Category: History
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Liverpool honors James Clarke, a Guyanese immigrant who saved dozens from drowning, with a new mural celebrating his legacy as the first Black man with a Liverpool street named after him.
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Discover how Bettye Jean Davis made history as Alaska’s first Black woman State Senator in 2000 and championed vulnerable populations throughout her pioneering political career.
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Discover how James Williams overcame slavery to become Santa Clara’s first African American resident, successful entrepreneur, and honored volunteer firefighter whose legacy continues through community remembrance today.
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Discover how Willis Cummings became the first Black varsity captain in Ivy League and Big Ten history. His journey from Texas to Penn broke barriers and reshaped athletic history.
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George Arthur Roberts was London’s first Black firefighter, a World War I veteran, and a civil rights activist whose impact shaped British history.
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Discover how Marilyn Bevans made history as the first African American woman to win a marathon in 1975 and medal at Boston in 1977, breaking barriers with determination and self-training.
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Milton L. Olive III gave his life during the Vietnam War to save fellow soldiers and became the first Black Medal of Honor recipient in that war.
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Alfred Rush fought for free education, public schooling, and university access for Black citizens and women in South Carolina. His legacy continues despite the destruction of his historical marker.
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Francis Cecil Sumner was the first Black American to earn a Ph.D. in psychology. His groundbreaking work shaped civil rights research and psychology education.
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Walter Thomas Bailey, Illinois’ first licensed Black architect and University of Illinois graduate, created the landmark First Church of Deliverance in Chicago and headed Tuskegee Institute’s Mechanical Industries Department.
Recent Posts
- Ernestine Chambers and Naté Gordon Open Baltimore’s First Black and Woman-Owned Bodega, Blending New York Flavor with Local Opportunity
- Alma Thomas—First to Earn a Fine Arts Degree from Howard in 1924—Honored With D.C. Street Renaming Near Her Longtime Studio
- James P. Humphrey, Sidney’s First Black Mayor, Inspires Ongoing Scholarship Support Empowering Local Black Students’ Academic Success
- Oakland’s First Black Superintendent Kyla Johnson-Trammell Ends Tenure After Reviving District Finances and Boosting Graduation Rates
- Tom Bradley Became Los Angeles’ First Black Mayor in 1973, Leading the City Through 20 Transformative Years
