The following are short descriptions of the groups and organizations which have contributed to the shaping of African American history. These encyclopedia entries serve as a starting point for much more inclusive descriptions and discussions that appear in other sources. For additional information please consult the print or website sources cited in the entry.
The history of West Indian immigration can be traced back to the 17th century when enslaved Africans from Barbados, Jamaica, and Antigua were brought to the British North American colonies to work on plantations. The Haitian Revolution (1791-1804) sparked another wave of immigration with thousands … Read MoreWest Indian Immigration to the United States (1900- )
Although Haïtien individuals have been coming to what is now the United States both as enslaved and free people since the colonial era, the single largest group of Haïtien immigrants arrived in 1972, thus initiating a movement that continues to this day. In 1972 thousands … Read MoreHaïtien Immigration to the U.S. (1972- )
Black Enterprise (BE) is a bi-monthly publication that is now the premier source for investing, wealth-building, and business information for African Americans. In 1969, founder Earl Gilbert Graves Sr. recognized that the then major publications being targeted towards black audiences were focusing on fashion and … Read MoreBlack Enterprise (1970- )
The Black Cabinet was an informal advisory group of African American civil servants who lobbied for African Americans to receive equal access to federal benefits and employment and job training programs associated with President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal. Often promoting programs closely aligned with the … Read MoreFDR’s Black Cabinet (1933-1945)
Essence magazine is a monthly publication whose target audience is African American women. It focuses on culture, beauty, fashion, and entertainment. Essence Communications Inc. (ECI) was founded in 1968 by Clarence O. Smith, Cecil Hollingsworth, Jonathan Blount, Denise M. Clark, and Edward Lewis. The original … Read MoreEssence Magazine (1970- )
In 1945, two native Philadelphia friends, Margaret Hawkins and Sarah Scott, saw a need for African American women to be supported and uplifted in ways that existing clubs, sororities, and other organizations were not doing. In response, the two friends conceived of a new kind … Read MoreThe Links, Incorporated (1945- )
The Black Scholar is a quarterly journal founded in 1969 by Nathan Hare, Robert Chrisman, and Allan Ross. It is the third oldest journal of Black history and culture in the United States after The Crisis, the publication of the NAACP founded in 1910, and … Read MoreThe Black Scholar (1969- )
Founded in Philadelphia in 1869, the Knights of Labor (KOL) was the largest, most important labor union in the 19th century United States. Unlike most unions (and predominantly white institutions) then, the KOL opened its membership to African Americans and women workers. Prior to the … Read MoreAfrican Americans and the Knights of Labor (1869-1949)
During a period in history when little attention was paid to Black consumers, husband and wife George and Joan Johnson co-founded the Johnson Products Co. in Chicago, Illinois, to cater specifically to Black consumers. The Johnsons founded the company with just $254 in 1954. While … Read MoreJohnson Products Company (1954- )
Bell Biv DeVoe (BBD) is an R&B ensemble from Boston, Massachusetts, and comprises Ricky Bell (born September 18, 1967), Michael Bivins (born August 10, 1968), and Ronnie DeVoe (born November 17, 1967). The trio were original members of the New Jack Swing R&B ensemble, New … Read MoreBell Biv Devoe (1989- )
