notes of a Native Son¨.

1989 - Present

Yaa Gyasi is a Ghanaian-American novelist. After graduating from Stanford, she wrote her debut novel ¨Homegoing¨. This earned her the National Book Critics John Leonard Award for best first book.

1944 - Present

Alice Malsenior Tallulah-Walker is an American novelist, short story writer, poet, and social activist. She became the first African-American woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. She was awarded this prize for her novel ¨The Color Purple¨.

1818 - 1895

Fredrick Douglas was an African-American social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After he escaped from slavery in Maryland, he was a national leader of the abolitionist movement in Massachusetts and New York. He became famous for his antislavery writings, and his oratory.

1862 - 1931

Ida Bell Wells-Barnett was an American investigative journalist, educator, and leader in the civil rights movement. She was a core founder in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Through Journalism she was pro-active in promoting justice for African-Americans.

1990 - Present

Brit Bennett is an American writer, located in Los Angeles. Her first novel "The Mothers", was a New York Times best-seller. She was also chosen as Good Morning America Book Club selection for her novel "Vanishing Half".

1993 - Present

Danez Smith is an American poet, write, and performer from St. Paul Minnesota. They are genderqueer and use they/them pronouns. Danez Smith was the youngest ever winner of the $10,000 award of the Forward Prize for best poetry collection, for their piece "Don't Call Us Dead".

1998 - Present

Amanda Gorman is an American poet and activist who focuses on addressing oppression, race, feminism, and marginalization. She is the National Youth Poet Laureate and has even delivered her poetry during the 2021 presidential inauguration.

1942 - 2018

Aretha Franklin was a beloved American singer, songwriter and pianist. Often referred to as "The Queen of Soul," Franklin was one of the best-selling music artists from the second half of the 20th century. Perhaps her most well-known song is called "Respect" - Listen HERE!

1901 - 1971

Louis Armstrong was an incredible American trumpeter and vocalist. He is among the most influential figures in jazz history, and his career spanned over five decades and various eras of jazz style music. Perhaps his most famous song is called "What a Wonderful World" - Listen HERE!

1930 - 2004

Ray Charles was a remarkable singer, songwriter, pianist and composer. Referred to as "The Genius," or "Brother Ray," he pioneered soul music during the 1950s by combining blues, jazz, R&B, and gospel styles. Charles was blinded during childhood, quite possibly due to glaucoma - though this never stopped him from his musical career. Perhaps one of his most famous song is "Hit the Road Jack" - Listen HERE!

1899 - 1974

Duke Ellington was the greatest jazz composer and bandleader of his time. He led his band for more than half a century! He created one of the most distinctive ensemble sounds in all of Western music. His most famous song is "Mood Indigo" - Listen HERE!

1917 - 1996

Ella Fitzgerald was an American jazz singer that had many nicknames! She was known as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She had many redeeming qualities, being known for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, and more! Her most famous song is "Dream A Little Dream Of Me" - Listen HERE!

1915 - 1959

Billie Holiday was an American jazz and swing music singer. Having the nickname "Lady Day", she had one of the largest innovative impacts on pop music and jazz singing. Her most famous song is "God Bless The Child" - Listen HERE!

1945 - 1981

Robert Nesta Marley OM, also known as Bob Marley, was a Jamaican singer, musician, and songwriter. Marley is considered to be one of the creators of reggae music. Over the course of his career, Marley became known as a Rastafari icon, and he infused his music with a sense of spirituality. Perhaps one of his most famous songs is "One Love" - Listen HERE!

1981 - Present

Alicia Augello Cook, also known as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Keys is a classically trained pianist, who began composing at the early age of 12. Keys has sold over 90 million albums worldwide. Perhaps her most famous song is called, "Fallin'" - Listen HERE!

1971 - 1996

Lesane Parish Crooks, also known as Tupac Amaru Shakur, was an American rapper and actor. Tupac, considered one of the most influential rappers of all time, had sold more than 75 million records worldwide. Tupac's music remarks on modern day issues infesting inner cities, in particular. He is a symbol of activism against inequality. Perhaps one of his most famous songs is "Changes" - Listen HERE!

1867 - 1919

Madam CJ Walker was an entrepreneur, a philanthropist, & political and social activist. She became famous for her invention of a line of cosmetics and hair care products for black women!

1838 - 1913

Alexander Miles was an American inventor and businessman. He became famous for his invention of elevator doors that automatically open and shut, preventing dangerous accidents!

1920 - 1951

Though not a traditional scientist, Henrietta Lacks contributed a tremendous amount to the world of science. Her cells have been used for medical research, including the creation of vaccines, because her cells can replicate outside of the human body at a fast rate!

1864 - 1943

He did research on plants and farming, one of his many scientific achievements was discovering that cotton depletes soil of its nutrients and growing nitrogen fixing plants like peanuts, sweet potatoes, and soybeans could make the soil fresh and able to grow cotton again.

1877 - 1963

Inventor of the gas mask and traffic light. Morgan has saved many lives because of these inventions. He personally used the gas mask when a a tunnel collapsed, trapping more than 30 workers. The gases prevented fireman from going in to rescue the trapped workers so he went in with his mask and saved several survivors.

1922 - 1999

This woman developed the first home security system. She decided to come up with the complex system of buttons and wires when the crime-rate in her neighborhood was very high. She decided to protect herself by creating a way to open the door and call the police from bed. This system is now the base of most modern security systems, you may even have one like it in your home!

1914 - 1995

Henry McBay was an American chemist along with being a teacher. He discovered "inexpensive peroxide compounds" and made it available for many other chemists to be able to use these in their research. He got many rewards for his teaching abilities, as well as co-founding the National Organization for the Professional Advancement of Black Chemists and Chemical Engineers.

1920 - 1982

Otis Boykin was an American inventor and engineer. He is known for inventing the electrical resistors that you can find in computers, missile guiders, and pacemakers.

1855 - 1905

Sarah Goode was an American entrepreneur and inventor. She was the second known African-American woman to receive a United States patent in 1885. She had invented the folding cabinet bed.