Little Known Black History Facts

  There isn’t much known about the private life of nurse and inventor Marie Van Britten Brown, but on this day in 1969 she helped revolutionize home security systems. Along with her husband, Ms. Brown was issued a patent for a home security camera system that served as a precursor of the closed circuit camera […]

  Dr. Clarence “Skip” Ellis was the first African-American to earn a Ph.D. in Computer Science. Dr. Ellis was also a passionate educator who worked with Black students and preferred to teach those who lacked experience in the field. Ellis was born May 11, 1943 and raised in the tough South Side section of Chicago. […]

  Alma Adams, the 100th woman to enter the U.S. Congress, represents North Carolina’s mostly-black 12th District. After serving 20 years as a state congresswoman, Ms. Adams brings to Washington her fiery determination to work on behalf of the middle class and bring equal rights to the citizens she now represents. Adams, born Alma Shealy […]

  Charles Gordone, playwright, actor, director and educator, might not be commonly known but he’s a pioneer in the theater world nonetheless. On this day in 1970, Gordone became the first African-American to win the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Gordone, born Charles Edward Fleming on October 12, 1925, was raised in Indiana with his family. […]

  Annie Lee, artist, humanitarian and friend of the Tom Joyner Morning Show, has died and the loss leaves a huge void in the Black creative space. Ms. Lee was an internationally recognized artist whose work depicted varying scenes of the African-American experience. Lee, born in Gadsden, Ala. in 1935, was raised primarily in Chicago, […]

  Former Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion Barry was one of the city’s most beloved figures, despite a scandal during his tenure that rocked the nation. Barry’s resilience and support from the African-American community earned him the distinction of being known as the city’s “Mayor For Life.” He died early Sunday morning after battling an illness. […]

  Bowling, a sport with roots dating back to ancient Egypt, is typically seen nowadays as a game of fun and leisure among family and friends. On the professional circuit, however, the game can get very serious. George Branham III, a retired professional bowler, was the first Black person to win a Professional Bowlers Association […]

  Ivy Taylor made history over the summer by becoming the first Black woman to serve as mayor of San Antonio. After serving the “River City” as a three-time councilwoman, Mrs. Taylor’s appointment to the seat could signal bigger things to come. Taylor grew up in New York and attended Yale University for her undergraduate […]

  Alain Leroy Locke is recognized as one of the leading Black philosophers and educators, and was instrumental in bringing attention to the Harlem Renaissance. Among Locke’s many achievements, one of his most notable is he being the first African-American awarded the prestigious Rhodes Scholarship. Born in Philadelphia, Pa. on September 13, 1866, Locke was […]

  Herman J. Russell, a prominent Atlanta businessman responsible for helping to develop the city’s many top destinations, died over the weekend. He was 83. Born December 23, 1930, Russell was raised in the Summerhill section of the city, the youngest of eight children. His father was a building plasterer, passing on the trade and […]

  Kim Kardahsian’s recent photo spread for Paper magazine where she bared her bottom, was crafted to “break the internet” as the cover suggested. Although that feat didn’t happen, it did reignite the world’s obsession with curves just as a legendary yet tragic figure did in the 19th Century. The “Hottentot Venus” aka Sarah “Saartjie” […]

Jacksonville’s Alvin Brown made history in 2011 by becoming the city’s first Black mayor. Mayor Brown won his election in a tight race during a time where Tea Party Republicans were surging, pulling off a major upset. Brown, born December 15, 1961, grew up in Beaufort, S.C. He came to the “River City” to attend […]