Little Known Black History Facts
Oakland Raiders player Marquette King holds a unique distinction in the NFL. He is league’s lone Black punter, and just the fifth Black player in a position typically reserved for smaller white players. King, born October 26. 1988 in Macon, Ga., discovered a love for football as a teenager. Although he originally wanted to […]
The federal space agency NASA ushered in a new era by integrating workplaces across several regions in the Deep South. Morgan Watson, considered NASA’s first Black engineer, benefited from the progressive aims of President John F. Kennedy and used his wits and skill to become a pioneer. After President Kennedy took office in 1961, […]
Tristan Walker, founder and CEO of Walker & Company, is one of Silicon Valley’s rising entrepreneurs hoping to shake up the perception of the technology hub. Walker grew up poor in the projects of Southside Jamaica, Queens in New York City, using his tough experiences to fuel his current passions. At the age of three, […]
Nathaniel “Nate” Northington (pictured) and the late Greg Page were the first Black athletes to integrate the NCAA’s Southeastern Conference and the first two Black football players signed by the University of Kentucky. Together, they opened the doors for the signing of other Black players for the team and the SEC overall. Northington, born in […]
Erroll M. Brown was named the U.S. Coast Guard’s first admiral in 1998, completing a long journey that began when he was a high school athlete in the late ’60’s. Now retired, Brown gave credit to his parents and his tireless worth ethic for much of his success. Born Erroll Mingo Brown in St. […]
Zelda Barbour Wynn Valdes was an influential fashion designer perhaps best known for helping to create the iconic Playboy Bunny costume. She was also the first Black person to open a store on Broadway in New York City, and designed clothing for some of the top stars of the ’40’s and ’50s. In 1948, the […]
While most history books point to Shirley Chisholm as the first Black person to run for the office of the President of the United States, the honor actually belongs to the son of a former slave. In 1904, well before Chisholm’s campaign, George Edwin Taylor was the first Black presidential candidate. Taylor was born August […]
Dr. Jalaal Hayes (pictured, right) made history in 2015 after becoming the youngest person to earn a Ph.D from Delaware State University at the age of 22. As the son of two librarians, the North Philadelphia native was probably expected to be an excellent student but has surpassed those expectations with his academic feats. Even […]
Jesse Owens is considered by many to be the greatest Olympian ever. Owens’ historic showing at the 1936 Berlin Olympics is the subject of a new film, Race, which stars Canadian actor Stephan James in the lead role, and makes its debut on Friday. Owens was born James Cleveland Owens on September 12, 1913 […]
Charles Bolden Jr., NASA’s first Black administrator, was nominated for the post in 2009 by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate that same year. Bolden nearly saw his career take another course in the early ’60’s, but he used his connections and a bit of humility to aid his quest to enter […]
The Hampton University men’s lacrosse team made history this past weekend as the first from an HBCU to play at the Division I level in the sport. Despite the sport’s Native American roots, it has largely been viewed as a sport for the rich, white and elite but Hampton Pirates coach Lloyd Carter is aiming […]
Lakatriona Brunson made history by being named the first female football head coach in Florida history. Brunson, who will lead the Miami Jackson Senior High Generals in 2016, will also be joined by 2 Live Crew founder, Luther “Luke” Campbell who was hired as the team’s defensive coordinator. Along with being a physical education […]
