Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Jackie Robinson
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Jackie Robinson, the first black baseball player to play in the American major leagues during the 20th century. On April 15, 1947, Robinson broke the decades-old...
NASA
Nasa: Astronaut Biography: Guion S. Bluford, Jr.
Johnson Space Center provides biographical data on Guion S. Bluford Jr. Information on his education, interest, special honors, and experience is included.
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Harcourt: Biographies: Linda Brown 1943
Read a brief summary of the life story of Linda Brown whose civil rights experiences were the basis for the famous historical case of Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka.
National Endowment for the Humanities
Neh: Edsit Ement: From Courage to Freedom:frederick Douglass's 1845 Autobiography
In this 3-lesson plan unit, students will read Douglass's narrative. They will analyze Douglass's vivid first-hand accounts of the lives of slaves and the behavior of slave owners to see how he successfully contrasts reality with...
Other
Ask Art: Grafton Tyler Brown
This site offers three brief biographies of Grafton Tyler Brown, "the first recognized African- American artist in the American West." Click "The Images" for examples of Brown's work.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Fritz Pollard
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Fritz Pollard, a pioneering African-American player and coach in American collegiate and professional gridiron football. He was the first African-American selected to a backfield position...
Scholastic
Scholastic: Mae Jemison
This site takes a look at Mae Jemison, the first female African-American astronaut. Content includes a brief biography, a picture, and an excerpt from her book, "Find Where the Wind Goes: Moments from My Life."
Other
Afrocentric Voices in Classical Music
Visit this website for short biographies of some of the African American singers and composers who have contributed to the world of Classical music.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Barack Obama
Biography of President Barack Obama, the first African American to hold that office.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Earl Lloyd
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Earl Lloyd, a basketball player who was the first African American to play in the National Basketball Association (NBA). This site, rich in detail and breadth of...
University at Buffalo
Black Women in Mathematics: Evelyn Granville
A biography of Evelyn Granville, one of the first African American women to receive a Ph.D. in Mathematics.
University at Buffalo
Black Women in Mathematics: Euphemia Lofton Haynes
A thorough biography of Euphemia Lofton Haynes, an educator who became the first African American woman to earn a Ph.D. in mathematics.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Howard Thurman
Biographical account of Howard Thurman, an American Baptist preacher and theologian, the first African American dean of chapel at a traditionally white American university, and a founder of the first interracial interfaith congregation...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Guide to Black History: Ernest Brown
This entry from Encyclopedia Brittanica's Guide to Black History features Ernest Brown, an American tap dancer born April 25, 1916, Chicago, Ill. . This site, rich in detail and breadth of coverage, includes a wealth of information on...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Charles Burnett
This entry features Charles Burnett, an American filmmaker who gained critical acclaim for his realistic and intimate portrayals of African American families. Burnett's films were revered by critics yet rarely enjoyed any commercial...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: E. Franklin Frazier
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features E. Franklin Frazier, an American sociologist whose work on African American social structure provided insights into many of the problems affecting the black community.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: E. Lynn Harris
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features E. Lynn Harris, an American author, who in a series of novels drew on his personal familiarity with the gay community to chronicle the struggles faced by African-American men with sexual...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Byllye Avery
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Byllye Avery, an American health care activist whose efforts centred on bettering the welfare of low-income African American women through self-help groups and advocacy networks.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Dick Gregory
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Dick Gregory, an African-American comedian, civil rights activist, and spokesman for health issues, who became nationally recognized in the 1960s for a biting brand of comedy that attacked...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Emlen Tunnell
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Emlen Tunnell, an American gridiron football player who in 1967 became the first African American to be enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. His career stretched from 1948 through...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Flip Wilson
This entry from Encyclopedia Britannica features Flip Wilson, an American comedian whose comedy variety show, The Flip Wilson Show, was one of the first television shows hosted by an African American to be a ratings success. The show ran...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Maggie Lena Draper Walker
Summarizes the life of Maggie Lena Draper Walker, an American businesswoman, who played a major role in the organizational and commercial life of Richmond's African-American community in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin
Biographical sketch of Josephine St. Pierre Ruffin, an American community leader who was active in the women's rights movement and particularly in organizing African American women around issues of civic and cultural development.
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Augustus Tolton
Summarizes the life and career of Augustus Tolton, an American religious leader who is regarded as the first African American ordained as a priest in the Roman Catholic Church.