Byron Allen (1961- )

Byron Allen (Folks) is an American businessman, television producer, and comedian born in Detroit, Michigan, on April 22, 1961. His media company, Entertainment Studios, owns assets in television production, broadcasting, film production, and digital media. Byron Allen Folks was born in Detroit to Carolyn and … Read MoreByron Allen (1961- )

Marlin Oliver Briscoe (1945-2022)

Marlin Oliver “The Magician” Briscoe was a football quarterback for the American Football League (AFL) and National Football League (NFL). When the Denver (Colorado) Broncos drafted him in 1968, Briscoe became the first African American Quarterback in professional football to start on a football team. … Read MoreMarlin Oliver Briscoe (1945-2022)

Jacob Hudson Carruthers Jr. (1930-2004)

Jacob Hudson Carruthers Jr. was a historian and educator. Carruthers was born on February 15, 1930, to unnamed parents in Dallas, Texas. The family relocated to Houston, Texas, where he attended Phyllis Wheatley High School. After graduating high school, he attended Samuel Huston College in … Read MoreJacob Hudson Carruthers Jr. (1930-2004)

Lena Lowery Sawner (1874-1949)

Lena Lowery Sawner was Oklahoma’s first Black public school principal as well as its first female public school principal. She was also prominent in state and national Black educational organizations. Lena Lowery rose from humble beginnings. Her father, Julius Lowery was born in North Carolina … Read MoreLena Lowery Sawner (1874-1949)

Black Cowboys in the 19th Century West (1850-1900)

The earliest evidence of African Americans as cattle herders (cowboys) in North America can be traced back to colonial South Carolina, where stock grazers from what is now Senegal in West Africa were specifically brought to that colony because of their unique skills. They were … Read MoreBlack Cowboys in the 19th Century West (1850-1900)

African Americans on Western Cattle Drives (1867-1885)

Post-Civil War cattle drives from Texas north to railroad depots in Missouri, Kansas, and Colorado were a necessary part of the American economy in the late 19th century. The nation’s growing demand for beef, coupled with the concentration of beef cattle in Texas, led that … Read MoreAfrican Americans on Western Cattle Drives (1867-1885)